KL Magazine September 2014 by KL Magazine

ISSN 2044–7965

ISSUE 48 SEPTEMBER 2014 PRICELESS

magazine

WEST NORFOLK | NORTH NORFOLK | COASTAL

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

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

Visit us online at:

Hall Road Norwich NR4 6DH T: 0845 230 3388

www.aldiss.com

Everything Your Home Desires

COVER IMAGE

Trinity Hospital by Ian Ward

editorial

01553 601201 editor@klmagazine.co.uk

Eric Secker Emma Barnard Ian Ward Alex Dallas Graham Murray Chris Ivory

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

design

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

contact

18 Tuesday Market Place King’s Lynn, Norfolk PE30 1JW 01553 601201 www.klmagazine.co.uk KL magazine cannot accept responsibility for unsolicited submissions, manuscripts and photographs. While every care is taken, prices and details are subject to change and KL magazine takes no responsibility for omissions or errors. We reserve the right to publish and edit any letters. All rights reserved.

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

t’s the Customs House in King’s Lynn, but not as we know it. If you haven’t seen this stunning 12-minute light show yet (it’s currently being shown from 10pm-11.30pm), you’ve still got until the end of October. The show - called Night Sailors – is the work of French artist Julia Dantonnet, and is part of an ongoing partnership between the Borough Council of King’s Lynn and West Norfolk and the Maison de la Culture d'Amiens, promoting local heritage through a series of Anglo-French landscaping, architectural and artistic projects. It’s a stunning curtain-raiser for this month’s Heritage Open Day in King’s Lynn on Sunday 14th, which is always an eagerly-anticipated celebration of the town’s history and architecture. Of course, there’s a lot more to King’s Lynn than medieval buildings and maritime legacies. The centre of the town is proudly independent, and we’re taking a closer look at the modern face of King’s Lynn on page 98 of this month’s magazine. On a wider front, a look through this month’s magazine will go a long way to showing why Norfolk is such a wonderful place to live, full of talented people doing amazing things. From gamekeepers to gardeners, vets to teachers, artists to food champions, they all contribute to a diverse, forward-thinking and quite inspirational county. We’ve had a lot of fun putting this month’s magazine together, and we hope you enjoy reading it. See you again next month! KL MAGAZINE

KLmagazine September 2014

Contents 7-13

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

8-10

PARK HOUSE: A ROYAL HISTORY 150 years of a remarkable building

SEPTEMBER 2014

18-23 BURNHAM MARKET We visit Norfolk’s jewel in the crown 28

THE BIG INTERVIEW With Strattons’ Vanessa Scott

THEN AND NOW The changing face of West Norfolk

106

38-40 HOLKHAM’S KEEPER OF THE GAME The work of Kevan McCaig and his team 42-44 SAY HELLO TO BAMBOO... Why the unique plant suits any garden 47

PETS Help and advice with local vet Alex Dallas

48-50 A DAY IN THE LIFE OF A VET Life at London Road Veterinary Centre 56-60 FASHION The latest looks from the local boutiques 64-66 THE RED-CLOAKED SISTERS... 400 years of Castle Rising’s Trinity Hospital

68-70 THE HERBS OF CONGHAM HALL We meet Head Gardener Philip Bailey 73-81 FOOD AND DRINK Recipes, reviews and recommendations 82-95 EDUCATION: LESSONS FOR LIFE A look at local schools and opportunities 98-105 KING’S LYNN: PROUDLY INDEPENDENT Why it’s a ‘home’ town, not a ‘clone’ town 106

VISIONS OF A WILDER SEA A profile of local artist Mari French

113

MY KL The page made by KL magazine readers

115

CROSS CURRENTS Canon Chris Ivory’s look at local life

KLmagazine September 2014

September Friday 12th

Poppies & Tea Cups by Zoe Norman

GAIA : THE BILLION STAR SURVEYOR King’s Lynn Academy, Queen Mary Road, King’s Lynn (7.30pm) A fabulous opportunity to hear from the lead investigator on the GAIA mission about how one very special spacecraft will take a census of around one thousand million stars (still only about 1% of the stars in our Galaxy!) GAIA will observe each star 70 times, recording its brightness, colour and its position. Astronomers have been studying space for thousands of years and have measured the position of stars for most of that time – but GAIA will be doing so with an accuracy never before achieved. The lecture is being presented by the King’s Lynn & District Astronomy Society, and tickets are £7.50 (or £5 if booked in advance). Booking is essential to avoid disappointment as tickets are selling quickly. For more details and information, and to book your tickets, contact John Craythorne on 07871 181264 or email jc.astronomer@btinternet.com. You can follow the Society on Facebook or visit their website at www.westnorfolkastro.co.uk.

Saturday 6th to Sunday 14th HELENA ANDERSON: SOLO (WHAT, AGAIN?!) The Old Warehouse, King’s Lynn Arts Centre PE30 1HA Daily 10am-5pm | FREE admission | Parking in Tuesday Market Place Helena Anderson has been exhibiting at the King’s Lynn Art Centre since the 1970s, and this is her fourth solo exhibition in the Old Warehouse. Helena’s new paintings explore the theme of ‘Children of the World’ and pay tribute to her son’s travels through India, Burma, Cambodia and Thailand earlier this year. The coﬀee pot will be on and a warm welcome awaits friends both old and new. Helena will also have a range of silks, cards and prints for sale and will raﬄe one of her pictures – with the proceeds being donated to the King’s Lynn Arts Centre apprentice scheme. Please note that the exhibition is also open on both Sunday 7th and Sunday 14th (Heritage Weekend). For further information and details, telephone 01553 760879, e-mail helena@andersonart.net or visit Helena’s website at www.andersonart.net.

Now until Saturday 20th

ALL THE TEA AND CHINA Greyfriars Art Space, 43 St James Street, King’s Lynn (Tues-Sat, 11am-4pm) Tea making and drinking – in all its glorious varieties – is the inspiration for this fascinating art exhibition curated by Christine Pike. The exhibition features the work of twelve artists who’ve been encouraged to be as inventive as possible with their fabulous ceramic cups and teapots, sculptures, paintings, and jewellery. In addition to the artwork itself, there’s also a public vote competition for the most beautiful drinking vessel and the most unusual drinking vessel. During the exhibition, Greyfriars Art Space will be promoting the book Cafe Culture: A Book of Tea, Tales and Toddler Tantrums, written and illustrated by Deborah Sedgwick. Partly autobiographical the book has been published to help promote awareness of ME and Fibromyalgia, from which Deborah has suﬀered since 2006. Appropriately enough, Greyfriars Art Space is also the point of focus at which the book ends. For more details and information, contact Curator Christine Pike on 07968 287999 or see www.teakingslynn.wordpress.com.

KLmagazine September 2014

Saturday 13th to Saturday 20th

BIG OPEN SKIES: AN EXHIBITION BY SHIRLEY CARNT Thornham Village Hall, Thornham PE36 6LX (10am-5pm) Don’t miss this opportunity to see renowned local artist Shirley Carnt’s latest solo exhibition Big Open Skies, which features a selection of her recent work in her distinctive style. It’s been a very successful year for Shirley (who sold her very ﬁrst painting in the late 1960s) as she won the Aspire Oil Painter of the Year Award in July. “I use oil because I love to paint big pictures I like to refer to as ‘soul’ paintings,” says Shirley. “I’m inspired by anything – the light, the sky, a reﬂection, anything magical that catches my eye.” For more details and information on Shirley’s work and news of forthcoming exhibitions, please visit her website at www.shirleycarnt.com.

SEPTEMBER BOX OFFICE: (01603) 63 00 00

Sun 14 Sept ABBA MANIA All the hits £5.50 - £19.50 Mon 15 – Sat 20 Sept DAYTONA Maureen Lipman, Harry Shearer, Oliver Cotton star in gripping and poignant drama £6.50 - £27

Mon 22 – Sat 27 Sept TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD Award-winning stage adaptation of Harper Lee’s classic novel £5.50 - £24 Mon 29 Sept – Sat 4 Oct PUTTIN’ ON THE RITZ Lorna Luft stars in recreation of top movie musical moments £6.50 - £33.50

Maureen Lipman, Daytona

Tues 2 – Sat 13 Sept WEST SIDE STORY No. 1 Greatest Musical of all Time £6.50 - £41.50

Book online: www.theatreroyalnorwich.co.uk THEATRE STREET, N ORWICH NR2 1R L

Your Local Downham Market Auction Rooms

£168.00 SO L

£213.00 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 www.the-saleroom.com

Auction Dates 3rd & 17th September 1st & 15th October 5th & 19th November 3rd & 17th December

27th September – Hilgay Collective Sale of Farm Machinery 11th October – at Cockley Cley 17th October – Sporting Sale

BARRY L HAWKINS Auctioneers 15th November – 2 Farm Machinery Sales at Ten Mile Bank

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

KLmagazine September 2014

PASCALE PETIT

GEORGE SZIRTES

HUGO WILLIAMS

September

PICTURE: NEIL LEGGETT

Friday 26th to Sunday 28th

Saturday 6th to Sunday 14th WNAA SMALL WORKS EXHIBITION King’s Lynn Arts Centre, King Street, King’s Lynn PE30 1HA Daily 10am-5pm | FREE admission | Parking in Tuesday Market Place This month sees the welcome return of the West Norfolk Artists Association’s fascinating Small Works Exhibition, an interesting and unique exhibition of small art works which has been held in the Shakespeare Barn Gallery at the King’s Lynn Arts Centre for the last three years. In its fourth year, the Small Works exhibition has been kindly sponsored by Andrew Schumann (a WNAA member himself), and although the subjects and media are very diverse, the artwork all has one thing in common – they must be no larger than 12” x 12” and displayed on a complementary coloured background. WNAA members always look forward to the challenge of producing these ‘little gems’ – and the public always looks forward to seeing them. Members of the WNAA will be on hand every day to welcome visitors, and the Arts Centre’s Pop-Up Café will be open throughout the exhibition. All four galleries will host local artists, and the majority of the artwork will be for sale. For further details and information, please contact WNAA Chairman Kit Price Moss on 01485 529223 or visit the association website at www.westnorfolkartists.org. Kelvin Clarke Honda Sales

30th KING’S LYNN POETRY FESTIVAL Town Hall, Saturday Market Place, King’s Lynn For the last thirty years, over a glorious late summer weekend, the King’s Lynn Poetry Festival has delivered the world’s ﬁnest poets to an appreciative local audience. With a reputation for being one of the friendliest small poetry festivals around, the King’s Lynn Poetry Festival always has a sterling line up, with poets coming from all over the country – although many are local, and there’s always a strong international ﬂavour too. Some will have a debut collection, while others will have long-standing and successful careers behind them. This year’s Festival is no exception, with George Szirtes from Wymondham and Rennie Parker from Stamford appearing alongside Cuba’s top poet Víctor Rodríguez Núñez. Regular visitors will recognise Kit Wright, who’ll be presenting his new collection, and the 2014 Festival will also feature the brilliant Irish poet Matthew Sweeney. Full details of the 30th King’s Lynn Poetry Festival are available at www.lynnlitfests.com. Tickets are £8.50.

Crown Garage Honda

Tuesday 9th

BAT WALK Holkham Park, Holkham (7pm) Join a guided bat walk and discover the truth about British bats. Using special detectors, you’ll listen out for the many bats active at this time of year in the beautiful setting of Holkham Park. Suitable footwear is highly recommended as you’ll be walking in parkland and need to be prepared for all weathers! Tickets are £3.50 (adults) and £2.50 (children 5-16 years). For more information and to book your place, contact the Holkham Ticket Oﬃce on 01328 713111.

We’ve had a busy year here at Crown Honda King’s Lynn and our selection of quality approved used Hondas has been selling well. All are hand picked and many are previously supplied and serviced by us or our Soham branch. With prices starting from £4,990 there’s something to please everyone and they all come with 12 months Honda guarantee including home start and roadside assistance. The year also saw the launch of the new Honda CR-V with the amazing 1.6 Diesel low emission engine, just £30 road tax and 62 mpg, and the all new Civic Tourer, a five door estate with amazing luggage space. Please call me if you’d like to book an extended test drive. I know we opened last year, but it only seems a few days ago. It’s been really nice to meet some loyal Honda customers and to introduce many more local motorists to the Honda experience. Whatever your needs - come along, myself and the rest of the team look forward to meeting you. The kettle is always on. No hassle, no pressure - that’s the Honda way.

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

KLmagazine September 2014

Local Life

ABOVE: A peaceful and tranquil retreat rich in Royal history, Sandringham’s Park House was originally built in 1863

The Royal history of Park House, Sandringham During its 150-year life, it’s been home to an illustrious line of individuals from Edward VII’s Treasurer to the late Princess Diana. Emma Barnard traces the history of this remarkable building...

andringham – it’s a village steeped in royal history and home of the Norfolk retreat of Her Majesty the Queen. The Royals ﬂock to Sandringham every Christmas, causing a buzz with locals; and members of the public never fail to arrive at the West Norfolk village on Boxing Day to catch a glimpse of the family and their guests on their way to a Royal Shoot. The area is deservedly popular for visitors all year round, not just over the festive period – dog walkers, ramblers, families on picnics and admirers alike are all able to use 240 hectares of the 8,000 hectare estate free of charge. The woodland and heath of the Country Park are open every single day

KLmagazine September 2014

of the year. This is a village that’s never short of activity. We know these things about Sandringham, we know about its beauty and its modern function – but what about a lesser-known building on the estate and its own Royal timeline? Park House is on the Sandringham Estate and was built in 1863 at the request of the then Prince of Wales, the future King Edward VII. Since then, the building has had various owners, occupants and uses and is even the birthplace of Diana, Princess of Wales, proving one thing’s for sure – it’s got a rich and lengthy timeline of royal history. Its ﬁrst ever occupant was the man appointed Treasurer and Controller to

the Prince of Wales in 1862 – General William Sir Thomas Knollys. He lived in Park House until 1877 when he became Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod, a position he held until he passed away in 1883. When Knollys departed in 1877, Park House became home to General Sir Dighton MacNaughton Probyn. He was Controller of the Household, keeper of the Privy Purse, and Secretary to the Prince of Wales. It’s said that Probyn had quite a job on his hands as the Prince and Princess had a distinct tendency toward extravagance with their spending! Propyn remained in his role as the Prince became King Edward VII, throughout his reign and up to the King’s death in 1910. He himself passed

Local Life

ABOVE: The beautiful interior of Park House Hotel combines plenty of modern facilities together with plenty of reminders that this was always a home for families.

away in 1924 at Sandringham House. In 1920, Maurice Roche, 4th Baron Fermoy rented Park House from King George V. In the 1924 General Election, Lord Fermoy won the local Parliamentary constituency of King’s Lynn, a role in which he remained until 1935. In 1931 he married Ruth Gill, who had her own Royal connections in that she was a Woman of the Bedchamber, part of the inner circle around Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother. The couple had three children (Mary, Frances and Edmund) and Fermoy passed away in 1955, being buried in the churchyard of St Mary Magdalene in Sandringham. Following the passing of Fermoy, Park House was used as a tied house by Lord Althorp in his role as Equerry to Queen Elizabeth II – and in 1954, he married the Lord Fermoy’s youngest daughter Frances Ruth Roche. Park House was their family home for many years, and where their ﬁve children were born. Their eldest child Sarah was born in 1955, their youngest daughter Diana (the future Princess of Wales) was born at Park House in 1961 and their youngest child Charles was born in 1964. Lord and Lady Althorp divorced in 1969, and six years later Lord Althorp inherited the title of The Right Honourable The Earl Spencer after the death of his father. He moved to the family home in Northamptonshire with the children, leaving Park House with

no residents as of 1974. After Park House was left vacant, The Queen would use it sporadically for her guests to stay in when they visited the estate for a Royal Shoot, but otherwise the building was left unoccupied. Finally, some nine years after its previous resident’s departure in 1983, The Queen found a wonderful new use for Park House. The Queen is a Patron of Leonard Cheshire Disability and oﬀered the house to the Trust. The UK-based organisation is the country’s leading charity supporting disabled people and was set up by RAF pilot Leonard Cheshire VC in 1948 for disabled exservicemen. They launched a successful appeal to raise £1.6 million in a bid to turn Park House into a hotel for the use of disabled people, their carers and companions – a project that saw Park House Hotel open its doors on April 1st 1987. Today, visitors and guests of Park House Hotel enjoy a peaceful and tranquil retreat (with the option of using the experienced in-house care staﬀ’s services) in a house rich in Royal history, set in one of the most beautiful villages in the country. For more information on the services available at Park House Hotel, see www.parkhousehotel.org.uk and for details of the charitable work of the Leonard Cheshire Disability Trust, see www.leonardcheshire.org.

ABOVE: A gallery of past residents of Park House, Sandingham, including (from top to bottom) Sir William Knollys, Sir Dighton MacNaughton Probyn (pictured with Queen Alexandra of Denmark in 1923), Lord Althorp and Frances Ruth Roche (pictured on their wedding day in 1954), and their youngest daughter Diana – pictured enjoying the pool at Park House.

KLmagazine September 2014

A Country House Hotel for the disabled situated in Sandringham

• Open all year round

(including Christmas) Winter breaks: Oct 25th - 3rd April (excluding xmas & new year) • Support care packages available Last few remaining complimentary

seats available for

Thursford Christmas Spectacular 2014

If you book with us!

(Bookings must be for 7 nights)

• Additional entertainment & activities

tel: 01485 543000 web: www.parkhousehotel.org.uk email: parkinfo@leonardcheshire.org Sandringham, Norfolk PE35 6EH KLmagazine September 2014

Films subject to change. View our website for up to date screening information.

The Luxe

film club

A unique collection of specia

lly selected films

Frozen River No | My Summer of Love | The Sessions | Black Death

luxurious leather seating throughout premier sofas with waitress service stylish & comfortable lounge bar mainstream, arthouse & classic films

The Luxe independent cinema

Alexandra Road, Wisbech, Cambridgeshire PE13 1HQ Tel: 01945 588808 Book online: www.theluxecinema.com

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*Private holiday use only, non-residential and strictly no sub-letting

Static Holiday Homes from £9,995 - £129,995 on a choice of 7 McDonnell Caravan Parks on the West Norfolk Coast

Lynn Road, Gayton, King’s Lynn PE32 1QJ 01553 636243 | Open 7 days a week

To view our current stock and park details visit

www.mcdonnellcaravans.co.uk

KLmagazine September 2014

What’s On

Mirror, mirror on the wall... A perfect panto for one and all! SNOW WHITE AND THE 7 DWARFS Friday 5 - Wednesday 31 December A traditional fun-filled family pantomime

t a n m u t u A n n y L s ’ g n i K e g n a h c x E Corn

Nothing is more dangerous than a paranoid Wicked Queen! Will Snow White escape her jealous clutches? Can Dame Dotty get her man? Can Herbie the Huntsman work out if he’s a goodie or a baddie? Can Prince Simon of Sofaria ensure a happy ending? Starring Sue Holderness (Only Fools and Horses, and Green, Green Grass) as The Wicked Queen, plus back by popular demand Ian Marr as Dame Dotty and KLFM’s Adam Newstead as Herman The Henchman.

HALF TERM TREAT! THE PEOPLE’S THEATRE COMPANY PRESENTS

OLD MACDONALD HAD A FARM Friday 31 October | 2:30pm This fun filled farmyard tale brings to life all the best loved characters from the original nursery rhyme along with a magical medley of games, giggles and sing along songs. Including Heads, Shoulders Knees and Toes, She’ll Be Coming Round The Mountain and of course Old MacDonald Had A Farm. Re-live the delights of this most charming of tales told with a captivating combination of live action, puppetry and animation.

KLmagazine September 2014

STONES IN HIS POCKETS

SHANE FILAN: YOU AND ME TOUR

Friday 7 November | 7:30pm

Tuesday 11 November | 7:30pm

The multi award winning comedy by Marie Jones. Following a sell-out run on Broadway, four and a half years in the West End and on tour, the worldwide sensation Stones in His Pockets returns with Ian McElhinney, the original director at the helm. A hilarious and moving tale of a quiet Irish community turned upside down by the arrival of a Hollywood movie shoot. Stones in His Pockets is brought to life by two highly talented actors who play 15 characters between them - from the two cheeky lads intent on stardom to a Hollywood Goddess!

Shane was just a teenager when the mighty Westlife formed in 1998. In 2012 after 14 UK number one singles, 12 massive albums and numerous tours, the band decided to call it a day. For Shane the future meant landing a deal with record giants Universal and beginning work on his first ever solo album, You and Me. Musically Shane decided to mix things up with some up-tempo and mid-tempo songs, all penned by himself. The result is an eclectic mix of pop, soul, country, folk and even a hint of traditional Irish music thrown in for good measure.

Seating: SOLD OUT! Standing: Tickets available

King’s Lynn Corn Exchange’s new Autumn brochure is out now! Covering September December and beyond

RUBY WAX: SANE NEW WORLD Tuesday 21 October | 8pm

Plus we’re now booking for 2015! Willy Russell’s Blood Brothers (16 – 21 March) Avenue Q – The Musical (16 - 20 June) Suitable for ages 14+ To see the complete selection of great shows coming up at the Corn Exchange check the ‘What’s On’ page of our website!

Ruby Wax is a much loved US born comedian, actor and writer. She has recently become a mental health campaigner and gained a Masters degree in Mindfulness-based Cognitive Therapy from Oxford University. This show at the Corn Exchange is based on her critically acclaimed book Sane New World which helps us understand why we sabotage our sanity with our own thinking. This show is your passport to saner living. She might not be sane herself but she does a pretty good imitation.

JOIN OUR MAILING LIST – AND WE’LL KEEP YOU IN THE SPOTLIGHT! Don’t forget to follow the Have you signed up to the Corn Exchange e-mail mailing Corn Exchange online too: list yet? We’ll keep you fully updated with all the latest news – and you can now choose your preferences so we Twitter: @klcornexchange can keep you informed about the shows that most Facebook: Alive Corn Exchange interest you! For more details, visit our website at www.kingslynncornexchange.co.uk or scan the QR code le from the Box Tickets for all shows are availab opposite which will take you direct to our home page. you can book online at Office 01553 764864 or co.uk www.kingslynncornexchange.

KLmagazine September 2014

Burnhham Market 18

KLmagazine September 2014

Explorer

ABOVE: The centre of Burnham Market is vibrant and colourful, and its cosmopolitan air continues to draw visitors from near and far

The precious jewel in North Norfolk’s crown... Despite the beautiful old architecture, tranquil setting and rural flavour, there’s nothing sleepy-headed about Burnham Market. Emma Barnard visits the village to see what all the fuss is about

orth Norfolk holds within it many picturesque villages, but Burnham Market marches to the beat of a diﬀerent drum; with its mix of cosmopolitan atmosphere attracting famous faces and city dwellers alike together with its undoubted coastal charm, this delightful village is a true Norfolk gem. The civil parish of Burnham Market is actually the result of a merger of three villages (Burnham Sutton, Burnham Ulph and Burnham Westgate) and is around one mile inland of the beautiful Norfolk coast. The name is thought to have come from the River Burn, as the village is close to the mouth of the river. Historically, Burnham also had a cattle

KLmagazine September 2014

market (today the site is The Hoste’s car park) and for a while was even known as a town; however, the market was discontinued many years before 1854. The market tradition that survives in the village name also takes shape these days in the form of summer auctions which are held every two weeks during the season on the famous green in the middle of the village. Horatio Nelson had strong links with the area, as he was born in nearby Burnham Thorpe in 1758. Nelson lived in both Burnham Market and Burnham Thorpe in the mid-1790s (he actually stayed in the room above the bar at The Hoste at one point) and his family owned a number of properties in the village over the years.

The Hoste itself is generally accepted as being the key to the growth of Burnham Market over the last 20 years. The historic bar dates back to 1651 and today the former coaching inn is a 62bedroom hotel with six hotel buildings in the village – including the Vine House boutique hotel, Railway House and three luxurious holiday cottages. It even has its own Beauty Spa, which is open to non-residents. Each year, over the Easter Weekend, Sussex Farm in the village attracts crowds from all over the country for the Burnham Market International Horse Trials. The farm has been transformed into a training and competition facility, and Alec and Emily Lochore (they’ve both competed

Explorer internationally for a number of years) have been running the centre since the beginning of 1995. Many riders make the journey to Norfolk for international and novice competitions; you’ll find world class riders, Olympic and championship athletes at the trials, which take place over three days and involve dressage, cross country and show jumping. Regular attendees include the Queen’s granddaughter Zara Phillips, William Fox-Pitt, Pippa Funnell and Norfolk’s very own Piggy French. Not only can locals and visitors see top quality eventing, but there’s always an array of trade stands to enjoy plus bouncy castles, climbing walls and trampolines for the children – making the event a mirror image of the village itself: something that appeals to the whole family. You’ll find more than Olympic athletes in Burnham Market these days, however. Many famous names are attracted to the area for its unique atmosphere, leaving it with the modern nickname of ‘Chelsea-on-Sea’. This name combines the name of the affluent area of South London (which now even has its own reality-based television programme) with the traditional seaside name. The celebrity pull of Burnham Market was reflected in the long-held (but ultimately groundless) rumour that Johnny Depp was about to own a stately home close to the village – giving locals the chance to bump into Captain Jack Sparrow on the green. Even Nelson may have raised an eyebrow at that one!

“You’ll find more than Olympic athletes in Burnham Market these days, however...” Actress and presenter Amanda Holden owned a cottage near Burnham for some years. In her recent autobiography she describes in detail just how much Norfolk means to her and has often been quoted as saying that “Norfolk hasn’t been spoilt by tourism – it’s one of the best places in the world!” The village often plays (quite literally) host to well-known faces such as Holden, Norfolk-raised Stephen Fry, presenters Johnny Vaughn and Rory McGrath and actors Bill Nighy and John Hurt. The Royal Family are even said to visit often, and with Anmer Hall being widely reported as the future home of

KLmagazine September 2014

Individually designed and crafted garden buildings – exquisitely hand made by local carpenters

Creake Road, Burnham Market, Norfolk PE31 8EA Tel: 01328 823413 | Mobile: 07775 897937

www.theclassicshedco.co.uk

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the

hoste KLmagazine September 2014

in the centre of Burnham Market, at the heart of the royal coast

HOTEL • RESTAURANTS • BAR • GARDEN • BEAUTY SPA The Hoste, The Green, Burnham Market, Norfolk, PE31 8HD • www.thehoste.com

Explorer

the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, Chelsea-on-Sea could well form the heart of a new ‘Royal Coast’. Visit and you can understand why Burnham Market is so popular – everything you could wish for circles the green, although if you arrive in Burnham Market during the weekend, don’t expect to park there. Cars line the pavements, bumper to bumper, squeezing in to get a small taste of just what the village has to offer. You’ll find a mix of locals and visitors having a drink on the benches outside the pub (which, on a sunny day will be full to the brim) taking dogs for walks, shopping for everything the village has to offer, browsing through the windows of estate agents, looking in the museums and galleries and browsing for antiques – it’s easy to see why there’s a constant hustle and bustle in Burnham Market. There are many things to get swept away with around the green. There are clothing shops aplenty, an array of galleries, antiques shops and a museum, a butcher, a fish shop, a bakery, dainty cafes, estate agencies (giving admirers plenty of opportunities

to see the properties available in the area), a book shop, a DIY shop, a pharmacy and a jewellery shop. The aromas and the atmosphere all these places create is quite unique and appealing; rooting locals to the area and enticing visitors to come back time and time again. Burnham Market has a Primary School that looks after Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2 pupils with Burnham Market playgroup also on site. The school integrates with the community with events such as Christingle services during the festive period which are open to the public. The school also gets involved in the wider community – in May, for example, pupils from the school helped design a number of ﬂower beds at Holkham Hall. In their 2009 report with the OFSTED inspectors, the school was judged to be ‘good, with outstanding features’ holding up the standards and spirit of this wonderful village. There always seems to be something happening in Burnham Market. It’s not just the shoppers on the green, or the visitors or the locals at the pub. The community spirit of Burnham Market

permeates the whole village. There are signs and posters all around promoting local events for the residents and visitors to enjoy. There are events advertised such as a craft fair, summer fete, Christmas market, a jazz afternoon and even children’s tennis coaching. This village really is a precious, vibrant and colourful jewel in the crown of North Norfolk.

ABOVE: Welcome to Burnham Market, a true gem in the crown of North Norfolk. The tower of St Marys (above left) features a quite extraordinary parapet, illustrating in stone a concise version of the Bible.

KLmagazine September 2014

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A taste of Italy comes to Burnham Market... From a rural location in the heart of Tuscany, Wanda Djebbar runs a farm that produces some truly outstanding food and drink – and now she’s bringing a taste of that lifestyle to Norfolk

rom Burnham Thorpe to living in the hill town of Montalcino in Tuscany (noted for its Brunello di Montalcino wine) and now back to Burnham Market to open the Tuscan Farm Shop, Wanda Djebbar is having an interesting time. “This area of Norfolk is very important to me as my mother’s family all originate here,” she says, “but for the last ten years I’ve also strengthened my ties with Montalcino in Tuscany. I have a farm there called Tenuta Ribusuoli, together with a restoration business that specialises in restoring the lovely old stone-built houses found at

Montalcino and the surrounding Val d’Orcia, an area of outstanding natural beauty.” Wanda says that farming had long been an interest of hers but she’d conﬁned herself to studying agricultural history until about ﬁve years ago, when the urge to try things out for herself became too strong. “It was one of those typically Italian moments,” she says. “My husband met up with a local friend of ours at Montalcino, and by the end of the conversation we’d agreed to talk with someone about some land he might sell. It’s not Norfolk, so you don’t go to Norwich or online to an estate agent!

Most things – certainly the best things – never appear, and everything is by word of mouth. I’ve had plenty of experience of this with my restoration company Toscana Restoration, which buys and sells property.” Within a year of the chance meeting and some bureaucracy later (“expect it and live with it,” Wanda advises), around some 55 acres of prime agricultural land had new owners. “Then life got really interesting and it’s been non-stop ever since,” says Wanda. Montalcino is 564 metres above sea level and the surrounding Val d’Orcia is noted for its rolling hills; a far cry from the ﬂatter landscape of

KLmagazine September 2014

Local Life

Norfolk. Tractors frequently have tracks rather than wheels as the chance of turning over on the rugged terrain is a consistently real one. A lot of everyday life and farming is a true ‘off-road experience’. Another experience for Wanda was becoming a recognised farmer. “It was a learning curve as steep as the landscape and involved some more bureaucracy,” she remembers, “but now I’m a certified agriculturalist!” Landscape and soil types around Montalcino are ideally suited to the growing of vines and olives, and the area’s Brunello di Montalcino wine is one of Italy’s two most prestigious wines. It’s not a quick turnaround wine but a very strict denomination – among other restrictions to ensure quality it’s aged for five years from harvest before it’s allowed to be sold. “At Montalcino, quality is everything,” says Wanda. “I think some people visiting Tuscany wonder why a bottle of wine from Montalcino costs more than many bottles of wine from a supermarket shelf in the UK. The answer lies in the time, care and attention invested in vineyards here. The vines that produce the marvellous wines of the Montacino area are constantly tended, work is all done manually and the grape bunches are thinned to provide just one or two small, perfectly concentrated bunches.” It’s all about quality rather than quantity, and complexity rather than high yields. The supermarket shelf ‘buy-one-getone-free’ wines may well be mechanically picked, and there will

KLmagazine September 2014

Local Life

have been no selection or thinning of grape bunches. “People should always remember that apart from sulphites, there’s no requirement to show other additives that ‘help’ the wine on a wine label,” explains Wanda. “You can compare prices, but that means comparatively little. Wine drinkers need to look at many other factors before they can make a real comparison.” Wanda is on a mission to bring better, more authentic wine to Norfolk. “I care deeply about what goes into what I drink and I would like people to be able to have a better understanding about what they’re drinking,” she says. “On my farm, although we’re not yet registered as organic, we do grow in a sustainable manner according to organic principles. The Decanter writer and biodynamic wine guru Monty Waldin lives nearby, and is a good friend. I’ve learned a lot from Monty and from my neighbours about terroir and treating the land with respect. I was really pleased when Monty made some very positive comments about my debut wine – Homagium – in 2012. It told me I was going in the right direction.

“Agriculture, especially when using perennial plants such as vines and olives, is a slow process at the best of times – and any farmer knows that often times are NOT the best of times! Just before I started farming in Italy I looked out my window in mid-August and saw a hailstorm such as I’ve never seen! “My terrace had a couple of inches of hailstones the size of small walnuts. It was about seven weeks before harvest and it cut most of the maturing grape bunches to pieces. They weren’t ready to be viniﬁed and they didn’t recover, they were just a huge loss.” So, back to Burnham Market – what’s the idea behind the Tuscan Farm Shop? Well, it seems that farm shops aren’t so common in Italy as they are here (“it’s that bureaucracy thing again,“ shrugs Wanda) so she’s decided to bring her products to market on the north Norfolk coast. “Burnham Market has become a centre for very interesting things, so when the opportunity arose I wondered if I could add to it,” says Wanda. She was in her Tuscan oﬃce when one day she spotted the old Bank building on the Market Place in

Burnham Market. While sorry that it meant the loss of a useful cash machine (“it’s something people tell me all the time!” she laughs) she also saw its potential – a vision which has resulted in the Tuscan Farm Shop. At the moment, Wanda’s taste of Italy will be available for a limited time. “I farm and I’m very attached to my restoration business – houses and restoring them using traditional methods and materials is a real passion of mine,” she says. “I‘m not sure it would be feasible, or if there are enough hours in the day for me to make the Tuscan Farm Shop a permanent feature of Burnham Market! But I do hope the area is going to enjoy us giving it our best shot for a limited period of time. It’s not every day that a Tuscan farm comes to their doorsteps! Maybe if they like it enough, some of them will come to my doorstep in Tuscany!” From the Burnhams to Tuscany and back to the Burnhams. It’s been a fascinating jounrey for Wanda. Will people be content to see what she does in Burnham Market – or will some of them get the Tuscany bug as she did? Time will tell.

KLmagazine September 2014

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The Big Interview

Vanessa Scott of Strattons Hotel in Swaffham is one of Norfolk’s most dedicated food champions and the driving force behind the successful Brecks Food & Drink Festival, which takes place this month. Here she talks about her love of Norfolk – and of its fabulous food... KL MAGAZINE: Could you give us a brief overview of the Brecks Food & Drink Festival? VANESSA SCOTT: The first Brecks Food & Drink Festival was spearheaded in Swaffham in 2011 by a community partnership that I assembled. Due to its outstanding success it has taken place each year thereafter and is part of the county-wide Norfolk Food & Drink Festival, which is now in its 10th year and is the largest festival of its kind in the country. KL MAGAZINE: What should we be looking out for at this year’s Festival? VANESSA SCOTT: The Big Onion at Elveden opens our Festival on the 6th and 7th of September (see the website www.bigonionfestival.com for details) with the main Brecks weekend taking place over the 12th-14th September in and around Swaffham, including a popup at Westacre Theatre and a Farmers Market in Swaffham market place. See www.aroundswaffham.co.uk for full details of the event.

Vanessa Scott Strattons Hotel, Swaﬀham 28

KL MAGAZINE: What are the biggest issues for local food producers today? VANESSA SCOTT: Producers work 24/7 and have to be skilled in all business aspects such as marketing and accountancy whilst still creating or growing their products. It’s a very tough lifestyle choice and on top of all that they’re up against the multi-nationals that have tremendous resources behind them. You have to be tough, resilient and lucky to survive. KL MAGAZINE: What’s the most rewarding part of your job? VANESSA SCOTT: Becoming a patron of the Norfolk Food & Drink Festival, organising the Brecks Food & Drink Festival and working with Visit Norfolk strategically to get better national and international recognition for this beautiful county is high up on my satisfaction radar. I really believe that

KLmagazine September 2014

private businesses need to play a really active role in this objective by working together. At Strattons hotel, the most rewarding thing is unlocking the secrets of our part of Norfolk to visitors and hearing their enthusiasm for that experience; sending people to the church at Houghton-on-the-Hill to see possibly the oldest paintings of the Trinity in Europe; or to True’s Yard in King’s Lynn, the old North End of the ﬁshing community of the town. There are so many great things to share culturally.

be afraid to ask for something. You may get ninety-nine rejections, but the one ‘yes’ in a hundred makes all the eﬀort worthwhile.

KL MAGAZINE: What do you consider to be your greatest achievement? VANESSA SCOTT: Being content for me is a huge achievement and I guess that comes from lots of angles – not least from having a wonderful family, friends and business colleagues around me who I admire and love tremendously. The work we do in trying to stick to our original ethical aims of caring for the environment has led us on an amazing journey, meeting some very special people – including our Queen!

KL MAGAZINE: In your free time, how do you like to relax? VANESSA SCOTT: Cooking for friends and family, swimming, running, and being out in the landscape at the crack of dawn with my three dogs: lurcher ‘Goose’, whippet ‘Tilly’ and ‘Dolly’ the ever-so-naughty dachshund.

KL MAGAZINE: What have you learnt from your work? VANESSA SCOTT: That all things are possible if you just work at it and never

KL MAGAZINE: What do you like best about Norfolk? VANESSA SCOTT: I love the diversity of Norfolk with its amazing countryside, featuring coastline, rivers, heathland, forestry and geologically-varied soils supporting diverse produce which really excites me. I love the space, the skies and the very dry sense of humour of its people.

KL MAGAZINE: What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given? VANESSA SCOTT: You only get out of life what you put in. My parents gave me a good work ethic and my father particularly a pragmatist’s approach to life. Whenever I feel uncertain I just imagine what he would observe and it informs my decision-making and

coping mechanisms! KL MAGAZINE: Who’s your biggest inspiration? VANESSA SCOTT: My family, but especially my husband, who is the most content, self-contained person I’ve ever met. KL MAGAZINE: What was the last book you read? VANESSA SCOTT: ‘The Sea Inside’ by Philip Hoare – which is a beautiful book detailing how the sea gives us life, provides us with the air we breathe and the food we eat. It’s where we came from and it covers two thirds of our planet. I think most of us have a pull towards it – I certainly do. KL MAGAZINE: Tell us something about yourself that would surprise people... VANESSA SCOTT: I once sold readymix concrete for a living! The 2014 Brecks Food & Drink Festival takes place from Saturday 6th September. A complete listing of events can be found online at www.aroundswaﬀham.co.uk

MKM KING’S LYNN Hamburg Way, King’s Lynn PE30 2ND

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www.mkmbs.co.uk

Monday–Friday 7:30am-5:30pm Sat 7:30am-noon

KLmagazine September 2014

Property

PROPERTY OF THE MONTH:

High House, King’s Lynn

stunning family home with a beautiful decor and divine layout, High House is an original Edwardian home that’s been tastefully added to over time. With a growing family in mind, the design that has evolved offers a series of spacious and versatile rooms, and the beautifully landscaped garden, complete with a stream running through it, makes this the perfect setting for relaxation and one that is sure to beguile the discerning buyer.

High House is currently on the market with Fine & Country at a guide price of £625,000. To arrange a viewing or to request further details of this wonderful property, contact Fine & Country at 27/28 Tuesday Market Place, King’s Lynn, telephone 01553 769100 or visit the website at www.fineandcountry.com

KLmagazine September 2014

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

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Why are so many of us fascinated by property? Norwich 01603 221888

North & West Norfolk 01553 769100

wice this week on my daily ritual of valuing homes I came across instances where teenagers were watching property related programmes on the television. Normally this age group would be more inclined to watch soaps or reality-based shows. Why is it that there is this fascination with our homes? Well, first and foremost, the media has played its part. Us Brits simply love a good property TV show and they are now one of the most popular shows on UK television. Many of the presenters have become household names and it seems the appetite for these shows can never be satisfied. More shows are popping up as TV bosses capitalise on their popularity. This constant barrage has given a lot of homeowners the confidence and knowledge to undertake renovations, extensions and makeovers where once this would have left to the

South Norfolk & North Suffolk 01379 646020

professionals. Secondly, the public have regarded ‘Bricks and Mortar’ as their safest bet in terms of investment whereas shares or pensions are often seen by the public as complicated or out of reach of ordinary folk. For this reason people like to keep up with house prices and especially what they could do to their property to enhance its value. Thirdly, choice! Whether you are talking about interiors, fixtures and fittings or furnishings, your choice is much greater today than what it was ten or twenty years ago. The internet has enabled people to order items from all over the world. This is what people enjoy the most about property, transforming a dull space into something that captures everyone’s imagination. The beauty for me is that everyone’s taste is different which makes my job more exciting! If you have any questions about any

London 020 7079 1515

NEIL MACLENNAN

Director of Sales (North and West Norfolk) neil.maclennan@fineandcountry.com of our properties give me a call or chat to one of my team. You can contact us at Fine and Country on 01553 769100 or send me an e-mail at neil.maclennan@fineandcountry.com.

NORTH RUNCTON Guide Price £345,000 TILNEY ALL SAINTS Guide Price £650,000 Finished to an incredibly high standard Set at the end of a picturesque cul de sac Four bedrooms; three bathrooms/shower rooms Open plan kitchen/breakfast room; separate utility Two receptions; downstairs WC Under floor heating and italian tiles Double garage; additional parking The accommodation extends to 2,111sq.ft

Built to Perfection

“This contemporary and stylish property has been built to the highest of standards. Large light rooms offer open plan living spaces, to the rear a sun-drenched terrace. With its set of French doors to the garden, fabulous breakfast bar and luxury fittings, this is real gem just waiting for you to discover.”

01553 769100

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

A stunning detached farmhouse Ideally suited for equestrian use boasting four large paddocks, three stables & hay barn Planning permission for menage Five bedrooms; family bathroom; en-suite shower room Three receptions; conservatory The grounds extend to approximately 5 acres The accommodation extends to 3,345sq.ft

A Country Seat

“A beautiful farmhouse set well back down a long sweeping drive, and surrounded by paddocks. Period features abound; exposed beams, open fires, and original chequered quarry tiles on the kitchen floor. Fabulous gardens, grounds, and decking, complete with sofa, hammock and hot tub, who could ask for more?”

01553 769100

fineandcountry.com fineandcountrylifestyles.com 31

Motoring

1935 Morgan Super Sport

Local record breaker... bove the fireplace in the Hare Arms at Stow Bardolph there’s a photograph of Harold Beart behind the wheel of a 1935 Morgan Super Sport. It was presented to the pub by Tony Divey on behalf of the Morgan 3W Club, and it’s a reminder that the man who founded Bearts with his daughter in 1932 had a lot more interests than seeds and animal feeds. Harold started his glittering motorsport career in 1921, winning a silver cup in the Gloucester Trial and coming second in his very first race at Brooklands. From that point, he went from strength to strength, taking no less than 51 world records and becoming the very first man to exceed 100mph in a 3-wheeled car. It’s a local claim to fame helped in no small part by a quite remarkable car. Henry Morgan (who established his motor company in 1910) had orginally created a three-wheeled runabout with

seating for one person in 1909, Prix’. Although the 4-cylinder F-Series primarily for his own personal use. was introduced in 1932 (the F came Interest in the little vehicle soon spread from the fact that the engines were and requests were made to produce Ford) and was still being produced in more examples – so after patenting his the early 1950s, it’s the original Morgan designs, Henry commenced Super Sports that’s the stuﬀ dreams are production. Two versions were shown made of – and it’s still favoured by at the 1911 Olympia Motor Show, and vintage racers today. the cars were so alluring and attracted In 1930, Gwenda Hawkes (who’d so much attention that Morgan soon been an ambulance driver in the First had more work than he could handle, World War) drove a Morgan Super purchasing bigger machining tools and Sports at a speed of 115.66mph. Harold building larger facilities to meet the Beart would have been impressed. demand. The cars enjoyed a huge amount of competitive success, and after Gordon McMinnies won the Cyclecar Grand Prix at Amiens in 1913 with a speciallyprepared Morgan, the vehicle was given the ABOVE: Harold Beart behind the wheel of his 1935 Morgan Supersport – he broke 51 records in his remarkable racing career designation ‘Grand KLmagazine September 2014

TECHNICALLY SPEAKING...

A true racing pedigree... he Morgan currently available for sale at the Historic Sportscar Collection is a very special car, aﬀectionately known as ‘Atomic Orange’ thanks to its striking orange body and black cycle wings. Combining the very best of both worlds, it’s both a historic race car and a marvellous road car – and it’s presented in a lovely condition. In its illustrious life, TJ9536 has won no less than three Morgan Championships and a VSCC (Vintage Sports Car Club) Championship – and yet it’s comfortable enough to take the lady of the house out for the day or for a relaxing tour along the Norfolk coastline. Like all Morgans, it’s great fun to drive whether you're on the track or on the road. The very best driving experiences are built around a close (and equal) relationship between

driver and vehicle, and the Morgan never loses sight of the fact. It’s a reminder that when Henry Morgan built his very first car it had originally started life as a motorcycle! The Historic Sportscar Collection's Morgan has been developed and cared for over a number of years as a combined road/race car, and its water-cooled 1220cc JAP V-twin engine has recently been fully overhauled by marque specialist Phil Spencer (a project that also saw the renewal of the flywheels, connecting rods and pistons). TJ9536 also includes an electric starter and two sets of wheels – one set for racing and one set (with a beautiful chrome-plated wire finish) for the road. It’s a wonderful car with a proud history - and its future looks just as glowing as that luscious orange finish!

1935 MORGAN SUPER SPORT Production years: 1928–1937 Chassis No: D743 Engine type: JAP V Twin (1220cc) Power: 70bhp @ 5000rpm Top speed: 110mph (177km/h) Engine location: Front Drive: Rear Gearbox: 3-speed and reverse

A genuine opportunity... Over the last decade, the financial performance of classic cars has been quite astonishing. Only last year, the Historic Automobile Group Index (which tracks the investment potential of classic cars) reported their value had actually jumped by 39% – seriously outperforming collectables such as gold, wine, art, stamps and coins. Morgans have always had a welldeserved reputation for holding their value (even in difficult times) and this 1935 Super Sport represents a solid financial investment. TJ 9536 is a wellknown historic car with an excellent provenance and official documentation from both the MTWC (Morgan Three Wheeler Club) and the VSCC (Vintage Sports Car Club). If you’re interested in this or in any of the other cars in the current Historic Sportscar Collection, contact us using the details below or even better visit our showroom at Tottenhill and see these magnificent vehicles for yourself. JULIAN SUTTON The Historic Sports Car Collection

THE HISTORIC SPORTS CAR COLLECTION Your local specialists for restoring and selling iconic cars...

Unit 2A, Tottenhill Retail Park, Tottenhill, King’s Lynn, Norfolk PE33 0RL telephone: 01553 81149 website: www.historicsportscarcollection.com e-mail: admin@historicsportscarcollection.com

KLmagazine September 2014

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KLmagazine September 2014

Get to grips with the Audi A6 allroad quattro at King’s Lynn Audi. With its quattro® all-wheel-drive system, the Audi A6 allroad is ready for all terrains. And now it’s ready for you to test drive. Contact King’s Lynn Audi on 01553 779500, or visit www.kings-lynn.audi.co.uk

King’s Lynn Audi Hamburg Way King’s Lynn Norfolk PE30 2ND 01553 779500 www.kings-lynn.audi.co.uk

Fuel consumption figures for the A6 allroad range: Official fuel consumption figures for the A6 allroad range in mpg (l/100km) from: Urban 35.8 (7.9) – 40.4 (7.0), Extra Urban 47.1 (6.0) – 51.4 (5.5), Combined 42.2 (6.7) – 46.3 (6.1). C02 emissions: 159 – 176g/km. Standard EU Test figures are for comparative purposes KLmagazine September 2014 and may not reflect real driving results. 35

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EMAIL : info@alloylogic.co.uk KLmagazine September 2014

West Norfolk: Then and Now

History

1962

2014 A BUSY DAY IN APRIL 1962... Our thanks go to SAM PHILLIPS for this picture of a very busy High Street in King’s Lynn, which he says dates from April 1962. That’s a bit of a coincidence as it was also the month that panda crossings were first introduced (and caused plenty of confusion amongst

KLmagazine September 2014

drivers and pedestrians alike!) Can you remember when cars used to travel down the High Street? For more photographs of how things used to be in King’s Lynn and the surrounding area, contact Picture Norfolk – you’ll find them at the Norfolk Heritage Centre, Norfolk and Norwich Millennium

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

KLmagazine September 2014

Local Life

ABOVE: The fallow deer herd on the Holkham Estate are just one of the responsibilities of Head Gamekeeper Kevan McCaig (opposite) and his six-strong gamekeeping team

Holkham’s modern-day Keeper of the Game... In total, the Holkham Estate covers some 25,000 acres, two thirds of which is managed by a dedicated team of six gamekeepers. KL magazine meets Head Gamekeeper Kevan McCaig

lthough gamekeepers have been around for over 1,000 years, they’re still relatively few and far between – and it’s estimated than only one in 50 people have ever actually met one. Despite the fact that gamebird shooting supports some 70,000 fulltime jobs and that they’re responsible for maintaining and managing around two million hectares of nationallyimportant land across the country, there are currently less than 5,000 fulltime gamekeepers in the UK. It’s a time-honoured profession, but for the dedicated individuals taking on the ancient role of Keeper of the Game, KLmagazine September 2014

it’s a lot more than that. It’s a way of life. It’s also a role that’s never managed to lose its appeal. “It’s a wonderful profession to get into, although actually getting a position is the hardest part,” says Holkham’s Head Gamekeeper Kevan McCaig, who’s now in his fourth season at the Estate. “It often surprises people to learn there are far more people wanting to get into gamekeeping than there are positions available. The last time we had a vacancy on the Estate, we had well over 100 applicants – and they were all fully-qualiﬁed and suitable for the role!” Kevan McCaig and his gamekeeping

team (he has ﬁve experienced gamekeepers working with him) manage around 16,000 acres of the Holkham Estate, which covers some 25,000 acres in total, and during the year they’ll also organise around 40 shooting days which range from fulldriven shoots to small rough days. Part of that responsibility includes the maintenance of Holkham’s famous deer park, which covers 660 acres and is home to a herd of fallow deer with a spring count of 400 and a smaller herd of red deer, which is carefully kept to a population of around 40. “We’re often asked why we keep such a close eye on deer numbers,” says 39

Local Life

Conserving the Grey Partridge...

he Holkham Estate is famous for its wild game bird shoot and conservation record. In the days of the third Earl of Leicester in the early 1900s, invitations to shoot at Holkham were much sought after – and back then, grey partridge were the most common game birds in the country. In recent years, populations of these beautiful birds and many other farmland birds have plummeted dramatically on a national scale. The birds have been under constant pressure from changes in farming which, in turn, have led to a decline in the population of those insects vital for young chicks to feed on if they’re to survive the ﬁrst few weeks of their lives. A lack of natural feed and an increase in predation has seen many estates completely lose their populations of grey partridge. However, because of Holkham’s policy of conservation and responsible wild bird management, the Estate still has a viable (and increasing) stock of grey partridge. That continued conservation policy, coupled with new European agrienvironment schemes and other management policies, should ensure that the Estate’s grey partridges continue to prosper, along with the skylarks, tree sparrows, turtledoves and the many other rare and valuable species. More details and information on the Estate’s conservation work and game bird management policy can be found at www.holkham.co.uk

ABOVE: Head Gamekeeper Kevan McCaig at home – and at work – on the Holkham Estate with his dog Bess

Kevan, “but it’s very important in that it keeps both the herds and the park itself in a good, healthy condition.” As his name might suggest (and his accent certainly conﬁrms) Kevan came to Holkham from an agricultural family in southwest Scotland, working his way southward during a gamekeeping career that saw him working for the Duke of Northumberland at Alnwick and the Royal Estate at Sandringham. “I used to come to Norfolk on holiday when I was younger, so I’m no stranger to the county,” he says. “It’s got a very strong tradition for wild game – the climate’s perfect and the soil’s ideal. It’s a great place to be a gamekeeper. Norfolk’s a truly lovely place, and when people comment that it’s a bit remote, I suggest they see were I was brought up. Now that’s remote!” From predation control to supplementing the Estate’s wild stock, from deer culling to organising shoots, Kevan and his team are faced with new challenges every day all year round, but that’s all part of the appeal. “The constant variety is without a doubt the greatest part of being a gamekeeper,” he says. “Even after 26 years I’ll still come across new situations and things I haven’t seen before. I’ll always remember a gamekeeper I knew at Sandringham

who once saw a stoat rolling an egg. It’s not a particularly unusual thing for a stoat to do, but it took virtually all of his 40-year career before he saw it actually happen. That’s what makes life as a gamekeeper so special, although shoot days are always rewarding as it’s a time when you can see all your hard work coming together successfully.” Although it’s tempting to think that working on an Estate that welcomes around 30,000 members of the public a year must create its own headaches for the gamekeeping team, Kevan has nothing but praise for Holkham’s visitors. “They’re really very respectful of the environment and do appreciate what we’re trying to do here,” he says. “Considering the potential eﬀects of such a huge human presence on the Estate, we’re very grateful for that level of understanding. It’s good to know the visitors care as much about the Estate as we do.” It’s also good to know that on the very Estate from which Thomas William Coke, the 1st Earl of Leicester publicised, promoted and accelerated the cause of agricultural improvement in the 19th century, Kevan McCaig and his gamekeeping team are continuing the time-honoured profession of responsible game management.

KLmagazine September 2014

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KLmagazine September 2014

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KLmagazine September 2014

Local Life

ABOVE: Despite the overpowering impact of this bamboo forest in Sagano, Japan (opposite) there really is a bamboo to suit every size and style of garden – especially as there are almost 1,500 varieties to choose from

The fast-forming appeal of the bamboo family Bamboo has a reputation that sees many gardeners avoid it. Emma Barnard visits Snettisham to discover why every garden could benefit from the most remarkable plant in the world...

ardeners are out all year round. From getting out the lawn mower and the shears to planting new ﬂowers and foliage, from pruning and tidying up to protecting delicate plants over winter, our greenﬁngered friends like to ensure their outdoor spaces continue to be spick and span throughout the changing seasons. But there’s one plant that many gardeners feel apprehensive about adding to their collection, due to its largely-undeserved reputation for taking over the garden. It is, of course, bamboo. With the expert help of Lewis Dyer of

KLmagazine September 2014

the Snettisham-based Norfolk Bamboo nursery it’s time to redress the balance and explain the where, the when, and the how for gardeners wishing to add this quite remarkable plant to their garden. A WORLD OF VARIETY... The bamboo family (bambusoidaea) is amazingly diverse, and consists of an astonishing 1,439 diﬀerent species in 116 genera. The timber is famously durable and pliable and is a viable replacement for wood – it can be harvested in 3-5 years compared with 10-20 years for most softwoods. It’s also one of the strongest building materials known to man, with a tensile

strength of 28,000 psi; by comparison, mild steel measures 23,000 psi. Bamboo is also incredibly versatile. In addition to being machined into numerous forms for timber, it can be eaten (new shoots), made into ﬁbre for clothing, can be used to reinforce concrete, and can provide nutritious feed for livestock as the foliage is up to 22% protein. In fact, it might actually be easier to compile a list of what bamboo can’t be used for. As far as gardeners are concerned, there are two main divisions of bamboo: clump-forming and running bamboos. Clump-forming bamboos (such as bambusa, borinda, and fargesia) remain solely where they were

Local Life

ABOVE: The clumping bamboo fargesia robusta (Green Screen) is a great choice for creating a picturesque screen in the garden

originally positioned without any maintenance, and they don’t produce runners. By contrast, running bamboos (such as arundinaria, sasa, indocalamus and yushania) are very mobile; as their name suggests, they produce runners beneath the soil and have the real potential to take over the garden if left to their own devices. It’s worth remembering that bamboo is the fastest-growing plant on the planet and has been recorded growing an incredible 47.6 inches in a 24-hour period. A QUESTION OF CHOICE... From such a huge range to choose from, deciding which type of bamboo to introduce to your garden is, quite simply, diﬀerent horses for diﬀerent courses. Bamboos make excellent natural screening plants, while others make stunning individual feature plants all year round. Instead of solely being a plant for ‘plant people’ bamboo really can (and should) be used in all types of garden. There’s no need to worry about them, or fear that they’ll dominate your garden. If given the chance, the running bamboos will wander, but with a touch of annual maintenance, they can easily be restrained and kept exactly where you intended them to stay. “We have 32 ornamental bamboos in our own garden, eight of which I cut around with a basic garden spade every July,” explains Lewis Dyer. “The runners are usually only between 2-5 inches

deep, so they’ll be severed and die out. However, if they’re not cut and allowed to re-establish themselves elsewhere then it can be hard work to sort them all out!” Different bamboos are used for different effects – from little 12-inch pygmy bamboos right through to the 30ft stately timber species, you’ll easily be able to find the perfect bamboo for your garden’s size and style. And with very little fuss, you’ll be able to keep them well under control.

material is always beneﬁcial in establishment and in promoting full growth, and it’s particularly important for the plants growing in planters, pots, horse troughs or urns. As already mentioned, once planted a bamboo will need very little attention apart from the annual maintenance required for the runners. Ornamental bamboos can beneﬁt from a little compound fertilizer between April and August, although even this is by no means essential.

GOOD FOR YOUR GARDEN... Aside from its pure aesthetic qualities, bamboo can be good for wild animal life too, especially for birds. Many small birds will find a safe refuge from hawks within the canopies, and both goldfinches and blackbirds find that bamboo makes an ideal nesting site, as predators such as cats are unable to climb the plants. So if you’re interested in attracting more birds to your garden, think seriously about adding a bamboo or two – they’ll appreciate it!

A CASE OF COMPATIBILITY... With such a unique plant, it’s tempting to think bamboo has an uneasy relationship with other garden plants, but that’s far from the case. “Nothing is particularly unsuitable as a companion for bamboo,” says Lewis. “There are a hundred ways to design and plant every garden, and bamboo is so versatile that it can suit every one of them. Personally, I prefer the atmosphere created by including contrasting shrubs and ornamental grasses with the bamboos – but the choice really is endless.”

CARE FOR YOUR BAMBOO... Looking after your bamboo is very easy, and the key is getting it right from the start with the initial planting and soil structures. Happily, bamboos taken from nursery pots can be planted all year round – the only exception is when there’s frost around, as no bamboo will respond very well to those conditions. The addition of well-rotted organic

The Norfolk Bamboo nursery at Snettisham is open on Fridays 10am4pm and Saturdays from 10am-2pm from April until the end of September. The nursery propagates and grows some 35 varieties of ornamental bamboo. For more details, see www.norfolkbamboo.co.uk

KLmagazine September 2014

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KLmagazine September 2014

Pets

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

SMALL BITES F

A season to be wary n the autumn of 2009 a new disease affecting dogs was first identified. These dogs had recently been walked in the countryside, particularly in woodland areas, and were becoming seriously ill soon after that walk, and sadly several of them died. Sandringham Estate was one of the areas affected, and although cases were also recorded in Thetford Forest and Sherwood Forest, it led to the condition being called ‘Sandringham Disease’ – but now it’s now more responsibly (and accurately) known as Canine Seasonal Illness. Signs we have seen in affected pets include lethargy, a marked loss of appetite, occasional shaking and trembling, and increases of vomiting and diarrhoea. These signs can come on within hours of the woodland walk, or appear during the following day or two. It’s vital that affected dogs are treated promptly, as this gives the animal the best chance of a quick and full recovery. We base diagnosis on the history of the recent walk in a local suspected hotspot, and I should say we’ve also had cases from Shouldham woods as well.

A combination of a ‘hotspot’ walk with the symptoms makes us suspect canine seasonal illness, and we administer intravenous ﬂuids and antibiotics. Happily, we now have a good success rate, with all cases recovering well last year. The seasonal part of the disease’s name is very relevant, with most cases happening in September. Last year we had a couple at the end of August and a trickle of milder cases in October, but otherwise we don’t see it any other time of year. Currently, we don’t know what causes this terrible illness. Research is being done to identify an agent that may be behind the disease, some sort of toxin prevalent only in suitable autumnal conditions. There’s more information available on the Animal Health Trust website. This is a serious disease, but death rates have dropped from around 20% to less than 2%, and at our practice we saw no deaths at all last year. However, it’s largely down to owner awareness and prompt action. If you even suspect your dog may have Canine Seasonal Illness then please call us for veterinary advice right away.

leas are rampant, and if you’ve got problems then rest assured that you’re not alone! With the hot, wet weather of the last two months, fleas are multiplying at a very fast rate – meaning there’s more and more of them. At times like these, your usual flea control is under a real challenge to be effective, and you may need to increase your treatments on your pets – and in your home. Beware of buying off-the-shelf supermarket stuff – these are the treatments vets used to sell years ago, but they’re now limited in their effectiveness, so you could well be wasting money. Come and see your vet for the latest effective multi-approach to combat these cunning little parasites. We can advise you on a specific approach for your pets given their lifestyle, the severity of your problem and, of course, your budget. Call in for our free leaflet on flea control, which is available from both surgeries.

Thanks to LYNDA HOPKINS of Narborough for this photo of her six-year-old cat Marley, who’s clearly on top of the world at the moment! Named after Bob Marley, he’s quite a character by all accounts. Don’t forget to keep sending pictures of your pets to me at Animal Matters, KL magazine, 18 Tuesday Market Place, King’s Lynn, Norfolk PE30 1JW or e-mail them to editor@klmagazine.co.uk

London Road Vets

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KLmagazine September 2014

Local Life

ABOVE: It’s all in a day’s work as Alex Dallas of the London Road Veterinary Centre examines a canine x-ray and (opposite) undertakes a routine health check for Mel’s Complete Pet Care

Paws, claws and more: it’s all in a day’s work They say it shouldn’t happen to a vet, but when it comes to looking after animals, it probably will. KL magazine catches up with Alex Dallas and his team at London Road Veterinary Practice

hings are pretty hectic at the London Road Veterinary Centre in King’s Lynn. It’s first thing in the morning and it’s already a hive of activity, but that’s nothing unusual for vet Alex Dallas and his team. “We’ve never been busier than we are at the moment,” he says, “and I think it’s a very good sign. It doesn’t just mean more people are taking on the responsibility of having pets, it means they’re prepared to care for them properly. And that’s why we’re here in the first place.” Alex, who’s been a vet for 34 years now, came to London Road in 1982 – joining a practice that had already been looking after animals for half a century. “It always surprises people when they discover we were one of the very first

KLmagazine September 2014

purpose-built veterinary practices in Britain,” he says. “London Road Veterinary Centre started life in 1933 as a horse practice before evolving into general farm animal care until the 1960s, when the owners had the foresight to see how much demand there would be for domestic pet medicine in the future.” With a sister practice in Downham Market (The Hollies, which opened in 1993), Alex now heads a team of some 24 staﬀ – comprising six vets, seven nurses, eight receptionists and an ambulance driver, together with vital support and administrative staﬀ. “I’ve never been prouder of the practice and the team we have here,” says Alex, as the day’s work starts arriving, patients are admitted, and the in-patients are checked and cared for.

“Even though the ﬁrst hour or so can be a bit hectic, everyone pulls together to provide a really ﬁrst-class service – and that’s so important because you never know what’s around the corner.” And right on cue, around the corner comes the Downham Market branch of Cats Protection, which re-homes a staggering 800 cats every year – which is around 15 a week! Alex has been working with them for 10 years now, and every week sees a new delivery of cats requiring blood tests and general health checks before they embark on the road to re-homing. If necessary, they’ll also be neutered. “Neutering is really important,” says Alex as he holds one of the cats, a delightful little black kitten that’s been christened Midnight. “It’s an amazing fact, but a single un-neutered female 49

Local Life

PICTURES: Just a few of the day’s activities at London Road Veterinary Practice, as vet Katie Morris operates on a rabbit (left); Alex Dallas and trainee nurse Jen Britton prepare for some canine dental work; and nurse Rachel Everett (right) prepares Midnight (a kitten from Cats Protection) for treatment.

cat can be responsible for some 20,000 descendants in just five years. That’s one of the main reasons why Cats Protection is so busy, and why there are so many cats in need of our help at the moment.” No sooner have the latest arrivals been admitted than a pair of handlers from the local RAF Dog Unit appears with four working dogs needing a range of treatments from dental work to eye checks and x-rays. As you might expect given their role and their training, the dogs treat a visit to the vets in their stride. “They’re wonderful animals and they do a very important job,” says Alex. “We’ve been working with the RAF for around 30 years now and it’s a real privilege to be able to help these dogs fufill their duties to the best of their abilities and keep them healthy.” As Alex readies the dogs for treatment, he leaves us in the care of veterinary nurse Simonne Bell – who’s just finished a couple of the centre’s free clinics, which address issues such as age-related problems, dietary help and advice, post-treatment checks and how to successfully introduce new pets to a home environment. She also runs the practice’s popular Puppy Classes (which have been running for 18 years) with The Hollies’ Sue Baker. 50

“The welfare of the animals is at the heart of everything we do,” she says as we tour the practice. “The reception has been carefully designed to keep pets calm and avoid any eye-to-eye tensions and to keep things as calm as possible. We’ve even provided a separate waiting area for cats!” As we walk through the in- and outpatient ward, a little dog looks up hopefully. “He’s ok now, but he was a bit of an emergency yesterday,” says Simonne. “He’d managed to swallow something almost as big as he is!” Throughout the day, the practice sees a constant stream of people and animals in every area – from the surgery to the isolation ward, and from the consulting rooms to the in-house laboratory and x-ray room. It’s a seemingly endless procession of diﬀerent pets and diﬀerent needs, but there’s no doubting the sheer commitment of Alex’s team to the welfare of the animals and their owners – and it’s a commitment that continues once the practice closes at the end of the day. “We have an emergency telephone number and we make regular checks of our in-patients throughout the night,” he says. “In bigger cities, many practices outsource out-of-hours work,

but we prefer to do it all ourselves. We don’t have to, but we think it’s vital that our vets and our nurses look after our patients.” As you might imagine, there’s no such thing as a typical day in the life of a vet, but Alex always leaves the practice with the same feeling. “Whatever’s happened I always look back over the day and get a huge amount of satisfaction from what we’ve managed to achieve,” he says. “The relationship between a pet and its owner is a very strong and special one, and everyone here does a fantastic job of caring for both sides of that relationship.” That couldn’t be clearer when you see Midnight, the little kitten brought in by Cats Protection earlier in the day. Then, she was decidedly noisy and nervous. Now she’s been assessed, she’s been prepped and she’s been treated – and now she’s happily tucking into a bowl of food. She’ll ﬁnd a new home soon, but for the time being she’s safe in the hands of Alex Dallas and his quite extraordinary team. For more details and information on the work of Alex and his team at the London Road Veterinary Centre, please see the practice website at www.lrvc.co.uk KLmagazine September 2014

BEFORE

AFTER

The best things in life are always worth waiting for! hen Colin and Linda Shippey of Upwell saw their old conservatory come down, it was something they’d looked forward to for years – and thanks to the team at ECOnomy Windows, they haven’t looked back since. “The old conservatory had come with the house, and we’d never really liked it,” says Linda. “It was far too hot to enjoy in the summer and it was far too cold in the winter. We’d wanted to change it for years.” When the couple started looking for a new conservatory, they were immediately impressed with ECOnomy Windows. “I deal with customers every day,” says Colin, “so I know how important good

22 KLmagazine August2014 2013 18 KLmagazine September

service is. The great thing about ECOnomy Windows is that you can visit the showroom and walk around several conservatories without anyone pressuring you. I liked the way they worked right from the start.” Although Linda and Colin had a clear idea of what they wanted and how they would use the new conservatory, they appreciated the additional input of ECOnomy Windows’ professional designers. “They gave us some really valuable advice on things we hadn’t considered,” says Linda. “From choosing a particular roof to suggesting a tiled skirting, their ideas were brilliant and they really understood what we were looking for.” Despite the worst the weather could throw at them (it rained for almost two weeks as soon as the old conservatory

was removed!) the installation team received nothing but praise from the couple. “Everyone was so caring and thoughtful, and worked so well together,” says Colin. “The builder, the electrician, the plumber, the tiler – they all took a genuine interest in the project and did a marvellous job. And because ECOnomy Windows organised them so well, the whole project went really smoothly." Needless to say, the couple are more than pleased with the ﬁnished result. “It’s exactly what we wanted,” says Linda. “We’re so happy with it and we spend so much time in our new conservatory because it’s a real joy to be in. It was well worth the wait – we just wish we’d done it a lot sooner!" To see how easy it is for your dreams to become reality, contact ECOnomy Windows today!

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KLmagazine September 2014

YOU & YOUR HEALTH with BMI The Sandringham Hospital

Although it’s an entirely natural process, there are ways to alleviate the condition, especially if it’s having a negative impact on your life...

When it’s windy on the inside...

he subject of a thousand jokes, wind is something which – in one form or another – aﬀects us all and often, it has to be said, the people around us as well. In fact, you may be surprised to know that you’re entirely normal if you pass wind around 15 times a day. Most of it is simply air we’ve swallowed being expelled again – because for each 1020ml of food we swallow, we take in 1-2ml of air along with it. Some things actually make us swallow more air – ﬁzzy or hot drinks, drinking through a straw, eating or drinking quickly, eating chewing gum or boiled sweets, and smoking. Interestingly, people with certain allergies, sinus infections or heartburn can swallow extra air more often as well. Most of the air you swallow will reappear later via a burp. But the fact is you’re also a factory for gas. About 25% of wind is produced by friendly gut bacteria in your large intestine. Some makes its way into your gut where it’s

later expelled as what’s technically known as ‘flatus’. Flatulence is a by-product of the bacterial breakdown of undigested food that’s made its way to the large intestine. If you’re eating things that can’t be absorbed by the small intestine, the bacteria in the large intestine will work on it and make more gas in the process. Bloating is caused by a build-up of that gas, and the resulting symptoms can range from the uncomfortable to the painful, and it can even be visible, resembling a swelling. Although it’s an entirely natural process, there are some ways to alleviate the condition, especially if it’s having a negative impact on your life. Adjusting your diet is a good start. Bloating is a common symptom of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and can be triggered by certain foods. Avoiding high-sugar fruit and indeed some vegetables such as onions can be effective, and you can find more information on this at www.ibsdiet.org. Similarly, the body can find it difficult to digest artificial sweeteners. As a result, they sit in your digestive system and provide a ‘snack’ for bacteria. This

then leads to gas, causing flatulence, stomach aches and bloating. That’s why avoiding fizzy drinks (even the diet ones!) can help, as they cause gas to get trapped in your stomach. Choose still drinks instead. Most wind is perfectly normal, even if it is socially uncomfortable. But if you have a sudden onset of burping with severe heartburn, then it’s possible you may have gastrooesophageal reflux disease (GORD) or something obstructing your gullet or food pipe. In the case of long-term bloating, this may have an underlying cause. In women this can even be an indicator of ovarian cancer, so it’s important not to ignore it. But otherwise, as the weatherman might say, tomorrow is just another naturally windy day. If you would like any more information or if you are concerned there may be more to your windiness than there should be, please don’t hesitate to contact us using the details below.

Dr Andrew Douds CONSULTANT GASTROENTEROLOGIST

Serious about health. Passionate about care.

For more information, please call BMI The Sandringham Hospital on 01553 769770 or visit us at www.bmihealthcare.co.uk/sandringham KLmagazine September 2014

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KLmagazine September 2014

Health and Beauty

FeetFirst

with Elizabeth Dutton

New ideas for great-looking nails!

he most common disease of the nails – which accounts for around half of all nail abnormalities – is onychomycosis, better (and more easily!) known as fungal nails. It’s important to address the problem as soon as possible, because if fungal nails aren’t treated, the infection can swiftly progress. The fungus actually starts in the skin and can rapidly spread to the skin under the toenail, from where it can spread throughout the nail and can even transfer to other nails via socks, shoes and poor hygiene routines. What’s worse, if the condition isn’t treated and managed well re-infection can occur quite easily. Keryﬂex is new to the UK (it’s American) and is a fantastic nail reconstruction programme for fungal and discoloured nails that uses a patented resin to rebuild the nail and seal it whilst the infection is being treated. The nail is natural-looking and will withstand plenty of normal activity

KLmagazine September 2014

without lifting or cracking. The nail will last between 6-8 weeks before it needs to be replaced and it’s therefore a tremendous way of ensuring goodlooking nails for special occasions such as weddings and parties. Keryﬂex is now available at the Foot Care Centre in King’s Lynn, and it means that in as little as 20 minutes, we can create a realistic, natural-looking nail in place of the damaged and/or infected nail. The Foot Care Centre is also delighted to be able to oﬀer a range of

Dr Remedy nail polishes which can’t be found in the shops. It’s a quite unique range of polishes (available in a wide range of colours) that uses a blend of ingredients including tea-tree oil, garlic bulb extract, lavender, wheat protein and the vitamins C and E. As there are no harmful chemicals such as formaldehyde, toluene or DBP, the nail polishes are an excellent choice to go with a reconstructed nail or to wear on a normal nail. Just give us a call – we’re here to help you and your nails!

All you need to know...

ELIZABETH DUTTON is a qualified foot health care practitioner and trainer. Elizabeth and her qualified team offer treatments from THE FOOT CARE CENTRE, 4B Tower St, King’s Lynn, PE30 1EJ. For more information, details, help and advice please contact Elizabeth’s centre in King’s Lynn. You’ll find the Centre’s website at www.TheFootCareCentreKingsLynn.co.uk For details of how to train as a foot care practitioner please see the website at www.TheCollegeOfFootCarePractitioners.co.uk (note that the QR code on the right will also take you there) Finally, you can call us on 01553 768661 (clinic) or or send an e-mail to Elizabeth and her team at enquiries@thefootcarecentrekingslynn.co.uk

fashion

Fashion

Nothing is as eagerly anticipated as the arrival of the new autumn/winter collections, and 2014 hasn’t disappointed – with a simply wonderful variety of head-turning styles and colours. We can’t wait to try some on! Alpaca belted coat (£599) and felted wool fedora (£65) by Jaeger JARROLDS | Norwich 01603 660661 56

KLmagazine September 2014

Autumn textured jumper by Marble (ÂŁ54) ALLEZ CHIC | East Rudham 01485 528457 KLmagazine September 2014

Fashion

Beaufort country coat (£150) by Toggi CHRISTOPHER WILLIAM COUNTRY | Creake Abbey 01328 738983 58

KLmagazine September 2014

E lizabethD arby AUTUMN WINTER 2014 COLLECTION

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

KLmagazine September 2014

Fashion

Apanage dogtooth jacket with leather trousers ELIZABETH DARBY | Fakenham 01328 855312 60

KLmagazine September 2014

Gorgeous Autumn stock now in

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www.everythingoutdoor.co.uk t: 01485 528457 | m: 07951 930776 w: www.allezchic.co.uk e: cheryldaubney@allezchic.co.uk

KLmagazine September 2014

Sandringham Visitor Centre Sandringham Estate, Norfolk PE35 6EH Tel: 01485 298082

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KLmagazine September 2014

Prestigious new arrivals for the new A/W season at Goddards

tyle is very personal,” according to world-famous designer Ralph Lauren. “It has nothing to do with fashion. Fashion is over quickly. Style is forever.” It’s a sentiment shared by Goddards’ Manager Gary Tillott as the independent King’s Lynn-based store welcomes their first selection of RALPH LAUREN womenswear for the new season. “We’ve offered a range of Ralph Lauren menswear for many years,” says Gary, “but the arrival of the women’s capsule collection is really exciting news. It’s a brand that people are always talking about, and Ralph Lauren is a prestigious name that will sit perfectly alongside our other quality labels.” Characterised by a distinctive blend of classic good looks with modern styling, the RALPH LAUREN range confirms Goddards’ reputation for bringing worldclass style and exclusive names to the local area. With the arrival of the Autumn/Winter 2014 collections, Goddards gives you even more reason to celebrate. In style.

GODDARDS Wellesley Street, King’s Lynn PE30 1QD Menswear | 01553 772382 Ladies Fashions | 01553 777188 Formal Hire | 01553 772382 www.goddardsonline.co.uk KLmagazine September 2014

KLmagazine September 2014

Local Life

ABOVE: Four hundred years after its foundation, Castle Rising’s Trinity Hospital is still home to a community of Sisters – their distinctive red cloaks were introduced in 1853.

The red-cloaked sisters of Trinity Hospital... This year marks the 400th anniversary of the founding of Castle Rising’s Trinity Hospital. Ian Ward takes a look at the history of this remarkable building and its equally remarkable inhabitants

ts oﬃcial name is The Hospital of the Holy and Undivided Trinity, but this wonderful building in Castle Rising is more commonly, simply and aﬀectionately known as Trinity Hospital. It was founded four hundred years ago in 1614 – James I was on the throne and it was the same year Pocahontas married the Heacham-born English colonist John Rolfe in Jamestown, Virginia. Happily, despite undergoing many renovations and internal improvements over the centuries since its foundation, the original design of the building remains very much the same as it was when it was originally built, somewhere between 1609 and 1614 by a local builder called Richard Hovel Jr of

KLmagazine September 2014

Hillington. The building is made from red Norfolk brick and is recorded as costing just over £451 to construct, which was a considerable amount of money in those days – especially as a talented craftsman of the time could expext to earn about £10 a year. The actual benefactor of the hospital was Henry Howard. Henry was born on February 25th 1540 and was the second son of poet (and ‘Father of the English Sonnet’) Henry Howard and Lady Frances De Vere, who was the daughter of the 15th Earl of Oxford. Henry had considerable royal connections (he was a ﬁrst cousin of Henry VIII’s ﬁfth wife Catherine Howard) and was a very wealthy man.

In addition to building Northumberland House in London, home to one of England’s richest and most prominent aristocratic dynasties for hundreds of years, Henry also supervised the building of Audley End in Essex, which has long been considered one of England’s finest and grandest country houses. A significant aristocrat and courtier (he was one of the judges at the trial of Guy Fawkes in 1605), Henry founded and planned several hospitals before his death in 1614, and as part of his will left sufficient funds to build and maintain almshouses in Greenwich, Clun (in Shropshire) and Castle Rising. Henry stipulated that the Castle Rising hospital should consist of twelve

Local Life ‘inmates’ (or sisters, as they were more kindly known) who would be drawn from Castle Rising itself and the neighbouring villages of Roydon and North Wootton. Today, Trinity Hospital is home to six Sisters. To gain admission to Trinity Hospital, a new Sister needed to fill rather more criteria than local residence. They needed to be “honest, religious, grave, discreet, literate, single, elderly, respectable, sober, and poor.” Once admitted, the Sisters of Trinity Hospital were expected to “live lovingly together as Sisters, attend chapel twice a day, attend St Lawrence’s Church every Sunday, attend church on Holy Days, say prayers for the founder, and wear the founder’s gowns and badge.” Their reward for this devotion was also stipulated in Henry’s will, each Sister being given 8 shillings a month, 8 pence on Holy Days, an allotment garden, an annual ‘chaldron’ (an obsolete spelling of cauldron) of coal amounting to 2,700kg, clothing for everyday wear, and gowns and hats for special occasions. The Sisters originally wore an everyday gown of brown kersey wool and a livery gown of blue fustian cloth lined with baize. The distinctive red cloaks worn by the Sisters today were originally introduced in 1853, when the high crown hat was also introduced (a less formal hat was introduced in 1961). The gown and hat were replaced every seven years. The Sisters were looked after by a Governess (the first recorded holder of the post was Amy Pearson, who was appointed in 1623) although she eventually became known as the Matron or Warden. The Governess was in charge of the day-to-day running of the hospital, and it was a position not to be taken lightly – a £20 penalty was paid to the Mayor of Rising as security for the performance of her duty. It was a tidy sum considering the Governess was only paid 12 shillings per month (she received an additional shilling on Holy Days). The Governess was assisted in her duties by ‘assistants’ whose role was to support and manage the Governess and were also responsible for all matters of discipline at the Hospital. They also controlled the finances, as the Hospital received income from land rentals in the boroughs of Castle Rising, Roydon, North and South Wootton and Gaywood – the original income from these totalled around £100 per year. In its 400-year life, Trinity Hospital has seen many famous visitors, including the ill-fated Russian Tsarina Alexandra, who visited the Hospital with her daughters on 20th April 1912. 66

PICTURES: The Sisters of Trinity Hospital in days gone by (above) and today (below right) – inheritors of the charitable vision of founder Henry Howard (below left)

Royal visitors have included Princess Victoria, King George V, Queen Mary, Queen Alexandra, Crown Prince Frederick of Denmark, the Duchess of Fife and several other members and guests of the Royal Family during stays on the nearby Sandringham Estate. The Alms-houses have been maintained by Henry’s charity for 400 years (a Board of Trustees chaired by Lord Howard of Rising administers the charity today) and it continues to be a beautiful and tranquil place to live. Many thanks to Dr Barry Blades of the Castle Rising History Group for his generous help in the research and writing of this feature. KLmagazine September 2014

KLmagazine September 2014

Local Life

ABOVE: The Herb Garden at Congham Hall may be home to 400 diﬀerent varieties, but Head Gardener Philip Bailey (opposite) hasn’t counted them all yet – a task not helped by the fact that he’s always planting new herbs!

Congham’s natural feast of tastes and smells... The growing reputation of Congham Hall for great-tasting food isn’t entirely down to Head Chef Nick Claxton-Webb. It also helps when you’ve got some 400 varieties of herbs on your doorstep

f you’ve ever enjoyed a meal at Congham Hall, you’ll have discovered the kitchen’s philosophy that taste is everything and that simplicity is the key. Guided by the considerable talents of Head Chef Nick Claxton-Webb, the kitchen aims to source 80% of all ingredients from within a 2-mile radius – as long as they’re the best available. It’s a target that’s made considerably more achievable by the fact that behind Congham Hall sits a wonderful kitchen garden packed with seasonal vegetables, a plentiful orchard, and a renowned Herb Garden that’s KLmagazine September 2014

said to be home to over 400 diﬀerent varieties. “I’m not exactly sure just how many there are,” says Head Gardener Philip Bailey as we wander through the Mint Walk, which itself contains 8 diﬀerent types of mint. “I’ve never actually set about counting them all, though it’s something I’d really like to do one day. I’m sure there are some real gems I’ve never noticed before just waiting to be discovered.” Congham Hall’s Herb Garden contains a vast amount of varieties, and the visitor is surrounded by fascinating names and wonderful aromas. There

are perennial herbs and annual herbs. There are culinary herbs, medicinal herbs (such as goat’s rue, which was once used to treat the plague) and herbs that have been been used historically in industrial processes such a dyeing. In addition to all the usual favourites such as dill, fennel, parsely, and coriander (Philip and his team visit the garden twice every day to meet the kitchen’s ﬂavouring and garnishing needs), there’s always a healthy helping of something a bit diﬀerent as well. “This year we’ve grown some oriental herbs, which has been an exciting 69

Local Life

10 Best herbs for a home garden BASIL The leaves have warm, spicy flavour that’s great for soups, sauces, salads, omelettes and with meat, poultry and fish. CHIVES The leaves have a mild onion flavor. Chop them and add to salads, egg and cheese dishes, mashed potatoes and sauces. Use the flowers in salads.

ABOVE: Herbs may be in more demand for their taste rather than their looks, but some of them – such as this Dill – have their own individual beauty.

experience,” says Philip. “We’ve got some lovely pak choi and some perilla green, which is really aromatic and very popular in Japan. We’ve also grown some tatsoi, which is also known as ‘spinach mustard’ and purslane, which is supposed to have the highest amount of heart-healthy omega-3 fats of any edible plant.” There’s no doubting Philip’s passion for his gardens (this is his fourth growing season, although he’s been at Congham Hall for almost 20 years) and his commitment to helping the kitchen staﬀ maintain their high standards. “I do work closely with Nick, sharing ideas and suggestions,” he says, “and I think the gardens reﬂect that balance between the natural and the culinary worlds. One of our more recent introductions has been red orach. It’s a striking looking plant and the young leaves work really well in salads. When it gets a bit older it’s used a bit more like spinach. It will be good to see Nick working with that. We’ve also just planted a selection of green, red and yellow goosberries and we’re already looking forward to enjoying them next year.” Of course, life in the Herb Garden isn’t always a bed of roses – or a rockery of thyme. “It doesn’t matter what you’re growing, you can bet there’s something out there that wants to eat it before it gets to the kitchen,” Philip says. “Rabbits give me the biggest headache. Everyone knows they like lettuce, but

they’re a bit choosy too. They seem to have a real liking for parsley, but I think we’ve got the better of them!” Surrounded by hundreds of fascinating herbs and wonderful local produce on a daily basis, Philip must have his personal favourite. “It’s impossible to choose just one,” he says. “Celeriac appeals to me because of the way it looks, but I also love fennel because of its beautiful aroma. I’m drawn to some of the herbs simply because of their unusual names. They’re all diﬀerent, and it’s almost as if they have their own characters.” Hotel guests are free to explore the Herb Garden at Congham Hall at any time, and it’s open to the public (10am-3pm) from April until the end of September. For more details, call Congham Hall on 01485 600250 or visit www.conghamhallhotel.co.uk

CORIANDER Grind the dry seeds to powder and dust over veal, pork, or ham before cooking. Young leaves are known as cilantro. The roots are used to flavour soup – serve chopped with avocados. DILL The seeds and leaves have a sharp, slightly bitter taste. Use dried or fresh leaves to flavour fish, soups, salads, meat, poultry, omelettes and potatoes. FENNEL The leaves have a sweetish flavour and are particularly good in sauces for fish. It’s also useful with pork or veal, in soups and in salads. The seeds have a sharper taste, and you can also enjoy the bulb itself. MINT Brew the leaves into tea, or to garnish cold drinks. Spearmint is generally used to make mint sauce. Sprinkle dried or fresh leaves over lamb before cooking. PARSLEY Mix the leaves into salads, soups, stews, casseroles, and omelettes. Serve fresh as garnish with meat, fish, and onion dishes. SAGE The dried leaves are a traditional constituent of poultry stuffing. Also use it with lamb, pork, sausage, and in cheese dishes and omelettes. TARRAGON Chop the anise-flavored leaves for use in soups, salads, egg dishes, stews, and soft cheeses. It’s excellent with lamb. Serve in melted butter with fish, steak, or vegetables. Also makes good flavouring for vinegar when leaves are steeped for two or three weeks. THYME Rub the chopped leaves (fresh or dried) into beef, lamb, veal, or pork before roasting. Sprinkle over eggs, cheese dishes, vegetables, fish, or poultry. Add to soups, stews, stuffings, and rice. Brew into tea with a little rosemary and mint.

KLmagazine September 2014

Served 12 - 4pm

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A TRADITIONAL PUB WITH TRADITIONAL FOOD

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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 £7 & includes a drink

STEAK NIGHT Mondays, Tuesdays & Wednesdays PIE NIGHT Monday nights only £7 & 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 cozy villag e pub. We offer Christ mas party menus , with a great choice of traditi onal festive favorit es. We also serve Christ mas Day lunch and Boxin g Day and New Years Day buffets - a great way to enterta in the family withou t doing the washin g up! Book now to avoid disapp ointm ent! Find us on Facebook!

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

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www.kingsoakkitchens.co.uk

HUNSTANTON 2-4 Northgate Precinct (opp. Natwest) High Street Hunstanton PE36 6EA Tel: 01485 534965

KLmagazine September 2014

Great food for great occasions! From Happy Mondays to Sizzling Suppers and afternoon teas, a trip to Worzals is always a memorable, flavour-filled event... very day of the week, Worzals Bar & Grill offers you the best in locallysourced food, insisting on great tastes, high quality and genuine value for money – but there are two days to make a special note of in your diary. In addition to Happy Mondays, when you can get the week off to a great start with 25% off your food bill, Worzals also offers an exciting choice of Sizzling Suppers on Tuesday evenings. For only £9.95, you can enjoy a 2-course taste of just what makes Worzals so popular. Sizzling Suppers offer you the choice of steak and chips (with one of Worzals’ superb 8oz rump steaks), the ‘Simply British’ hot dog (helping keep up the tradition of the British banger!) or a flavour-packed homemade quarter pound beefburger – they’re all served with accompaniments and a choice of homemade chips, jacket potato or salad; and they’re all followed by a dessert from the main menu.

KLmagazine September 2014

“Our Sizzling Suppers have always been really popular,” says Worzals’ Joe Curson. “I think it’s partly because of the great atmosphere and the friendly local service – but it’s also due to the sheer quality of our food.” Of course, if you’re looking for high quality, great tasting food, you don’t have to wait until the evening. You can turn any day into a special occasion with one of Worzals’ tempting Afternoon Teas – and whether you choose the selection of sandwiches or the range of home-baked scones and cakes, you can make it even more memorable by adding a glass (or two) of Prosecco! And with thoughts now inevitably turning toward the festive season don’t forget that Worzals is the perfect venue for your Christmas Party – and bookings are being taken now. Discover the great taste and family atmosphere of Worzals this week – and you’ll discover why so many people are talking about it!

The secrets of a Worzals steak!

All the meat served in the bar and grill comes from Worzals’ in-house butchers, who have over 50 years’ experience between them and are fully committed to sourcing free range British produce of the highest quality. All our meat is hung in the traditional way (on the bone) for at least 28 days, and you can really taste the diﬀerence. Insist on the best and insist on a Worzals steak!

information

Worzals Lynn Road, Walton Highway, Wisbech Cambridgeshire PE14 7DA Tel: 01945 585758 / 01945 582231 Web: www.worzals.com

Playzone Kid’s Par ties! You’re invited to join the fun! Hot and cold buffet food, party bags, balloons, cake, invitations, choice of activity and lots more!

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Swordfish & Tuna now available! Brancaster Oysters and local shellfish Wild Seabass and Sea Trout Plus! Lobsters and Cromer Crabs Extensive delicatessen Local frozen game counter with top quality cheeses and olives from Fresh and smoked fish home and abroad! Free range eggs

D NALDS NS A fresh taste of the sea

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

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

Tel: 01553 772221 74

Enjoy the last of the BBQ weather with fresh, local, tasty produce

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

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

KLmagazine September 2014

Food & Drink

The humble herring P

acked with taste, the humble herring is an oily fish that can grow up to 40cm in length. It’s very rich in protein, vitamins and omega-3 fatty acids (all of which are beneficial to health) and it’s also very versatile. The whole fish can be poached, fried, grilled, pickled, salted and smoked, or marinated. Pickled, filleted herrings rolled around pickled cucumber are known as rollmops.

CHOOSE... Herring isn’t available as much as it used to be (stocks are suﬀering from human and ecological pressures), so it’s a good idea to choose a sustainable source. Herring is available year round, but the ﬂavour is said to be best from spring to autumn. They’re usually sold KLmagazine September 2014

whole, and you can ensure freshness by choosing large, firm and slippery fish. PREPARE... As always with fish, you’ll need to clean it before cooking. Normally, the head and guts are discarded, but you can keep the bones, which are usually soft and edible. due to its rich flesh, herring is probably best cooked in white wine or a light vinegar. Note that herring roe is also full of flavour and worth keeping. ENJOY... For a very quick recipe, strip two rosemary sprigs of most of the leaves, leaving some at the tip, and then thread a halved herring fillet onto each of the rosemary ‘skewers’. Fry the herring in an ovenproof frying pan for about 3-5

minutes with a little oil and butter until it’s coloured on all sides, and then add a halved lemon to the pan. To ﬁnish, simply place the pan into an oven that’s been preheated to 180o for about 10 minutes. Sprinkle with some sea salt and freshly ground black pepper and serve with the roasted lemon. Perfect! WHITEBAIT... If you ever wondered, whitebait is actually baby herring (though it can also be sprats). Whitebait is almost always sold frozen, and should be coated (whole) in a spicy or seasoned ﬂour before being deep-fried for a few minutes until crisp. Although many people avoid them as they’re eaten whole, they’re an excellent source of calcium. 75

Food & Drink

e p i c e R f the o h t n o M

Sticky Toffee Pudding Cooking: 40 min Serves: 8

INGREDIENTS 200g pitted dried dates (Medjool if you can find them) 250ml black tea Â˝ teaspoon bicarbonate of soda 2 large eggs - beaten 85g unsalted butter 175g self-raising flour 175g soft brown sugar 1 teaspoon mixed spice 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon FOR THE SAUCE 100g light muscovado sugar 100g unsalted butter 142ml double cream

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METHOD 1 Heat the oven to 180oC / Fan 160oC / Gas mark 4. 2 Simmer the dates and tea together until soft (about 3-4 minutes) remove from heat and add the bicarbonate of soda. 3 Beat the butter and sugar together with electric beater until pale and creamy, then beat in the eggs, flour, spice and cinnamon. 4 Fold in the date mixture. 5 Pour into a buttered dish or brownie tin. 6 Bake for 30-35 minutes or until the top is firm to touch. 7 For the sauce simmer the sugar, butter and cream in a pan until toffee coloured.

Recipe by House on the Green Ling Common Road, North Wootton, King's Lynn, Norfolk PE30 3RE Tel: 01553 631323 KLmagazine September 2014

CALEY HALL HOTEL

KITCHENS

AA Rosette Restaurant

MACMILLAN COFFEE MORNING Friday 26 September, from 10am Staff bake off, bring and buy sale, raffle, guess the weight of the cake and more.

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SUNDAY LUNCH 12-2.30pm 1 course: £10.95, 2 courses: £15.95, 3 courses: £20.95 Open daily to non-residents serving a range of locally sourced, seasonal dishes throughout the day. To view current menus, offers and upcoming events, please visit:

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

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Open 11am to 11pm, with food from noon to 10pm

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KLmagazine September 2013

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

www.harmonykitchens.com 77

Food & Drink

RestaurantReview

KL magazine visits the House on the Green...

he last time I ate at the House on the Green was some time ago, despite it being conveniently located in North Wootton close to where I live. I decided that with a new landlord having been in situ for almost a year it was time to give it another try and see what changes had been made. As I walked in, I was pleasantly surprised to see the layout had changed somewhat, with the restaurant now a separate area from the pub. The restaurant is beautifully presented, and I was greeted with a very warm welcome by Irene (the landlady) who asked where we would be most comfortable sitting. When we were presented with the menu we were wowed! There were a few pub classics to satisfy traditional taste buds like cod and chips and steak and ale pie, but most of the choices

were a bit more inventive. The starters included Cley smoked duck breast with a homemade blackcurrant and balsamic chutney; pan fried crevettes of king prawns in a sweet chilli sauce; and a delicioussounding white fish and chive fishcake with saffron mayonnaise. I choose the duck breast and my friend chose the sautéed mushrooms in a blue cheese sauce. They arrived in good time and were presented beautifully – indeed, they wouldn’t have looked out of place on Masterchef! Both tasted fantastic, and my friend and I – despite not having seen each other in a long time – couldn’t take the conversation away from how impressed we were with the level of dining. For the mains I choose Pan-fried chicken fillet in mushroom sauce with new potatoes and wilted greens, and my friend choose the honey and mustard glazed salmon salad. The menu contained several more excitingsounding dishes (the Cajun chicken with sun-blushed tomato salad was mighty tempting), and we imagined we’d selected more traditional meals until they were brought out. The presentation again blew us away and the whole meal was the perfect balance of flavours – and the meat had been

truly cooked to perfection. During the meal, I chatted to Irene to find out more and compliment her on how unexpected the standard was. Irene explained her ambition was in the food. She’s brought in a highly-trained chef and wants to serve up genuinely fresh food with local ingredients. Although she’ll be keeping a few pub favourites on the menu to appeal to the whole family, she wants the dining experience to be more in line with a restaurant rather than a traditional pub. Although I was already totally full, I simply couldn’t resist seeing what desserts were on offer, and chose the apple and rhubarb crumble with custard – while my friend selected the raspberry pannacotta with gin and tonic sorbet. The gin and tonic sorbet is highly recommended! Again, both dishes were delicious – but my dessert did beat me as all three courses were very generous. The final pleasant surprise to round off a thoroughly enjoyable evening was receiving the bill, which came to £62 for our three-course dinners, a bottle of wine and coffees to finish. For the standard of food and the pleasant and relaxing atmosphere, it was outstanding value for money. Needless to say, I’ve already booked to go again for Sunday lunch. Can’t wait!

FOOD

SERVICE

VALUE

THE HOUSE ON THE GREEN Ling Common Road, North Wootton, King’s Lynn, Norfolk, PE30 3RE Telephone: 01553 631323

KLmagazine September 2014

CaféReview T

he Willow Tree is a friendly café/restaurant in the centre of King’s Lynn, which is actually located within Pastimes, the fantastic treasure trove of arts, crafts and hobbyist supplies. Established for over 30 years, Pastimes is a much-loved independent store and always seems to offer a fantastic and varied selection – so it was going to be interesting to experience lunch at the Willow Tree. Happily, it’s a lovely complement to the shop itself and is a really pleasant place to stop and relax after a spot of shopping in town. One thing that strikes you as you first walk into the café is that it’s extremely spacious – perfect (and thoughtfully arranged) for wheelchair users, mobility scooters and pushchairs. There’s a large outdoor seating area at the back of the cafe, which is an ideal spot to enjoy your lunch or a coffee on a sunny day, and you can even bring your dog to sit outside! The Willow Tree menu is extensive, with plenty of choice for breakfast, lunch and main meals. There are numerous breakfast options, such as a full breakfast for as little as £5.50. There’s also a large choice of snacks including sandwiches, toasties, baguettes, jacket potatoes, and even fresh cakes and scones. The main menu offers a very affordable selection of dishes such as poached salmon with parsley sauce, gammon and roast dinners (the last three were only £6.25). For lunch, I decided on a jacket potato with Chicken Tikka, which was featured on the specials menu. The dish was very tasty and the portion was generous – and it had clearly been freshly cooked. The café also serves alcohol (always a nice option to have!) in the form of chilled bottles of beer and wine. The café has many lovely items from Pastimes displayed on the walls, from paintings to specially-crafted items – so you can actually browse while you enjoy your lunch! My bill totaled £5.25 which included my meal and a cold soft drink. If you’re looking for a spacious, friendly café in town with great priced food then the Willow Tree is the perfect spot. FOOD

SERVICE

VALUE

THE WILLOW TREE 15-19 Tower St, King's Lynn PE30 1EJ Tel: 01553 691414 KLmagazine September 2014

Food & Drink

Tathstees of Month

Local preserves As we welcome in the autumn, it’s time to (literally!) enjoy the fruits of the summer with some locally-produced jams and preserves. There are some fantastic tastes out there, and here’s just a few of the best... PEACH, APPLE & TENNESSEE WHISKY JAM A wondrous feast of ﬂavour in a single jar! Succulent juicy peaches, tangy Bramley apples and a generous helping of smooth Tennessee whisky contribute to a really luxurious treat for your bread. Orchard Fruits, Ashill | www.orchardfruits.co.uk RASPBERRY JAM All Norfolk Preserves are made with only three products – fruit, sugar and pectin – and you can really taste the diﬀerence. This marvellous raspberry jam is sharp, not too sweet, and decidedly moreish! Channels Norfolk Preserves | www.norfolkpreserves.co.uk RHUBARB AND GINGER PRESERVE Garden Preserves are handmade using fresh local fruits wherever possible, and this inspired recipe combines the refreshing taste of rhubarb with a spicy kick of ginger. It’s well worth discovering! Garden Preserves | www.gardenpreserves.co.uk APRICOT & NORFOLK ALE PRESERVE A superb dark preserve made with dried, unsulphured apricots and a generous helping of Norfolk Nectar Ale from the Humpty Dumpty Brewery. Great on toast and even better with some strong cheese! Peachey’s Preserves | www.peacheyspreserves.co.uk

KLmagazine September 2014

We are proud stockists of Jubberwacky preserves that use ingredients from Norfolk.

Family run restaurant in the heart of King’s Lynn, serving exceptional locally sourced food in a relaxed, friendly atmosphere.

As featured in the prestigious ‘Michelin guide’ and ‘Waitrose Good Food guide’

For the finest array of local chutneys & preserves. Visit our farm shop in Walsingham: Guild Street | tel: 01328 821877

W E E KD AY S PE CIAL

2 course lunch for £12

Serving lunch and supper Tuesday to Saturday. For more info on opening times and menus visit our website.

www.marketbistro.co.uk | 01553 771483

Visit our farm shop in Heacham: Lynn Road | tel: 01485 570002 www.walsinghamfarmsshop.co.uk

–--– ––––––forties fashion –––– –––– S– Show h –-– w-– –––––– ––– ––––––----– WITH KITTY MAZINSKY ––––––----– COME AND ENJOY THE VINTAGE MIX OF AFTERNOON TEA WITH ‘RETROLICIOUS’ MUSIC FROM KITTY MAZINSKY AND A FORTIES INSPIRED FASHION SHOW BY PAST CARING. SUNDAY 21ST SEPTEMBER 2014.

Bookings recommended ecommended - See website for further details Folly ly Tearoom, Hoppers ers Yar Yard, Bull Street, Holt, lt ly .uk Norfolk folk NR25 6LN 01263 713569 enjoy@follytearoom.co.uk WWW.FOLLYTEAROOM.CO.UK WWW.F OLLYTEA ROOM.CO.UK

KLmagazine September 2014

11 PAGE SPECIAL FEATURE

A special look at local schools and further education KLmagazine September 2014

PICTURES: BILL ROBINSON/GLEBE HOUSE SCHOOL

Education

The solid foundations of a successful future... At Hunstanton’s Glebe House School, academic success and proud traditions go hand in hand with individual development and a family atmosphere. KL magazine meets Headmaster John Crofts

he motto of Glebe House School is sicut aquilae. Loosely translated as ‘rising as eagles’, it’s a clear indication of the school’s commitment to the individual needs and potential of each and every pupil – encouraging them to discover their own strengths and opening new doors of opportunity. They’re opportunities enhanced by the school’s wonderful location on the outskirts of Hunstanton, which oﬀers a world of educational discovery and extra-curricular potential. An independent day and boarding

school for children from 6 months to 13 years, Glebe House can trace its origins back to 1874, although its name dates from the early years of the 20th century (interestingly enough, it’s one of the very few schools that didn’t close or relocate during either World War). Throughout its history, Glebe House has combined proud academic and sporting traditions with a determined mission to include and involve every child in the life of the school. “At Glebe House, we’ve always taken care to maintain a very close-knit community with a genuine family feel,” says Headmaster John Crofts. “In that

respect, I think we’re unique in nurturing every child’s core skills and building their self-conﬁdence. Every child at Glebe is always very much aware that they’re a valued – and valuable – member of the team.” That family atmosphere isn’t lost on the pupils either. “Coming to Glebe is a bit of a family tradition,” says one. “My sister was Head of her House when she was here, and that encouraged me to follow in her footsteps and try to be as successful as her. Now I can see why she enjoyed being here so much!” Another pupil points to the

KLmagazine September 2014

achievement boards proudly displayed along the length of the dining room. “That’s my dad’s name there!” she laughs. “Seeing my name there as well has been one of my proudest moments at Glebe, but there have been so many to choose from. It’s really nice being able to help the younger children and make them feel part of the school too.” That sense of inclusiveness is apparent in every area of the school’s activities, not least in the field of performing arts. Every pupil at Glebe House School is involved, whether it’s in music, drama, or public speaking – all of which enable them to explore and develop their individual talents and improve their ability to express themselves confidently. Every class has lessons taught by a specialist (and inspiring) team of music teachers as part of the curriculum, and almost two-thirds of the school’s pupils receive specialist individual tuition in music or singing. Glebe has a very active School Orchestra and the School Choir flourishes under the guidance of the Director of Music of the Sandringham Estate. Even in the school’s end-of-year Annual Review production, the shyest of pupils are encouraged to find their voice. Sport is an integral part of life at Glebe House, and the school’s grounds include a 12-acre estate, a covered swimming pool, an astroturf pitch, playing fields and a gymnasium. The communication, teamwork and selfesteem developed on the playing field are held just as important as results, and every child (regardless of ability) has numerous opportunities to play for their house and school in competitive fixtures. It’s an approach that works, and many of the school’s ex-pupils have gone on to represent their county, their

region, and even their country. It’s in the quality of pastoral care that Glebe House truly excels, however, and it’s evident throughout the school day – from when day pupils mix with boarders for Breakfast Club all the way through to the after-school (and holiday time) clubs that oﬀer a variety of exciting activities that double as valuable learning experiences. Without a doubt, the real success of Glebe House School can be judged by the boundless passion and enthusiasm of the pupils themselves. Only last year, the Independent Schools Inspectorate reported that “...the pupils’ spiritual, moral, social and cultural development is excellent. Pupils are well mannered, considerate and delightful with each other... they are genuinely caring members of their own community and understand their social responsibility to help others who are less fortunate.” Glebe House School oﬀers each and every pupil a thorough preparation for a successful senior school career, and a solid foundation for later life. “In a world where children seem to be encouraged to become older earlier, it’s so important to set them on the right road and give them those essential

childhood experiences,” says John Crofts. “There’s no rush to be an adult. We’re here to prepare them for that stage in their lives, to enable them to face it with conﬁdence and to make the most of their potential – and what the world has to oﬀer them.” Sicut aquilae indeed.

information

Glebe House School Cromer Road, Hunstanton PE36 6HW Tel: 01485 532809 | Web: www.glebehouseschool.co.uk E-mail: ghsoﬃce@glebehouseschool.co.uk

KLmagazine September 2014

The key stages of wealth management W

ealth management is a relatively new profession, so it’s not surprising that most people are vague about what wealth managers actually do. Wealth management addresses a wide range of issues. A wealth manager can help you with such issues as: investing a lump sum; deciding how much you need to save in order to retire comfortably; estate planning and saving inheritance tax; dividing up pension entitlements on a divorce or separation; getting the right types and amounts of life and health insurance; planning to pay school or university fees; deciding how much to borrow and providing a general financial health check. These are crucial issues for most people and their families, and it’s very important for a wealth manager (or adviser) to have a thorough understanding of clients’ aims and challenges. It’s generally best to look at the whole of an individual’s financial affairs across the board, not just the issue that’s of most immediate concern. It can sometimes be hard to deal with one particular issue in isolation because most areas of financial planning are interconnected. Initially the wealth manager and client must get to know each other well enough to decide whether to take the relationship further and the best way for

it to work. Either in the initial meeting or soon after, this will involve agreeing the broad content and scope of the service and crucially how much it will all cost. The chemistry will need to be right - as a potential client, you should be asking yourself: do I trust this person and can I work with them? And it’s important to settle the practicalities: does this adviser and the firm have the right expertise, and can they provide what I’m looking for? There’s likely to be an enormous amount of information to be gathered together about a person’s financial circumstances: savings, investments, borrowings, property, mortgages and other loans, wills and other documents, pensions, life and health insurances, income and expenditure, tax and much more. But that’s only the start of this stage in the relationship. The planner’s job is to find out what the client wants to achieve with their money, both now and in the future. That means gaining a thorough understanding of their views about such issues as borrowing, investing, spending now and in the future, retirement and estate planning. Most people don’t think about their future very much – at least not in a very organised way and not from a financial perspective.. Wealth managers are generally able to undertake both the planning and implementation of arrangements – for

example, first recommending a suitable portfolio of investments and then making the necessary purchases and sales. But sometimes planners will work with other professionals like lawyers and accountants who can provide specialist legal and tax advice and help with the implementation of aspects of the plan. Most clients want their adviser to keep an eye on their investments and other financial arrangements; you could, for example, receive periodic valuations, attend meetings or have phone calls on a regular basis, or as and when needed. The review process is intended to act as a catch up with what has changed – either in your own circumstances or in the financial world generally. Much of the groundwork has already been done earlier, and so the review is likely to be shorter and easier to carry out than the initial meeting and report. But this might not turn out to be the case where there have been some very substantial changes in circumstances like a marriage, divorce or a substantial inheritance. It is possible to carry out your own wealth management if you have the knowledge, time, patience and selfdiscipline. But there are good reasons why you probably won’t want to – even if you have all these characteristics. You may also find it hard to make these big decisions alone.

To receive a complimentary guide covering wealth management, retirement planning or Inheritance Tax planning, contact Jeremy P. Allen at 4 King Street, King’s Lynn, Norfolk PE30 1ES on 01553 774500, by email at jeremy.allen@sjpp.co.uk or visit sjpp.co.uk/jeremyallen

KLmagazine September 2014

Education

ABOVE: “Our pupils are amazing because they’re encouraged to be amazing,” says Sacred Heart’s Headmistress Sr. Francis Ridler

Academic achievement and real lessons in life... Swaﬀham’s Sacred Heart School has just celebrated its centenary, but it still holds ﬁrm to the mission of its founding sisters to put service before self, as Headmistress Sr. Francis Ridler explains

bove the assembly hall at Sacred Heart School in Swaﬀham hangs a large (and very competent) reproduction of Pablo Picasso’s famous 1937 painting Weeping Woman. On closer inspection, however, it’s actually comprised of over 100 separate square tiles, each one of which was independently painted by one of the school’s pupils. “It’s a perfect example of one of the school’s central strengths,” says Headmistress Sister Francis Ridler, who ﬁrst became Headmistress of the school in 1979. “Projects that involve

the whole school working together helps emphasise our ethos of ‘service before self’ and encourages the pupils to understand how they fit into a wider community.” Sacred Heart School started life over 100 years ago, when the first Sisters of the Daughters of Divine Charity arrived in Swaffham from Austria. It was June 1914, two years after Swaffham’s parish priest Father Joseph Vendé had approached the Superior General of the order with the suggestion of founding a convent in the town. The school’s first pupils arrived at the convent’s first home in Providence

Terrace in July, and despite the considerable diﬃculties caused by the outbreak of WWI just a few weeks later, Sacred Heart ﬂourished. It moved to its present site in 1920, and both the educational and boarding facilities have been improved and extended considerably over the years. The gymnasium and dining room arrived in the 1960s, a new swimming pool and playground were constructed in the 1970s, the Lower School block and Middle School buildings were completed in the 1980s, and the sports hall was opened in 1997. In 2000, the Sisters bought the old

KLmagazine September 2014

ABOVE: Over a century since the founded Sacred Heart School in Swaﬀham, the sisters of the Daughters of Divine Charity still play a lively and inspirational part in the school’s spirit

barn adjacent to the school and converted it into a hugely impressive Arts Centre – complete with a 60seater theatre, pottery studio, music and art room. Things have changed enormously over the years, but the Sisters are still at the very heart of the school, and their

dedication to a life of prayer and service is the inspirational moving force behind all the school’s activities. “Obviously, academic achievement is very important,” says Sr Francis, “and we’re blessed with excellent facilities for a fully-rounded education. But we place an equal amount of emphasis on instilling a strong moral and spiritual foundation in our pupils. They’re encouraged to help one another, to be generous and curious, and to consider the deeper meaning of their lives.” Whether it takes the form of volunteering at local events such as the annual Brecks Food & Drink Festival, visiting sister schools in Europe or collecting for local charities, that enriching programme of extra-curricular activities means the pupils at

Sacred Heart are committed and responsible, always confident to think for themselves and always willing to think of others. It’s an approach that clearly works, as Sacred Heart can point to a long record of consistently high results for GCSE subjects. Considering the school is non-selective, it’s an excellent tradition that speaks volumes for the dedication and support of the staff, and the enthusiasm and determination of its pupils. “In June we held a three-day celebration of our centenary,” says Sr Francis, “and it encapsulated the spirit of the school perfectly. Present and past pupils, staff, sisters and friends all came together to produce a programme that included everything from speeches to fashion shows, and from a WWI drama to dancing. It showed that Sacred Heart is a genuinely rewarding community, full of talent and generosity.” In combining a drive for academic success with an underpinning of true Christian values, Sacred Heart inspires its pupils to fulfil their potential and find their place in the wider world. “Our pupils are always amazing,” says Sr Francis, “because they’re always encouraged to be amazing.” Indeed, perhaps it’s best to leave the final word to the students of Sacred Heart themselves, in the shape of 2014’s Head Girl Joanna Simon. “At Sacred Heart a pupil isn’t punished by their peers for raising their hand in response, but admired,” she says. “A student isn’t challenged when achieving an outstanding mark, but congratulated. No child goes unnoticed or is overlooked, but is cherished. I speak for generations when I say Sacred Heart, and all the sisters and staff have made a truly loving and caring family environment for me and all my fellow students.”

Sacred Heart School

information

17, Mangate Street, Swaﬀham, Norfolk PE37 7QW Tel: 01760 721330 | Web: www.sacredheartschool.co.uk E-mail: info@sacredheartschool.co.uk KLmagazine September 2014

Education

Taking the next step... There are plenty of Further Education opportunities available in the area – here are just a few of the options > COLLEGE OF WEST ANGLIA In partnership with Anglia Ruskin University, the College of West Anglia offers an increasing range of higher education courses across three campuses, including degrees, foundation degrees and HNDs. The courses are ideal for people who want to gain higher qualifications but want the flexibility of studying closer to home. The College also offers the chance to study parttime so studies can be fitted around work and family commitments. > WYMONDHAM COLLEGE The Sixth Form at Wymondham College provides everything students need to take them onto the next stage of their lives whilst giving them the opportunity to make a real difference to the College community. Many students choose to remain on-site after completing their GCSEs, but an equal number join the Sixth Form and experience boarding life for the first time. A diverse community adds an international flavour – which in turn creates a richness of experience and contributes greatly to the sense of preparation for life.

> EASTON & OTLEY COLLEGE Easton & Otley College oﬀers Foundation Degrees in Animal Science and Welfare, Agricultural Management, Equine Management, Ecology and Conservation Management, Sports Coaching and Engineering. The Colleges also oﬀer new BSc Honours Degrees in Agriculture, Animal Science and Welfare (Top-Up), Equitation and Coaching and Sports Coaching (TopUp). Every student is assigned a personal tutor, and there are experts in transport, money, health and welfare, childcare provision, housing, job hunting, UCAS applications and course information – all thoroughly dedicated professionals committed to helping each and every student succeed and get the most out of their College experience.

although they do work closely with dedicated tutors and personal mentors to achieve their potential. Students are also given the opportunity to learn in ways which suit their individual strengths and to participate in an extensive programme of enrichment activities. For more details, see the individual College websites as detailed below.

> FAKENHAM COLLEGE Fakenham Academy Norfolk is a community school based at Highfield House, and is justifiably proud of its academic success. At Fakenham there’s a firm belief that students succeed best when they’re willing to assume responsibility for their own learning,

FAKENHAM COLLEGE Wells Road, Fakenham NR21 9HP Web: www.fakenhamcollege.org.uk

information

COLLEGE OF WEST ANGLIA Tennyson Avenue, King’s Lynn PE30 2QW Web: www.cwa.ac.uk EASTON & OTLEY COLLEGE Easton, Norwich NR9 5DX Web: www.eastonotley.ac.uk

WYMONDHAM COLLEGE Wymondham NR18 9SZ Web: www.wymondhamcollege.org

KLmagazine September 2014

Academic excellence and new directions W

ymondham College has a long standing reputation of providing an exceptional secondary education for its students. The college combines high academic standards with an extensive and wide ranging programme of extra curricular activities, aiming to equip students for happy and successful future lives. The college was rated as “outstanding” by Ofsted in its last education and boarding inspections. “I am very excited to have the opportunity of leading such a well regarded school” says newly appointed principal Jonathan Taylor. “My vision is to provide a world class education, where students are stretched to achieve their academic potential and encouraged to take full advantage of the rich and varied opportunities that the college can offer.” “We are proud to be the largest state boarding school in England and Wales” he adds. “Boarding is an integral part of college life and enables students to gain confidence and independence in a nurturing and caring environment.”

The college offers numerous opportunities for students to learn beyond the classroom. This includes an annual programme of over 700 sporting fixtures, numerous concerts, productions, exhibitions, exchanges, visiting speakers, trips and visits. The international dimension is given a high prominence and includes links with schools in Asia, Africa and Europe, an area the college is keen to develop even further. Academically the college continues to thrive, with a strong track record of outstanding examination results. Last year a record 13 students were offered Oxbridge places, with the overwhelming majority of post 16 students securing places at their first choice University. “The best way to understand why we are so proud of our college is to come and meet our students and staff” says Registrar Suzie Bunning. Please attend an open day or contact us to arrange an individual visit.

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

MAIN SCHOOL OPEN DAY: 4th October 2014, 9-11am | 21st March 2015, 9-11am | 13th June 2015 9-11am SIXTH FORM OPEN EVENING: 15th Octover 2014 from 5pm (for 2015 entry)

KLmagazine September 2014

Education

ABOVE: King’s Lynn Academy Principal Craig Morrison with some of his students: “they’re at the centre of everything we do,” he says.

The success of making learning memorable... King’s Lynn Academy successfully combines outstanding facilities with a forward-thinking and student-centred approach to education. KL magazine talks to Principal Craig Morrison.

here’s a deﬁnite sense of freshness to King’s Lynn Academy. A true learning facility for the 21st century, the Academy successfully combines modern decor, bright colours and open-plan spaces with a traditional teaching environment – from the aweinspiring central forum to the stunning art room, it’s a fantastic building, full of energy and enthusiasm. “There’s plenty of light, plenty of fresh air and plenty of glass so that nothing’s hidden away,” explains Principal Craig Morrison, who’s justiﬁably proud of the Academy, not least since he had a considerable amount of input into the building’s overall layout and design. “Our students are always on show

KLmagazine September 2014

because we’re incredibly proud of them and they’re at the centre of everything we do,” he says. Indeed, the freshness of King’s Lynn Academy isn’t solely down to its aesthetics and outstanding facilities – it’s also a product of an imaginative, challenging and student-centred approach to learning. “Our motto is learning without limits,” Craig explains. “It means we encourage and help our students go as far as possible without putting ceilings on their achievement. We’ll tailor support and individual learning programmes for students with speciﬁc needs, and we’ll link other students to universities through residential visits. All students are given the opportunity to take

qualiﬁcations when they’re ready – helping them go further faster.” The atmosphere at King’s Lynn Academy is also enhanced by the fact that it’s a specialist Academy for Enterprise. Students beneﬁt from weekly visits, talks and presentations by local employers such as Adrian Flux, Pinguin Foods and the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, which helps them place traditional subjects such as Science and ICT in a wider ‘real world’ context. “It’s a key part of raising students’ aspirations and highlighting the reasons why they’re learning,” says Craig. “For instance, we recently welcomed one of the top scientists working on the world-famous Hadron collider project at CERN (the European Organization

Education

ABOVE: King’s Lynn Academy combines the design and layout of a 21st century learning facility with all the principles and dedication to students of a traditional teaching environment.

for Nuclear Research). It was a great experience for the students, but it also spoke volumes for the Academy itself – especially as the scientist in question is actually an ex-student of ours!” King’s Lynn Academy also has a tradition of special projects where students of all ages work together in researching and exploring areas in greater depth. One of the most recent is the remarkable 1000 Voices project (undertaken in association with the UEA and True’s Yard Museum), which involved every student, every teacher and every member of the support and administrative staff recording a personal ‘significant event’ to create a truly unique and valuable sound archive. “It’s a great example of how the Academy likes to go beyond the normal curriculum,” says Craig. “In addition to its pure educational benefits, 1000 Voices was designed to involve the students in analysis and logic, in understanding the power of editing, and perhaps most importantly, helping students to reflect on their personal strengths.” There are currently 650 students at 94

King’s Lynn Academy, and while there’s no doubt numbers will increase in the future, Craig is totally committed to retaining a striking family atmosphere that’s based on personal attention. “We like to tell each and every student ‘you will be known’ – and thanks to our strong family links and supportive house system, the Academy never loses sight of the individual,” he says. “Our greatest success is being able to give real attention to specific personalities and needs on a daily basis. That’s essential for ensuring students succeed and fulfill their true potential.” The freshness that’s so apparent at King’s Lynn Academy is hard to define, but it’s clearly the result of the outstanding facilities, the commitment of the teaching and support staff, the sheer enthusiasm of the students themselves – and not least to Craig’s inspirational vision for the future. “It’s about the experience,” he says. “It’s about being prepared to go above and beyond the curriculum. It’s about making sure no student gets lost in the crowd. Above all, it’s about making learning memorable.”

To discover the facilities and opportunities available at King’s Lynn Academy, don’t miss the series of Open Day Tours this month on Monday 22nd, Tuesday 23rd, Wednesday 24th and Thursday 25th. The tours take place at 9.15am and 1.45pm and are taken by Craig Morrison personally. There’s also a special Open Evening on Thursday 25th September at 6pm.

KING’S LYNN ACADEMY Queen Mary Road, King’s Lynn Norfolk PE30 4QG Tel: 01553 774671 Web: www.kingslynnacademy.co.uk

KLmagazine September 2014

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KLmagazine September 2014

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here’s no doubt that air source heating is the way forward. Air source heating can lower fuel bills and reduce a home’s carbon emissions – by up to 60% compared with traditonal boiler systems. It’s easy to install (no ground works are needed), doesn’t need fuel deliveries (it’s ideal for off gas grid properties), and incorporates a host of advanced energy saving features. It’s unobtrusive, it’s quiet, and it requires very little maintenance. Oh, and it also provides a totally controllable level of heating and hot water. What’s not to like? “It doesn’t matter what aspect of air source heating you look at,” says Steve Simpson of 4 Way Refrigeration Ltd, “the facts and figures speak for themselves. Why would you pay for energy you’re not going to use? And why would you ignore the opportunity to harness the power of nature for free? Air source heating is a simple idea, but the benefits for your home and for your pocket are enormous.” As everyone familiar with new build

KLmagazine September 2014

projects will know, projects with better energy ratings are always looked on more favourably when it comes to planning permission, and as a package of energy saving measures, air source heating really helps towards achieving a higher rating in the Code for Sustainable Homes. “Because air source heating is a totally integrated system, you only need one fuel in the property, so it also cuts down on utility usage,” says Steve. “The beneﬁts are enormous. There are no direct emissions, no ignition, no burners and no need for a ﬂue, so it’s a completely eco-friendly and extremely

cost-effective way to heat your home.” The system is also remarkably flexible, making it even more suitable for new build projects. It can be connected to underfloor heating, radiators or fan coils, and can also be used in conjunction with a solar thermal system – providing up to 60% of your hot water needs for free from the sun’s energy. Trust Steve and his hugely experienced local team at 4 Way Refrigeration Ltd to deliver the massive advantages of a domestic heating system that’s simple to install, inexpensive to run and has proven green credentials.

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KLmagazine September 2014

Local Life

ABOVE: Tower Street in King’s Lynn and (opposite) an unusual view of the town’s High Street taken from the top of St. Margarets

King’s Lynn and the sense of independence Since a market was ﬁrst recorded in the town 900 years ago, King’s Lynn has maintained a healthy trading community – and supporting local independent businesses is as important as ever...

rnest Harmer was born and raised in Manchester, and moved to King’s Lynn at the start of the 1980s. Almost 35 years later, he still does virtually all his shopping in the town centre and he wouldn’t have it any other way. “I love the centre of King’s Lynn,” he says, not minding being stopped in the High Street on his way to catch the bus home. “It's got a real soul. So many towns you visit just look the same these days and they all have the same feel. You could be anywhere. In King’s Lynn you always know where you are. I think it’s marvellous how many local shops

KLmagazine September 2014

there are – they’re the real lifeblood of the town centre.” Those sentiments would appear to be borne out by the statistics. The New Economics Foundation is the UK’s leading think-tank, promoting social, economic and environmental justice and one of their most highly-publicised initiatives is their ongoing research into the growth of what they refer to as Clone Town Britain. The recent NEF report ‘Re-imagining the High Street’ found that only 36% of the surveyed high streets retained their distinctive character by having independent and local shops representing over two thirds of the

total. Surprisingly enough, Cambridge was judged the UK’s most 'cloned' town, managing only 11.6 on the diversity scale (out of a maximum of 100) – only nine varieties of shop were found on the main high street. Which brings us back very nicely to King’s Lynn. Using NEF’s matrix for calculating whether a town is distinctive and recognisable as a unique place, it’s possible to see where King’s Lynn lies on the ‘clone town’ scale. A score of 10-50 indicates a ‘clone town’, a score between 50 and 70 indicates a ‘border town’, while a score of 70+ indicates a genuine ‘home town’ – with plenty of

Local Life choice and plenty of independentlyowned outlets. It will come as no surprise to people such as Ernest Harmer to learn that King’s Lynn scores a very healthy 79.57 on the scale – confirming his view that the town still has a very distinct character all of its own. People have been shopping in King’s Lynn for at least 900 years (the oldest recorded instance of a market is to a ‘Sand Market’ on the Saturday Market Place in 1104) and despite the enormous changes that have taken place since then and affected virtually every walk of life, there still seems to be a genuine need for a friendly, local trader. Think that haberdashery is a thing of the past thanks to mass production? Consider The Fent Shop on Broad Street, which was established over 50 years ago and is still a thriving, familyrun business. Think the traditional music store has disappeared in the days of digital downloads? Then take a look at The Record Shop on St. James Street, which has been (and is still) selling vinyl records after almost 20 years. King’s Lynn is full of truly local, truly independent shops and traders just like these. Firmly established as part of the local community, they’ve been run by generations of the same family in many cases and have in turn served generations of shoppers. They’re also refreshingly diverse. From Cooper & Elms to Metric Carpets and Economy Flooring, and from the Natural Therapy Centre to Castle Costumes, the independent traders of King’s Lynn continue to ensure the town centre offers a comprehensive shopping choice. In David Auker, Tim Clayton and Francis Wain, King’s Lynn is blessed with a glittering range of jewellery, while places such as Marriott’s Warehouse, the Market Bistro and the Baguette Stop offer plenty of home-grown opportunities for post-retail relaxation. Deborah Barber has lived in King’s Lynn all her life, and wouldn’t think of shopping anywhere else. “The nicest thing about visiting the town centre is that I go into shops that I remember going into when I was younger,” she says. “I’ve been to lots of different towns and cities, but I don’t think I’ve ever come across such Clone town

Border town

Home town

Using the matrix provided by the New Economics Foundation for calculating the diversity and local character of town centres it’s clear to see that King’s Lynn still has a strong independent ﬂavour

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Local Life

friendly service as I have here. They always make time for you, they always make you feel welcome and they’re always willing to help. I think a lot of people could learn a lot from coming here." But the value of independent traders doesn’t just lie in traditional names, friendly faces and personal service. The Centre of Local Economic Strategies (CLES) recently undertook a research project for the Federation of Small Businesses about the value of a £1 when it’s spent locally. The results were compelling, and should be more than enough to convince people that when they shop locally they’re making a genuinely positive impact on their community. The CLES found that for every £1 spent locally, around 50p-70p of that money was recirculated back into the local economy. When you consider that the same £1 spent either out of town or online will see only 5p trickling back into the local community, the importance of supporting local independent businesses couldn’t be clearer. At the forefront of ensuring the distinctive character of the town centre

of King’s Lynn (together with its continued trading health) is preserved, is the King's Lynn BID initiative. The BID steering group (which is made up of representatives from local businesses) aims to “to create a vibrant town we can all be proud of, where businesses prosper, our communities thrive, and for visitors a true destination of choice.” Over the last 20 months, the steering group and Town Centre Partnership have undertaken a considerable amount of research (speaking directly with over 210 businesses) and held over 25 separate events to understand the needs and views of local businesses and to raise awareness among the community. The King’s Lynn BID aims to improve the marketing and promotion of the town, to improve access to it and within it, to provide an improved townscape and to speak up for local businesses. It’s an ambitious vision, but at its heart is a genuine desire to safeguard and support a successesful, independent and sustainable future for the centre of King’s Lynn. More details and latest news on the initiative can be

For every £1 spent locally around 50p-70p of that money recirculates back into the local economy...

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found at www.kingslynnbid.com. Undoubtedly, the most important elements in keeping the town centre adaptable, creative and resilient are the people who continue to support it – the locals, the visitors and the tourists – and perhaps the last word should be left to them. Marjorie Locke, who lives six miles from the town centre, has stopped for a coﬀee in Norfolk Street. “There's nowhere quite like King’s Lynn,” she says. “It’s one of the few places I can think of where the town centre has a traditional community feel about it. It’s full of unique shops and it doesn’t matter which one you visit – you’re always made to feel at home. I think everyone should support it and shop locally, because without it the town would lose its heart. And that would be a tragedy.”

KLmagazine September 2014

ree decades h t g n i t a r Celeb service! of quality 014 1984-2

ABOVE: Celebrating 30 years of Cooper & Elms this month are Ian Cooper (left) with his mother Elaine and Steve Hancock – together with Giles Thorlby in the workshop (top right). Cooper & Elms is still a familyrun business that prides itself on quality products and customer care

30 years of local service! n Saturday, September 1st 1984, on its very ﬁrst day of business, Ian Cooper stood outside the new electronic and electrical goods store established in King’s Lynn by his late father Richard and Peter Elms, handing out leaﬂets promoting the arrival of Cooper & Elms. Three decades later, the local independent electrical retailer continues to go from strength to strength – adding domestic appliances and associated spares to the range, and becoming authorised dealers for a number of world-famous brands. Cooper & Elms also has the facility to repair and service audio and visual equipment together with microwave ovens and vacuum cleaners thanks to its very own repair workshop. “Having an onsite workshop doesn’t just mean we can service products we’ve sold,” says Ian. “It also means we can help customers by servicing the out-ofwarranty products they’ve purchased elsewhere.” Indeed, by 2008 Cooper & Elms was so well established it became a member of Euronics, Europe’s largest independent

KLmagazine September 2014

electrical buying group – giving the company (and its customers) access to an even greater range of top quality brands, a wider choice of products, and more competitive prices. “It’s a very fast-moving market, but we’ve got a great team that always keeps up with the latest technology,” says Ian. “That’s essential to enable us to oﬀer friendly advice and expert help on a daily basis.” That help and advice is always available in store or on the phone and Cooper & Elms also oﬀers a free delivery and installation service on purchases over £100. Even after three decades in business, it’s still a family-run business committed to traditional values. “It’s not all about big TVs and washing machines,” says Ian. “We also stock a huge amount of accessories, and everything from vacuum cleaner bags to batteries. It doesn’t matter whether someone’s buying a 99p light bulb or a £999 television – they all get the same level of service. That’s always been important to us.” And it’s exactly that approach that’s

seen Cooper & Elms win several awards from manufacturers over the years – and receive the Independent Retailer of the Year Award at this year’s Mayor’s Business Awards. For great products, great value and a friendly service that’s still local and still independent, you’ll ﬁnd Cooper & Elms are exactly what you’re looking for!

information

Cooper & Elms Ltd 30 Tower Street, King’s Lynn PE30 1EJ Tel: 01553 774798 Web: www.cooperandelms.co.uk E-mail: sales@cooperandelms.co.uk

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The Baguette Stop

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KLmagazine September 2014

Warmer ideas underfoot! W

ith summer coming to an end, we’ll be spending a lot more time in our homes so it’s important to have them looking their best. And with the completion of all those warm weather building projects, it’s time to start thinking about the ﬂooring. Underﬂoor heating is becoming increasingly popular today, but it doesn’t mean you can simply cover it with anything that takes your fancy! “Underfloor heating is great,” says Alistair Allen of Metric Carpets, “but you have to remember the heat needs to actually get through the carpet or you’ll end up spending more money than necessary to heat your home. Choosing the correct underlay and carpet is really important. Luckily we’ve got some fabulous carpets at the moment that

have been specially developed to work successfully with underfloor heating.” Actually, one of the best solutions for underfloor heating is luxury vinyl tiles, which have been designed to expand and contract as necessary and offer the freedom to have a floor built to your exact specifications and individual tastes. That means lovely intricate border work, eye-catching detailing, and even your own design features such as an inlaid compasses or mosaic dolphins! They can be as complex or as simple as you like – and it’s very easy to create a stunning ‘wow’ factor for very little money. “With luxury vinyl tiles you really can’t tell it’s not oak or beech, sandstone or granite,” says Alistair, “and in many ways they’re actually better. They’re warmer, they’re not slippery, they’re not ‘noisy’, they don’t crack when you drop things

on them, and they’re incredibly versatile.” Best of all they need very little maintenance, which means you have to do virtually no work to keep your floors looking perfect. They’re also fully guaranteed – some for 10 years, and some for a lifetime. Metric Carpets even offers a one-year guarantee on labour as standard. “Because there’s no need to cut into skirting boards or doors, luxury vinyl tiles fit around complicated edges and corners perfectly,” says Alistair. “That’s one of the reasons they appeal to all ages, all houses, and all budgets.” And thanks to the complete Metric Carpets service – from taking up old carpets and tiles to cleaning and sealing the floor when it’s completed – all you really have to do is enjoy your new floor! And if you’re wondering what Boris is up to these days, don’t worry. “He’s on holiday,” says Alistair.

s t e p r a C c i Metr Metric Carpets

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

KLmagazine September 2014

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Local Arts

ABOVE: Springboard TV students conducting an interview at Silverstone – all the work on the online channel has been created by students

Springboard: launchpad for the TV of tomorrow From local history to experimental art, and from local village halls to music videos, the work of Springboard TV is gaining an everwider audience – and the future looks even more promising...

t’s an exciting time at Springboard TV, the online television channel and production facility based at the College of West Anglia in King’s Lynn. This month they’re moving into their extensively refurbished oﬃces, production studio and editing suite in the College’s new Creative Studios building – which was formerly the gym and squash courts. “It’s really going to take us in some exciting new directions,” says Springboard TV’s Project Manager Scott Jarvis. “Bringing all the creative arts disciplines physically closer will give us easier access to students in areas such as the performing arts and music – and it will in turn give them access to our visual platforms. It’s a move that can’t

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fail to encourage artistic development across the board.” Staﬀed by a team of dedicated media professionals and crewed by media students, Springboard TV was launched in 2008 to give students of the College of West Anglia a real-world platform from which they could showcase their work. Visit the website and you’ll soon see just how much up-and-coming talent there is out there – and just how wide-ranging Springboard TV is. Live TV combines live event coverage with real-time photos, text, and video clip updates posted using web browsers or mobile devices, the Sport Channel is a platform for the wide range of sporting clubs, activities and events in the local area, while the

Heritage Channel helps raise awareness of the rich history behind some of the local community’s most important legends and landmarks in a visually engaging way. The Euro Channel is the repository of all the media created during Springboard TV’s joint venture projects, and the Award Winners Channel is a celebration of the hard work done by students and staﬀ at the College of West Anglia. Some of the most amazing work can be found on Springboard TV’s ‘creative’ channels. The Film Channel features the latest student ﬁlms, interviews, clips and trailers, the Music Channel shows original music videos 24 hours a day, while the Experimental Channel goes a step further and

KLmagazine September 2014

ABOVE: Springboard TV’s Project Manager Scott Jarvis at work with students in the online channel’s editing and production suite at the College of West Anglia in King’s Lynn.

explores the actual process of filmmaking. There’s even an Alumni Channel for videos that students have gone on to make after working with Springboard TV. “The quality of the students’ work never ceases to amaze us,” says Scott. “Every year we wonder if the standard will be as high, but it actually seems to improve. There really is an incredible amount of creative talent here.” Those standards were rewarded last year when two teams of Springboard TV students entered the Video & Moving Image category of the internationally-recognised World Skills Competition. One team – which included students who’d never even picked up a camera before arriving at the College – came fourth, receiving a commendation and narrowly missing out on a Bronze Award. “It was a valuable experience for the students, but it also helped put Springboard TV on the map,” says Scott. “The organisers were so impressed with the quality of the work and the facilities we have here in King’s Lynn that we’ll actually be hosting the competition’s semi-finals next year.” The growing reputation of Springboard TV was further enhanced during their recent production of a DVD documenting the history and development of the new village hall at Thornham. The students’ footage of the official opening by The Queen on January 28th was so good it was actually used by ITV – and the DVD was

KLmagazine September 2014

so successful it’s now being sold on a commercial basis. Springboard TV is now reaching an even wider audience thanks to the Soulmates in Art project. Involving students of photography, graphic design, art, film and video, the initiative is a collaboration between the College of West Anglia, the Heinrich-hertzeuropakolleg in Bonn (Germany) and the ROC Friese Poort in Drachten (Holland) and is designed to use art as a way of demonstrating just what it means to be European. “The project is aimed at breaking down the stereotypes of different nationalities by exploring the differences and similarities between each country’s culture,” explains Scott. “It’s been a fascinating and thoughtprovoking journey, and I think everyone who views the films made during the project will learn something and think about Europe a little differently.” All the work on Springboard TV has been created by students. The subjects and genres covered are wide and diverse – some pieces have been produced on the back of academic studies, whereas some are the result of individual passions and the students’ personal needs to tell a story. Other featured films are direct commissions from the wider community and local businesses. All of them point to a quite remarkable source of talent and a growing reputation for excellence. Welcome to Springboard TV.

For more details on the work of SPRINGBOARD TV and to watch the ﬁlms for yourself, visit www.springboardtv.com. For details of media, ﬁlm and video courses available at the College of West Anglia, visit www.cwa.ac.uk. If you’re interested in commercial projects and would like to discover what Springboard TV can do for your business, contact Project Manager Scott Jarvis on 01553 815610 or contact him by e-mail at info@springboardtv.com.

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Local Arts

ABOVE: Tidal Flats (acrylic on board) is a typically atmospheric work by the Harpley-based artist Mari French (opposite)

Mari French and the coast’s timeless appeal At a new solo exhibition in King’s Lynn this month, Mari French contrasts the coastlines of Norfolk and Cornwall in a series of breathtaking artworks that invite the viewer’s own interpretation

he wild and rugged Cornish coastline is a very diﬀerent kettle of ﬁsh to Norfolk’s own beautiful but (usually) more serene coast, but the very tip of Cape Cornwall was exactly where Norfolk-based artist Mari French spent two exhilarating weeks on an art residency earlier this spring. “To be able to spend time intensively painting, exploring and sketching, without life’s usual distractions, in such a wild and inspiring location, was an invaluable experience for me,” she says. “The house – which is run by the Brisons Veor Charitable Trust as a creative space for artists – is perched right over a sea cove at the

KLmagazine September 2014

westernmost reaches of the English mainland. It’s the perfect spot to capture the motion, power and shape of the crashing waves.” The results of Mari’s intensive study of the contrasting coastlines of Norfolk and Cape Cornwall will be the subject of her new solo exhibition ‘Coastlines’ which takes places at Greyfriars Art Space in King’s Lynn, from September 27th to October 11th. A full-time artist, Mari lives and works in the village of Harpley, producing semi-abstract atmospheric paintings in acrylics and mixed-media from a rustic hayloft studio, which itself was a source of much interest during her recent successful Norfolk Open Studios event.

Her distinctive, textured and evocative artworks are built up through constant layering and wiping back of the paint and often include embedded materials such as muslin and string. All of which results in a rich and intriguing patina, adding to the visual intensity experienced by the viewer. “I actually quite enjoy this aspect,” says Mari, “as my artwork seeks to allow people’s imagination the freedom to reach their own interpretations – and it’s fascinating to hear the variety of responses to a particular piece. Even the less abstract works invite people to see various things in the paint!” Inspired mainly by landscape, from the wild expanse of the saltmarsh coast 109

Local Arts

ABOVE: Mari’s evocative work Duality (watercolour on paper) is a ﬁnalist in Sunday Times Watercolour Competition 2014 and will be exhibited in London this month. Mari admits she almost didn’t bother entering the competition!

of north Norfolk and its patterned agricultural hinterland, to the dramatic ruins of the Cornish Tinners coast, Mari’s sought-after paintings have been exhibited across the country from London to Inverness. Mari’s growing repuation has been further enhanced recently as she’s just been selected as a ﬁnalist in the prestigious Sunday Times Watercolour Competition 2014 – and her painting ‘Duality’ will be exhibited at The Mall Galleries in London later this month. More locally, Mari’s artwork can be viewed year round at the Burnham Grapevine Gallery in Burnham Market or Thompson’s Gallery in Aldburgh – and her printmaking is now carried out at the new Norfolk Design Gallery in Harpley, where you can see (and buy) her collagraph prints together with a selection of her paintings. For more information on Mari French and her artwork, visit her website at www.marifrench.com or her art blog at www.marifrench.wordpress.com.

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Mari’s visions of a wilder sea... To be able to spend time intensively painting, exploring and sketching on my own without life’s usual distractions, in such an inspiring location was an invaluable experience. I lived, ate, slept and worked upstairs in the large sitting room/studio which looks out over Priest’s Cove and the Atlantic. The last time I lived on my own was back in 1995. I expected to ﬁnd the isolation a challenge, but knew it would be good for my mental and creative makeup... In this spectacular location – the house is thought to be the westernmost on the English mainland – I painted furiously, inspired by the wild seas beneath and beyond me, producing several paintings, the start of a series of abstract studies based on the local mining areas and a fairly stuﬀed sketchbook, bursting with source material for future work... ABOVE: From Cape Cornwall (detail, acrylic on canvas) by Mari French – a wilder sea than Norfolk’s!

KLmagazine September 2014

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KLmagazine September 2014

The page made by KL magazine readers

PICTURE: IAN WARD

My KL

ABOVE: The Norfolk Militia outside the Customs House in King’s Lynn during last year’s Heritage Open Day

HERITAGE OPEN DAY: KING’S LYNN Sunday 14th September: 10am-4pm It’s that time of the year when everyone’s invited to join England's annual celebration of local history and architecture by taking advantage of the opporutniuty to have a wonderful day out exploring the historic buildings and heritage of King’s Lynn. The King’s Lynn Civic Society, working with the Borough Council of King’s Lynn and West Norfolk and the Red Badge Town Guides, together with a wide range of businesses, residents and Friends groups have arranged a fantastic programme enabling you to visit houses, oﬃces, gardens, churches, chapels, interesting cemeteries, towers, tunnels and even a temple not normally open to the public. Look out for special events, colourful re-enactors, music, dancing, classic cars and plenty of special exhibtions. It’s hardly surprising that Hertiage Open Days are England’s most popular grassroots cultural event. In fact, there’s so much to see and do that you’d probably need a Heritage Open Month to see everything, but here are just a few of the highlights we’re particularly excited about: – Valiant Hearts, a guided walk of the World War I graves at the Hardwick Cemetery – The King’s Lynn town band in the walks from 2pm-4pm – The Classic Car Rally on the Tuesday Market Place, together with the newlydiscovered World War II air raid shelters under it – 18th century dancing courtesy of Baroque Dance Unmasked at the Old Town Hall and Guildhall. For more details and information on the Heritage Open Day in King’s Lynn and full listings of the events and locations themselves, please visit either www.heritageopendays.org.uk and search for ‘King’s Lynn’ or the King’s Lynn Civic Society’s website at www.kingslynncivicsociety.co.uk

KLmagazine September 2014

DEAR KL MAGAZINE... Back in 2008, I attended an exhibition of the work of the artist Walter Dexter (1876-1958) and was surprised to learn that although his work was well known and everyone seemed to have an opinion about his paintings, very little was known about his life and the influences that shaped him. I felt Walter Dexter deserved a lot more attention than he seems to have received, and I’m pleased to say that my new book on this important local artist will be launched by the Friends of Lynn Museum at Marriotts Warehouse on September 17th. The book covers Walter’s early life, including his being taught by Henry Baines, his time at the Birmingham School of Art (where he was influenced by the Pre Raphaelites) and his tours around Europe, when he soaked up the work of the Old Masters. In addition to following a successful journalistic career, Walter taught at King Edward VIIth School in King’s Lynn and produced some beautiful paintings of the local area and its people. His work was shown at the Royal Academy, he was commissioned to paint a miniature for Queen Mary’s doll’s house, and one of his paintings of the river was given to Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, who was a great admirer of his work. Before the official book launch on the 17th, I am also giving an illustrated talk on Walter Dexter at the start of Heritage Week, in the Shakespeare Barn at the King’s Lynn Arts Centre on Friday September 12th. Hopefully, my efforts will help in bringing this important local artist the wider recognition he so obviously deserves! CHARLOTTE PATON West Bilney

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The Last Word

CrossCurren s

with Canon Chris Ivory, King’s Lynn Minster

ne of the striking things on entering the main door of the Minster is the ‘carpet’ of floor tiles that surrounds the font. There’s an immediate impression of pattern and colour – black, cream and terracotta. Until recently, I’d never looked at them carefully. There are more of these patterned ‘encaustic’ tiles at the far end, in the chancel and sanctuary, but not set out so dramatically. They all date from the 1860s, before mechanical presses were devised to manufacture simpler and multicoloured tiles which burst onto the later Victorian domestic market. Our tiles have patterns made by using cream-coloured clay set into the ordinary red clay, but with extraordinarily fine detail and a great variety of patterns. A few of the tiles in the sanctuary are by Minton, but most of the Minster’s tiles were made by William Godwin of Lugwardine in Herefordshire. I’d been looking at the tiles as part of making plans for the conservation work that’s needed. In the Sanctuary, the floors and steps have subsided significantly over the years and many tiles are damaged. Quite a lot of those round the font are chipped and there’s little glaze left anywhere. But when I started looking at them, I became fascinated by how the designs were created using groups of tiles, and by the different forms of symmetry within the tiles used to form a design. I’m sure my education is lacking, but I’d never really thought about how a pattern can be made from four identical tiles – but only if the design is symmetrical about one diagonal axis and no other symmetry. A group of nine tiles requires three different tiles:

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the four corners symmetrical about one diagonal, four for the middle of each side (symmetrical about one central axis) and the centre tile symmetrical about all axes. Sixteen tile groups require four different tiles, each with their own rules of symmetry. By now I was getting mind-boggled and it took me a while longer to discover that the whole tile carpet around the font is made up of eight four-tile designs, and eight sixteen-tile designs (there are nine tile designs in the chancel). These groups of tiles are separated by patterns of plain black or cream tiles interspersed with patterned tiles – four different types each with a design complete in itself. The layout has its own pattern and symmetry – including rotational symmetry, where the grouping of patterns is turned through 90 degrees to make a second group of patterns. Recognising and working out the rules of patterns often forms part of intelligence tests, so my struggle to work all this all out probably indicates a very low IQ! But recognising and responding to patterns is, it seems, an important part of how we function in the world, and symmetry and proportion are significant aspects of our perception of beauty. Is the painting of the Mona Lisa beautiful because of the beauty of the subject, or because of how the subject is placed on the canvas and the proportions of the areas within the painting? Would an abstract painting created with the same division of the canvas into component parts be as beautiful? And what of music – its rhythms and harmonies? How does dissonance and irregularity nudge us to perceive a greater depth of beauty? There is no arguing with ‘I know

what I like’ – we do know, but often we don’t know why. Perhaps it has to do with experiences we no longer remember, perhaps with primitive instincts for survival learned long ago in evolutionary history. Indeed, ‘I know what I like’ can be dangerous, because it excludes new perceptions of beauty and can also be the root of prejudice and unreasonable responses to new encounters. But if our aesthetic sense does grow out of forgotten lessons about how the world is and how to deal with it, and if what we like reflects in some way the reality of our environment and our experience of it, then maybe so does our spiritual sense and our religious feeling. If so, then ignoring them is to ignore a significant part of the reality in which we live. Perhaps human interest in God isn’t proof of the existence of God – but not looking for God is like wearing an eye patch, or perhaps like the difference between wearing a fur coat and having your cat purring in your lap. So I’m very grateful for William Godwin and for those who laid out his tiles so thoughtfully. They remind me to attend to beautiful things, and to God.

KLmagazine September 2014