ISSN 2044–7965
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ISSUE 20 MAY 2012
magazine
LIFESTYLE
FOOD
HISTORY
EVENTS
LOCAL LIFE
COVER IMAGE by Grant Murray
editorial 01553 601201
editor@klmagazine.co.uk
Eric Secker Ian Ward Bel Greenwood Alex Dallas David Learner Chris Tyler Graham Murray Ann Weaver Christine Glass Michael Middleton
advertising 01553 601201 sales@klmagazine.co.uk
Laura Murray Grant Murray Nicky Secker-Bligh Becky Drew Louise Wilkinson 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 below. Please note this applies only to images taken by our own photographers.
I
t seems the future of North and West Norfolk is in very safe and capable hands, and you’ll find this month’s magazine full of examples. While Sheringham Park celebrates 200 years since its ceration by Humphry Repton and Blakeney Point celebrates 100 years of sun, sand and seals, both are looking to the future with confidence. So are Mark and Lindsay Abel, whose recent appearance on TV has given Denver Windmill an exciting way forward. Meanwhile, The friends of St. Nicholas Chapel in King’s Lynn are holding a special Festival of Angels next month to help save this important building for future generations, while students at the College of West Anglia are looking set to make an impact on the future of television. On the other hand, our heritage is something we really have to treasure – and whether it’s Blickling Hall’s new Anne Boleyn Festival or Nick Hammond’s love of history (and Michael Middleton’s!), the past continues to be celebrated locally. As you might imagine, we had a lot of fun putting this month’s magazine together – and we hope you have just as much reading it. See you again next month. KL MAGAZINE
Contact us at KL magazine, 18 Tuesday Market Place, King’s Lynn, Norfolk PE30 1JW Tel: 01553 601201 E-mail: features@klmagazine.co.uk Web: www.klmagazine.co.uk 4
KLmagazine May 2012
Contents
MAY 2012
7 & 11 WHAT’S ON Forthcoming events in West Norfolk 12-14 SHERINGHAM PARK The 200th anniversary of Repton’s creation 16
THE BIG INTERVIEW Nick Hammond, Wisbech Grammar School
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THEN AND NOW The changing face of King’s Lynn
24-26 BLAKENEY POINT Celebrating 100 years of sand and seals 29
12
16
PETS Help and advice with local vet Alex Dallas
30-32 KING’S LYNN CONSERVANCY BOARD The team keeping everything ship-shape 35-43 FOOD & DRINK Recipes, reviews and recommendations 44-46 EXPLORER This month we visit Terrington St Clement 52-54 BRIAN CONLEY IS FAGIN... A major new production of Oliver! 56
FESTIVAL OF ANGELS A heavenly effort to save St. Nicholas
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BOOK REVIEWS This month’s best reads by Waterstone’s
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60-63 THE FUTURE OF DENVER WINDMILL We meet up with Mark and Lindsay Abel 64-65 ANNE BOLEYN FESTIVAL Blickling Hall’s tribute to the tragic Queen 66-68 SPRINGBOARD TV The future of TV starts in King’s Lynn 76-78 ARTS PROFILE We catch up with sculptor Kate Monro 81
MY KL Readers’ questions and photographs
82
WILD WEST NORFOLK Michael Middleton’s lighter view of things
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ON SCREEN May 2012
love film. love luxe. The local cinema experience for serious movie fans
l Avengers Assemble l A Cat in Paris l Titanic (3D) l Dark Shadows l Salmon Fishing in Yemen l Albert Nobbs l The Lucky One l Safe l Men in Black 3 l Bel Ami l PLUS! Many more...
As lavish as something from the golden days of Hollywood, The Luxe Cinema is an elegantly stylish film lover’s delight. The Luxe Lounge bar sets the mood for a social drink with friends whilst the cinema itself offers luxurious and spacious leather sofas and armchairs – including a selection of Premier Sofas with waitress service! Allowing moviegoers to sit back and relax in true style, enjoying a glass of wine or a coffee whilst watching a wide programme of mainstream, arthouse and classic films. If you love film, you’ll love Luxe.
The Luxe 01945 588808
Alexandra Road Wisbech Cambridgeshire PE13 1HQ
book online:www.theluxecinema.com
MAY Mon 30 Apr - Sat 5 May FUNNY PECULIAR Craig Gazey, Vicky Entwistle, Suzanne Shaw, Gemma Bissix star in hilarious adult comedy £5.50 - £22 Sun 6 May YVONNE SCHOOL OF DANCE Talented local dance school £5.50 - £17 Wed 9 - Sat 12 May PROPELLER Internationally acclaimed all male Shakespeare £5.50 - £23 Sunday 13 May DAN ZANES AND FRIENDS Mix of music for families £5.50 - £14
Monday 14 May BOMBINO Stunning North African guitarist £5.50 - £18
Thurs 24 - Fri 25 May RIAN Dynamic dance theatre from Ireland £5.50 - £21
Sunday 20 May AFROCUBISM Virtuoso Cuban and Malian musicians £5.50 - £23
Saturday 26 May JERRY DAMMERS’ SPATIAL AKA ORCH Cosmic jazz and reggae from 2 Tone legend £5.50 - £21
Fri 18 - Sat 19 May 100% NORFOLK Unique show starring the people of Norfolk £5.50 - £15 Wed 23 May IMAGINED VILLAGE Folk supergroup £5.50 - £18 Tuesday 22 May NIGEL KENNEDY QUINTET Acclaimed violinist plays jazz £5.50 - £30
Sun 27 May BRIT FLOYD World’s greatest Pink Floyd tribute show £6.50 - £29.50 Tues 29 May - Sat 2 June I GOT RHYTHM Northern Ballet with ballet meets jazz £6.50 - £36.50
Book online: www.theatreroyalnorwich.co.uk 6
Propeller: Henry V
BOX OFFICE: (01603) 63 00 00
THEATRE STREET, NORWICH NR2 1RL
KLmagazine May 2012
WHAT’S ON 15 YEARS AGO: On May 1st 1997, Tony Blair became Prime Minister as the Labour Party won the UK general election in a landslide victory, ending 18 years of Conservative rule.
May MONDAY 7th HELP FOR HEROES CAR BOOT SALE Horsefair Shopping Centre, Wisbech (8am-1pm) For the very first time, the Centre opens up its car park (top floor) for a charity car boot sale in aid of the national Help for Heroes charity. Free entrance, and pitches are £5 (car) £10 (car with trailer). There’ll also be unrestricted parking all day on the car park’s ground floor. For more details or to pre-book a pitch, call the centre manager’s office on 01945 584109
FRIDAY 11th & SATURDAY 12th A CELEBRATION OF THE WORK OF EDWARD LEAR Westacre Theatre, Westacre (7:30pm) Join Westacre Theatre Company for a special Bicentennial Event evening of readings and illustrations that give some measure of the man who said: Nonsense is the breath of my nostrils. Tickets £12. For more details call the box office on 01760 755800 or see the website at www.westacretheatre.com
SUNDAY 20th SATURDAY 12th AN EVENING WITH HANNAH FRANCIS St Peter & St Paul Church, Market Place, Swaffham (7:30pm) An evening of conversation and popular arias as Hannah Francis presents anecdotes of her life as a lead soprano with the English National Opera. This sparkling evening is for opera lovers and for those who wish to hear opera in the beautiful surroundings of a magnificent church. Tickets £15 from Ceres Bookshop, Swaffham or 01760 723205 SINGING IN THE REIGN St Mary’s, Snettisham A mixture of music representing the countries of the UK along with the Commonwealth. The music will comprise of celebratory pieces reflecting 60 years of the Queen’s reign. Tickets cost £7.50 for adults and £2.00 for under 16’s. Contact 01485 542891 for tickets and further information.
SATURDAY 26th
DICK WHITTINGTON – WITH A TWIST! Corn Exchange, King’s Lynn (2:30pm and 7:30pm) Follow Dick and his friends to London with the superb, local, award-winning talents of the Lavender Hill Mob Company. A theatre company with a difference, the Lavender Hill Mob makes a difference in the community to those who really need it. Support is tremendous so book early! Tickets £10 (£9.50 concessions). For details, call the Box Office on 01553 764864 or send an e-mail to the Mob’s Sandra Hohol at s.hohol@btinternet.com
SATURDAY 26th
MONDAY 21st TALL AND THIN Greyfriars Artspace, King’s Lynn The West Norfolk Artists Association (which has over 140 members) opens its first exhibition of this year, which runs until June 1st. It’s a size specific exhibition with work being a maximum width of 11ins and a minimum height of 22ins, (hence the name). For details see the website at www.westnorfolkartists.org
PLANT LOVERS DAY Creake Abbey, North Creake For the fourth year running, the Creakes Gardeners Club will be holding a special raffle at the Creake Abbey Plant Lovers Day event – with proceeds going to Wells Community Hospital. Last year they raised a record £750 – so give them your support and enjoy a great (and green-fingered!) day out. For details, call Doreen Crisp on 01328 738142.
If you’ve got an event to publicise, send the details to features@klmagazine.co.uk KLmagazine May 2012
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Fresh Cakes Coffee Shop
Local produce Restaurant
In-house Deli & Butchers
Massive plant and Flower selection
Garden centre newly extended
More reasons to visit Worzals! Now is the perfect time to visit Worzals Farm Shop in Walton Highway, Wisbech. We have just extended our already superb range of plants and doubled the size of our plant area to include the top 100 Perennials, Roses, Fruit Trees, Shrubs and have just introduced our Pot Bedding Range, Surfinia, Ivy Geraniums, Million Bells, Verbena and many more. We will also be stocking the full range of pack bedding plants, (6 pack and 20 pack.) Quality and value will not be beaten. KLmagazine May 2012
During your visit you should pop into our superb in-house Restaurant “Aunt Eileens” and enjoy our famous Aunt Eileens Breakfast. Stay for lunch or simply have a coffee and a slice of freshly made cake, you definately won’t be disappointed. The Farmshop, Butcher and Deli are also a must see with something for everyone. All our meat is locally sourced the beef and lamb from Holt and the Pork from South Creake. Worzals really is an Aladdins cave of quality and value.
“Some people have the perception that Farm Shops are expensive. At Worzals this is not true - we are neither cheap or expensive - we simply offer great value for money, often beating Supermarkets on price.” - J Curson - Director.
Details WORZALS FARM SHOP Lynn Road, Walton Highway, Wisbech, Cambridgeshire PE14 7DA
01945 582231 9
Growing for the Future Rhododendron
A fantastic choice of plants available at wholesale prices!
Pieris
At Tamar Nurseries, you’ll find large selection of quality trees, shrubs and herbaceous plants all year NEW RANGE! round at prices you’ll find hard to beat. We accept cash and credit cards, and there’s no need to pre-order! 2L shrubs start from just £1.60 (Periwinkle/ Vinca Major or Honeysuckle/Lonicera ‘Maygreen’) 10L, 30L and 45L stock available – together with a large selection of trees from light standards to semi-mature. Hardy palms such as Trachycarpus Extensive selection of Olive trees in various sizes A selection of durable pots in environmentally Topiary Box (Buxus) – balls, cubes, cones and friendly fibre clay (various sizes available) spirals Topiary Bay (Laurus Nobilis) – spirals, halfstandard, pyramids Compost, pots, bedding plants (in season) and lots more – all at exceptional value! E S TA B L I S H E D S I N C E 1 9 7 9
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School Road, West Walton, Wisbech PE14 7DS E-mail: cashandcarry@tamarnurseries.co.uk Web: www.tamarnurseries.co.uk OPENING TIMES: Monday–Thursday 7:30am–4:30pm | Friday 7:30am–4pm
For General Enquiries please contact Sadie on 07584 022473, alternatively contact the office number on 01945 464383
Individually designed and crafted garden buildings – exquisitely hand made by local carpenters
Creake Road, Burnham Market, Norfolk PE31 8EA Telephone: 01328 823413
www.theclassicshedco.co.uk 10
KLmagazine May 2012
WHAT’S ON
SATURDAY 19th MAY DINOSAUR PETTING ZOO The Walks, Tennyson Road, King’s Lynn (12noon and 3pm) FREE ADMISSION Don’t miss the first chance in 65 million years to get up close and personal with a dinosaur, as Erth Visual and Physical Inc brings its unique Dinosaur Petting Zoo all the way from Australia to King’s Lynn. Part of this year’s Norwich and Norfolk Festival, the event will give children the opportunity to help feed, water and care for lifelike prehistoric marvels in a fabulous show. But you’ll need to watch out – not all the dinosaurs are as tame as they might seem! The Dinosaur Petting Zoo is a hugelypopular show that’s thrilled audiences across the world. It’s presented as a live animal display like Steve Irwin would have done at Australia Zoo, but instead of crocodile and snakes Erth has a herd of dinosaurs. “All of the dinosaurs are Australian,” says Erth’s Artistic Director Scott Wright, “and during the show we let kids come up and pat them, feed them – and if they behave badly, we feed them to the dinosaurs.” You’ll never stroll through The Walks in the same way again. The dinosaurs include a cute baby Minmi Paravertebra and an infant Dryosaur, a giant dragonfly (meganeura), a prehistoric weasel-type creature (leptictidium), and a turkey-sized dinosaur called a Leaellynsaura. – but undoubtedly the stars of the show are the Dwarf Allosaur and the Tyrannosaur. Don’t miss it!
SATURDAY 26th MAY (until 10th June) ART @ STOKE FERRY CHURCH All Saints Church, Stoke Ferry (10am – 5pm) FREE ADMISSION The All Saints Painters group was formed by friends keen to share their passion for art with the widest possible audience. The original group members – Jane Bodle, Patsy Hood, Anne Wormack and Teresa Waller – met via various art promotion initiatives including the weekly Northwold Art Group. Recognising their shared interest, they approached Kit Hesketh-Harvey, owner of the redundant church at Stoke Ferry. He generously allowed them to exhibit there and to become the group’s Patron. Thus ART @ Stoke Ferry Church was born. This will be the fifth annual exhibition. The beautiful venue allows visitors to explore local art in an ideal location. It also offers easy access and adjacent parking. The artists create new original works for each annual exhibition. Jane and Patsy have been very successfully experimenting with a new type of paper which encourages paint flow and movement. Anne specialises in fluid interpretations of floral subjects (see picture, right). Teresa has an eclectic, experimental style, exploring various media chosen to best interpret the subject matter of her work. Last year Derek Lloyd joined the group with a flair for pastel and oil paintings. This year’s exhibition will feature around 100 exciting new paintings at affordable prices featuring everything from wildlife to local scenes, and will also offer original greetings cards and limited edition prints of some of the works. For further details, contact Teresa Waller on 01366 501369 or see the Group’s website at www.allsaintspainters.co.uk
KLmagazine May 2012
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LOCAL LIFE
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KLmagazine May 2012
ABOVE: The beautiful setting of Sheringham Park – but the view was carefully stage-managed way back in the 19th century
How Humphry Repton staged Sheringham Park Sheringham Park is currently at the centre of a £100,000 research project. Bel Greenwood looks at the original landscape designer who created the park, and what the future holds for the park...
H
umphry Repton probably wouldn’t have seen himself as a theatrical man, yet he managed the spectacle of landscape by creating drama out of tree, hill and sea. He had the kind of imagination that could create the promise of a mature vista from staring at a field of turnips that he, personally, would never see. He was able to lock that mature imagining onto paper and sow the seeds of the future in the ground and is even credited with inventing the term ‘landscape gardening.’ He had 30 years of experience building gardens at places such as Woburn and Tattersall before he put all his imagination, determination and talent into moulding the beautiful
KLmagazine May 2012
landscape of Sheringham Park in 1812. 2012 is the 200th anniversary of Repton’s unique local creation. Owned by the National Trust for the last 25 years, it’s possibly one of the most complete remaining great 19th century designed landscapes in the country. It was certainly one held very dear to Repton’s own heart – “my most favourite work,” he wrote of it. Humphry Repton was born in Bury St. Edmunds in 1752. His father was a collector of taxes and by all accounts he hoped his son would settle for a prosperous merchant’s life. This was not to be. Repton married young and engaged in a number of enterprises, all of which failed. This period of his life included the development of a forward-thinking mail coach business
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but he was bought out for a pittance and effectively cheated. We can only imagine how he must have felt, looking around for a way to make a living. He spent five years studying ‘the beauties of nature, botany, etymology and gardening and other gentlemanly sciences,’ before one night deciding to become a landscape gardener. Repton’s ambition was to become the successor of ‘Capability Brown,’ the man of the moment in creating the architecture of great estates. However, Repton was very different in his approach. He didn’t go in for re-routing rivers or re-siting ancient villages and moving out rural populations to create a grand view. Repton had an altogether more natural affinity to the contours of the landscape and to the people who lived within it. Repton would have known the coastal landscape well. He’d lived for some years not far away at Metton. It must have been a moment of joy when Abbot Upcher (who had bought the estate land from a local farmer in 1811) called him in and gave him the task of not only landscaping but building him a house too. “Repton used the natural features of the landscape at Sheringham Park,” says Park Warden Keith Zealand, “and quite a bit of the parkland was cultivated for arable crops or sheepgrazed pasture for heathland. His geological understanding of the land was the key to the success of the project.” Walk along the drive and it perfectly demonstrates all aspects of Repton’s approach to landscaping and also the challenges that preserving historic landscapes inevitably face. “He put the route of the drive here,” explains Keith. “It follows a ridge of glacial deposit that goes out to the sea. The wash of the water coming out of sand and gravel carved out valleys to the left of the promontory.” Along the path, the land falls away on either side and is lined with trees – some of which would have been there in Repton’s day, but young and straight rather than the full-bodied mature trees of today. There are Scotch Firs, Scots pines and
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the ever-popular big and flouncy rhododendrons with their twisted sinuous rootworks (it’s more Hogwarts than horticultural); a Victorian addition shuffling up against the acacia trees – false acacias which are a Repton feature. “Repton was creating suspense,” says Keith. “He wanted you to catch glimpses of the parkland and the sea.” Keith Zealand knows the environment intimately, having lived in the old Head Gardener’s cottage on the estate for a quarter of a century. The only bit of earthworking was towards the end of the drive at the penultimate moment before the house, parkland and sea all came into view. Repton constructed a surprise turn at the bottom a little like a twist at the end of a play. The only other digging out was in the construction of the house and in this, Repton demonstrated his passion and determination as an architect of land
and brick. The Upchers wanted the house built on the promontory overlooking the sea, but Repton recognised that it would suffer from bitter winds and gloom. He won out and the house was built facing south – he first storey burrowed into the hill. These days the Grade II house is leased out as a private residence, although it can be viewed by private appointment. Repton pioneered the before and after view. He recorded the whole process in a series of ‘red’ books, some copies of which are available to view in the Visitor’s Centre at the Park. His records are invaluable. Standing at the end of the drive, it’s possible to see that the view he created has changed. Sycamore trees which had been planted as a cattle-deterring shrub, adapted for regular pollarding, keeping the tree cover low, have been allowed to grow tall. It is these changes, coupled with the completeness of the Sheringham Park record and Repton’s skill that has led to the park becoming the centre of a £100,000 research project. The aim of the project is to look at how landscape changes from the time of its inception to its present-day costume. Designed landscapes, explained Zealand, go through different stages – “from maturity to change and sometimes beyond recognition.” The current research is being led by the University of Nottingham with the University of East Anglia and will help to inform subsequent management and give an understanding of the changes that inform the post-mature landscape. It’s interesting to contemplate that if Sheringham Park would still be the work of art it is, if it wasn’t a parkland designed by Humphry Repton with a story, fully illustrated that lives alongside the land itself or if no matter what, Sheringham Park is simply a most beautiful place to be. The last word should go to Humphry Repton himself. In 1811, he wrote “there is none that can compare with the scenery of Sheringham.” A scenery that we see today has grown out of a picture in his mind’s eye 200 years ago.
KLmagazine May 2012
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KLmagazine May 2012
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PERSONALITY
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KLmagazine April 2012
THE BIG INTER VIEW:
NICK
D N O M HAM l rammar Schoo G h c e b is W r, te Headmas
The Headmaster of Wisbech Grammar School talks to KL magazine about life at the school, his vision for the future, and his love of history... KL MAGAZINE: How long have you been teaching?
KL MAGAZINE: What’s the subject or fact you think we all should know?
NICK HAMMOND: I started teaching in 1994 at Daniel Stewart’s and Melville College in Edinburgh. I moved to Wisbech in the summer of 2008. Along the way I’ve worked in boarding and day education in the Highlands of Scotland, Ely and Bristol.
NICK HAMMOND: Unsurprisingly, I think that we should all study history! The English educational system is unusual in that it pays little attention to history. In many other countries, the study of history is compulsory at least until 16 and in many cases until 18. As for a fact, I’d say the most important fact for everyone to know is that if we don’t learn from history we are condemned to repeat our mistakes.
KL MAGAZINE: What made you decide to become a teacher in the first place? NICK HAMMOND: While I was at university I decided that I wanted to do a job that was connected with my studies – I also enjoyed sport, and teaching seemed to be a good way of staying in touch with both. I did some work experience while I was at university and this confirmed that teaching was for me. I come from a family of teachers, so no one else was hugely surprised by this as a career choice! KL MAGAZINE: What’s your specialist subject? NICK HAMMOND: I have a degree in Archaeology with a specialism in the Neolithic, Bronze and Iron Ages. Since I’ve been teaching I’ve developed a particular interest in the Middle Ages, specifically the crusading movement and its effects on Europe and the Middle East. That said, I’m also a great fan of Renaissance History. Like many historians, I’m a jack of all trades; the past is far too fascinating a place to limit oneself to a single particular subject!
KLmagazine May 2012
KL MAGAZINE: What do you like best about your job? NICK HAMMOND: The sheer variety of activity in a school makes it a fascinating place to work. Being involved with bright, motivated students means I have to stay on my toes and it’s always great to see them fulfill their potential. I’m also fortunate to have a highly committed group of staff as colleagues – they’re an enormously talented bunch of people who constantly push themselves to new heights. KL MAGAZINE: How would you describe Wisbech Grammar School? NICK HAMMOND: Wisbech Grammar School is a school with great ambition that wants to play a meaningful role in the life of the local community. We are unpretentious, academically rigorous and we learn with an element of fun. The school is fortunate to have a strong identity born from the twin heritages of Wisbech High School and Wisbech Grammar School – we are both proud
of our past and focused on the future. KL MAGAZINE: Tell us something unique about the school… NICK HAMMOND: As a school, we’re fortunate in that we are truly independent. This means that we have the opportunity to free ourselves from restrictive educational thinking. Our approach to the curriculum is centred on the pupil, rather than being part of a wider process defined by exam league table position. We are still able to enjoy teaching our subjects and along the way take exams, rather than slavishly employing an approach solely focused on exam results. As a result, our pupils learn and achieve the best results in the region. KL MAGAZINE: What would we find you doing when you’re not in the classroom? NICK HAMMOND: Sadly I spend far too much time in my office rather than in the classroom! When I’m not in school I am a keen cyclist. I’m also an avid reader of a variety of different genres. KL MAGAZINE: What’s the best thing about the area we live in? NICK HAMMOND: The sheer variety of all that is around us. We have fantastic towns filled with stunning architecture and fascinating history. Our countryside is varied, from the majestic skies of Fenland to the rugged beauty of the North Norfolk coast. As a real ale fan I’d also have to say that Elgood’s beer is a particular benefit of living in Wisbech! KL MAGAZINE: What’s your vision for the future of Wisbech Grammar School? NICK HAMMOND: The school has been in existence since 1379 and has provided the town and region with a high quality of education for the best part of 700 years. We have a nationally recognised bursary programme which allows a greater range of students access to the school than is normally the case for an independent school. The vision is a simple one – to keep doing more of the same and working with pupils and their parents to realise their potential and equip them for life in the 21st century. WISBECH GRAMMAR SCHOOL North Brink, Wisbech Cambs PE13 1JX Tel: 01945 583631 Web: www.wgs.cambs.sch.uk
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The only way is 4 Way! 4 Way Refrigeration Ltd’s team are at hand to help you go green and save money!
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Way Refrigeration Ltd has grown to be a trusted and respected name in the refrigeration industry. Employed by many national ‘blue chip’ companies in the UK, including supermarkets, food processing factories and high-street retail outlets, our highly-skilled engineers are equipped to design, install, service and maintain all kinds of refrigeration and air conditioning systems. 4 Way Refrigeration Ltd also services and maintains all types of domestic and commercial cooling equipment ensuring that safety, reliability and efficiency are never compromised. With a head office in King’s Lynn and a team of ‘on the road’ engineers, the company is able to respond quickly and effciently when a vital piece of equipment requires urgent attention. As you’re probably aware, heating concepts are changing – and with the price and environmental impact of traditional fossil fuels such as oil and gas increasingly under the spotlight it isn’t hard to see why. Daikin Altherma air source heating offers total control of the temperature in your home at a reduced cost of around 25% of a traditional electrical heating system.
WHAT IS DAIKIN ALTHERMA? Daikin Altherma is a domestic heating and hot water system based on air source heat pump (ASHP) technology. As a flexible and eco-friendly (reduced CO2 emissions and no direct emissions from the machine) alternative to a fossil fuel boiler the typical output is 4kw for every 1kw of energy taken in. 18
HOW DOES IT WORK? A heat pump simply moves heat – taking heat from the outside air which is then condensed into a liquid, concentrating the heat for use within the central heating and hot water system within the home. It’s just like a refrigerator but in reverse! And yes, it does still work during colder months – even when the temperature is extremely low outside there are still heat calories in the air that can be extracted by the system. It simply means the machine has to work harder to create the heat, and thus is slightly less efficient than in summer months although it still remains considerably more cost effective than other methods. WHO IS IT FOR? Unlike other heating and hot water systems such as gas which aren’t always available (such as rural properties) Altherma can be installed to any building. Because there are no emissions (and no need for a flue) from the machine it can even be fitted to an internal wall making it an ideal solution for apartments. Altherma can work with existing radiators or as in the case of many new builds choosing to install air source, via efficient under-floor heating.
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KLmagazine May 2012
HISTORY
West Norfolk: Then and Now
1939
2012 AN ODD LOOK AT LONDON ROAD Thanks to KL magazine reader Simon Daynes for sending us this picture of London Road, which he says comes from a 1939 postcard. To us, the most amazing thing is that despite all the recent roadworks, there seems to be more traffic on the road over 70 years
ago! Maybe we just caught it on a good day! For more photographs of how things used to look in King’s Lynn and the surrounding area, please contact Picture Norfolk – 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 at West Norfolk next month – keep sending your pictures too! IN ASSOCIATION WITH
To view thousands of images of Norfolk’s history visit: www.picture.norfolk.gov.uk KLmagazine May 2012
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Review
Christine Glass
NORFOLK OPEN STUDIOS (Taster Event) Fermoy Gallery, King’s Lynn Arts Centre 23rd May (2pm-8pm) Don’t miss this chance to see examples of work from more than 20 West Norfolk artists, including paintings, textiles, jewellery and ceramics covering a wide range of styles and sources of inspiration, with pieces available to buy from £10 upwards. The event is organised by artist Alison Dunhill and local gallery owner Angela le Strange Meakin as part of the Norfolk and Norwich Arts Festival 2012, and is a completely new approach to ‘taster’ events which will generate interest in the participating artists’ work and encourage people to visit their studios over the two-week period from May 26th. “This will be an exciting and stimulating event held at a top West Norfolk gallery,” says Alison, “and with the additional element of live music by Jon Lawrence (at 6pm) and so many artists on hand to talk about their work, it’s shaping up to be a unique evening.” Brochures giving details of where all the artists can be found will be available throughout the area – and look out for the signs as you travel in the region. “I’m constantly amazed by the quality and diversity of talent in West Norfolk,” says Angela, “and this is a superb opportunity for people to see a selection of that talent in one place. Plus it’s free and it’s on our doorstep!” For information about Open Studios see the website at www.nnfestival.org.uk/openstudios, and for details about the One Night Stand event, see www.kingslynnarts.co.uk.
HENRY V and THE WINTER’S TALE Norwich Theatre Royal 9th–12th May Led by director Edward Hall, Propeller is an internationallyacclaimed all-male company renowned for combining a rigorous approach to Shakespeare with an exciting, physical dimension – they really engage your imagination and bring a fresh understanding to these classic plays. They’re been described as bringing Shakespeare kicking and screaming into the 21st century, and this is a great opportunity to see the company perform two of the Bard’s most enduring plays. Henry V tells the tale of the greatest British warrior in English folklore, and this is a thrilling and deeply moving performance in a time when nationalism is an increasingly powerful force in the country and increasing numbers of British servicemen are seeing active service. Propeller takes us from Westminster to the fields of France in an evening of unforgettable power. Meanwhile, The Winter’s Tale tells the mysterious, extraordinary and tragic story of a man consumed by an inexplicable jealousy that destroys his family, his kingdom and himself. Generally seen as Shakespeare writing at the height of his powers, this is a stunning example of poetry in motion and a special revisiting of Propeller’s highlyacclaimed 2005 production. Tickets from £5.50 to £23 (concessions avilable) – call the Box Office on 01603 630000 or you can book online at www.theatreroyalnorwich.co.uk
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KLmagazine May 2012
Insurance Matters me phone? re e h w s, y e k e m Where
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“Misplacing p g your y keys y and m mobile phone p could y stressed you p k ld leave l d and d out off pocket, unless l y h you have h had thought d the h fforet h h forethought to take nsurance� k out iinsurance� e provided id d onee off the h stand-out d moments of this is year’’ss Britain’s Got TTalent alent auditions aud with a song ever y single one of us can relate to – the annoying phenomena of losing your keys and mobile phones. Manchester plasterer Zipparah ipparah TTafari, afari, 49, had the BGT audience and judging panel WUDQVo[HG E\ KLV LQVDQHO\ FDWFK\ UDS ‘Where me keys, where me phone’. The lyrics were, one must confess, fairly basic. But who can’t recognise this sentiment: “Have you ever been in that situation when you’ve lost your keys and your mobile phone?� He told the judges: “Ever yone loses their keys and their phone. Even Prince Charles can relate.� While misplacing your keys and your mobile phone is deeply annoying, losing them entirely can unleash a whole world of pain if you haven’t had the forethought to take out insurance. New research showing the high cost of replacement car keys offers a clear
message to drivers d to make k sure that h a careless moment doesn’t become an expensive one too. A study by consumer group Which? revealed that as car keys have become more high-tech, so the cost of replacement has soared to as much as £235 for a Mercedess S Class keyy.. So for those with a habit of leaving their keys on shop counters (guilty) or restaurant tables (also guilty), an inexpensive insurance policy can provide peace of mind. The Which? research also showed that even keys for the relatively humble Ford Fiesta can cost £194 while emergency keys – without the remote locking ability – cost between £92 for an Audi Q5 to £138 for a Ford Mondeo. East Winch-based Adrian Flux offers a Keycare policy which covers and replaces the loss of all your keys – including your car keys – forr just £19.50 a yearr.. All the keys attached to your fob will be covered if you lose them and cover includes
the recover y of keys locked inside a vehicle (again, guilty) or a premises and the cover of replacement keys, up to the value of £1500. If you’re unlucky enough to lose your keys when you’re away from home, the policy also includes the cost of a hire car to take you from stranded to your doorstep quicklyy.. With regards to your phone, many of us take out phone insurance when we buy our handsets, not realising that there are cheaper options that cover not only your phone, but other h gadgets, d too. A new gadget insurance policy from Adrian Flux, available for anyone with an existing Flux policy of any kind, covers ever ything from your phone to your laptop, tablet and sat nav for a wallet-friendly £49.95 a year up to the value of £1000. Flux Gadget covers accidental damage and loss, theft and breakdown and includes overseas cover for up to 60 days a yearr.. The policyy,, which is exclusive to Flux, covers mobile phones, tablets, laptops, PDAs, sat navs, MP3 players, digital cameras, portable DVD players, LCD monitors and portable games consoles.
Sadlyy, there’ Sadly, there’ss no way to ensure you won’t won’t ever be “in that situation when you’ve lost your keys and your mobile phone� but there is a way to insure that if you do, it won’t won’t be the end of the world.
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KLmagazine May 2012
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ABOVE: The front of the Ostrich Inn at Castle Acre, perfectly situated between the castle and the priory
Great food, great service and a warm welcome... Castle Acre is packed with history, and the Ostrich Inn is just one of the attractions that visitors flock to. Bel Greenwood visits the former 16th century coaching inn to discover more...
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he 16th Century Ostrich Inn at the heart of historic Castle Acre has always been a place of welcome. In the past, the former coaching inn would have been a vital part of the logistics of inland travel. Weary travellers, shaken about on Tudor roads, would have seen the cosy lights of the inn shining at dusk. It meant rest and sanctuary from cold, hunger and aching limbs. Coaching inns were a place to change horses, get good food and drink and a place to sleep in comfort. They were also a nexus of news and rumours, and a great place to meet and
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exchange stories. Today, the Ostrich Inn is still a beacon to travellers of all kinds; families on a day out, visitors, walkers and locals who take a few short steps across the road. Just as the Ostrich inn did in the past – the inn of the present offers excellent accommodation, delicious, high-quality fresh food made to order, real ales, fine wines and plenty of opportunity for warm and friendly conversation. This is an inn which will go out of its way to make sure that everyone gets what they need and want, and will never turn anyone from its door. The staff are friendly and professional and the atmosphere is open and generous.
The inn is 4-star rated as awarded by the AA and Enjoy England and it has the good fortune of being lodged in a landscape of fine walking. It’s a referred staging post for walkers on the old Roman route of the Peddars Way crossing through the forest of Thetford on its long meander to the coast. Castle Acre is resplendent with not just one set of preserved ruins but two – Castle Acre Castle and Castle Acre Priory. The village has possibly the finest village earthworks in England, and certainly has a rare (and almost complete) Norman settlement of castle, parish church and monastery (the priory). It’s a great day out for visitors
KLmagazine May 2012
and for families who can find the kind of welcome at the Ostrich Inn parents pray for. The children’s needs are catered for in a good affordable children’s menu, with high quality and nutritious staples – great chips, great locally sourced sausages, succulent fish fingers and a vegetarian choice. There’s a sand pit, table tennis and two resident rabbits (Marshmallow and Derek) who live in the secure, walled garden and enjoy meeting the children. Quiz nights are a fun and friendly way to enjoy every other Monday night and are held at 8pm. Inside, the décor is grand rustic with all the 16th century bones of the building lovingly preserved. Roaring log fires and original brickwork, oak tables, and ornate ironwork integrate with art work on the walls. There are some stunning photographs in the dining room where the ceiling rises up into the pitch of the rafters and an enormous Tudor chimney with a collection of earthenware jars sets the scene. An expansive cast iron chandelier hangs over the room – it’s a very atmospheric place to eat excellent food and adds to the overall experience. Executive chef Nick Claridge oversees a team of enthusiastic, up and coming chefs. The menu is high quality and well-presented, with fresh ingredients sourced locally where possible. The specials change daily and are imaginative and delicious. Whether a fresh, sweet and pungent soup or a seasonal salad spiced with local cheeses, a fat tasty homemade steak burger or fantastic toad in the hole, the food will do a lot more than just satisfy. The chefs are flexible in their approach, and the inn can cater for individual needs, vegetarian and vegan diets. The extensive wine list is being upgraded and sourced from Peter Graham of Norwich. If not wine, there is plenty of real ale. St. Edmunds, the local tipple, is a taste of summer, along with a good strong, Abbots and Speckled Hen. The inn has much to offer, including
KLmagazine May 2012
ABOVE: The relaxed bar area of the Ostrich Inn and (below) the fabulous restaurant – a truly impressive setting for a memoorable meal
a function room that can be hired for meetings and events, and shooting and fishing parties are always welcome. This inn demands a lot of itself in the interest of serving its customers in the best possible way, but it manages to do this with the minimum of fuss and zero pretension. There’s also a large patrons car park at the rear of the Inn. You can even stay in comfort overnight in a range of rooms – family, twin bedded and doubles with en suite bathrooms and follow that by enjoying a state-of-the-art breakfast. But keep an ear open for the footsteps across the landing in the darkness of the night. In this Inn, the unfriendliest thing about its resident ghost is that it is nocturnal. OPENING TIMES Monday-Sunday: 10am until late Food served: Monday-Saturday: 12pm to 3pm and 6pm to 9pm Sunday: 12pm to 3pm
Details THE OSTRICH INN Stocks Green, Castle Acre PE32 2AE Tel: 01760 755398 Reservations: 01760 755398 E-mail: info@ostrichcastleacre.com Web: www.ostrichcastleacre.com
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LOCAL LIFE
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KLmagazine May 2012
ABOVE: Grey seals are just one of the attractions of the stunning natural environment of Blakeney Point (opposite)
Blakeney Point: 100 years of sand and seals It’s one of our most treasured – and important – natural wonders and this year it celebrates a century in the care of the National Trust. Bel Greenwood looks at Blakeney Point, past and present
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his summer, the National Trust is celebrating the 100th anniversary of its acquisition of Blakeney Point. An area of outstanding natural beauty, it is within the largest expanse of undeveloped coastline in Europe. Over the century it has seen many changes, although the spectacular nature of its harsh beauty has remained constant. Even in the height of summer when the sun toasts the seals basking on the sand and shingle banks, there’s an echo of the colder seasons. The wind blows unhindered across the openness of the four-mile spit and the movement of North Sea and wind can be a wild duet. Movement is a feature of the area; the sands are constantly changing and
KLmagazine May 2012
driving landwards. Since the 1960s it has grown by at least 100 metres. It’s a great place to observe how the coastline recreates itself and grows. It is possible to map the development of early sand dunes and bare beach strandlines. This shifting exposes the internationally-valued pristine salt marshes rich in plant life. Small dense tussocks of grey-hair grass can be found alongside four different types of sea lavender. Whereas yellow horn poppies and sea kale push their way up through the shingle banks, giving a patina of warm colours to the landscape. This abundant plant life supports breeding terns. Blakeney Point is home to large breeding colonies of little tern,
common tern and the arctic tern. It has just over 30% of the UK sandwich tern population. There are 3,500 nesting birds with anything between 1,700 and 2,000 young. The small, dumpy ringed plovers wade on the edges of the water too, although bird numbers are 40% down on previous years. Oystercatchers and red shanks breed successfully and add colour and grace, to a birdwatcher’s paradise. Sailing out over the water towards the Point and you’ll hit a wall of sound – it’s the greatest bird chorus for miles around. Then there are the seals. “As far as I can remember and from what we know,” says Iain Wolfe, Visitor Services Manager, “there have always been seals out there.” There are two distinct seal colonies
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using the Point – the common and grey seals. The colonies breed at different halves of the year; the 2,000 or so grey seals produce their young from October to January on land. In 2011-12 they had 933 new pups. Whereas the smaller common seal colony birth their young at sea in the summer breeding months between June and August. It’s hard to imagine, but there was a time when neither bird nor seal were species protected in the way they are today. In the past, Blakeney was one of the busiest harbours in the UK supporting the regional wool industry. Local people also made a good livelihood from fishing and selling seal pelts until a better income could be earned from taking people out to see the seals instead. In the early years of the 19th century, ‘gunners’ or ‘gentlemen collectors’ would come to Blakeney Point to hunt for rare bird specimens. It wasn’t until 1901 that the Point was formally accredited as a bird sanctuary and wardens were appointed to protect the birds. However, the history of Blakeney Point might have been very different if it hadn’t been for one man visiting for the first time in 1908 as he recovered from pleurisy. Professor Francis Oliver was a botanist at University College London and he recognized the outstanding value of the area and its need to be protected. The land – which was owned by the 6th Lord Caltorpe – was sold in auction to a property developer, Alexander Crundall, but Professor Oliver raised the public profile of the area and convinced Charles Rothschild, a banker and an entomologist to invest in the coastline. In 1912 it was passed to the National Trust who formed a management
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committee to protect the unique landscape, flora and fauna. Since then a series of wardens have kept watch over the wildlife of the Point. They are men noted for their longevity of service. Since 1935, the wardens have stayed in a decommissioned RNLI lifeboat house which also serves as a visitor centre from April to September. But when the last person has closed the door, the wardens continue their attentive vigil. There have been some famous names among the keepers of the watch – the first warden in 1908 was a former ‘gunner’ Bob Pinchen and he has been followed by Bill Eales, Ted Eales and Joe Reed. Today, Eddie Stubbings (with the support of two other seasonal wardens) lives in the wooden lifeboat house, keeping a daily eye on the nesting birds. It’s striking how much attitudes to conservation have changed over the century. Locals used to come out and picnic on the Point. It was a natural perk to eat the eggs of nesting birds in those days. One local woman recalls holidaying in Blakeney every year – and it was the high point of the visit to take a picnic and pass the day under the sky on the point. There wasn’t any
particular thought about the wildlife; it was just there as part of the scenery. “Today, change in management style has come about in how the natural world has become more of a focal point for the general public,” explains Iain Wolfe. “Things have changed as a conservation society and as a country.” There’s still a strong link with University College London and the early work of Professor Oliver. Each year, botany students from the university come out on a field study trip. Blakeney Point boasts a plethora of consevartion acronyms which reflect its unique status. It is a Site of Special Scientific Interest, a National Nature Reserve, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and a Site of Continual Ongoing Research. It’s all of those things but it’s also a magical wilderness where visitors can get close enough to a baby seal to count his whiskers and be a witness to the wonder of the natural world – whilst respecting their space and allowing them a peaceful existence. Details of celebratory events are on the National Trust Website for Blakeney Point at www.nationaltrust.org.uk.
KLmagazine May 2012
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hatever the building project, you need a company you can trust to give the best service and advice from concept to completion. With more than 20 years invaluable experience, Sloan Building and Maintenance Ltd (SBM) is a local building company working hard to change the image of the construction industry. Boasting an impressive client base built from hard work, reputation and recommendation, SBM can take on any project from small renovations and extensions to substantial new build properties – with a comprehensive range of architectural and design services.
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KLmagazine May 2012
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KLmagazine May 2012
PETS
AnimalMatters Our monthly look at the issues concerning you and your pets with Alex Dallas of the London Road Veterinary Centre...
Looking for company...
Keep the boxes ticked!
W
e’re starting to see a lot of dogs and cats coming into the Surgery with ticks burrowed into their skin. These unpleasant parasites are active at this time of year – especially in woodland and some meadowland areas. Cats who hunt are often prone to them from their prey and dogs walking in long grass and woods frequently pick them up. In themselves the ticks usually do little harm, especially if removed properly. However, they can carry some pretty unpleasant diseases, although in my years in West Norfolk this is very rare – but there’s a lot being written about tick-borne and various exotic diseases in the animal press at the moment. Because of changes in the Pet Passport Scheme, and with climate change, the inference is that we may be seeing more ticks of a more dangerous nature, with the potential to carry diseases usually seen in the mainland of Europe. As with all news stories this needs to be kept in proportion. The main thing is to act ahead of any problems. If your dog or cat commonly picks up ticks you can take action to
prevent infestation. Some of the better flea control products also have an impact on ticks, causing them to drop off without ill effects to the pet. For dogs there are some excellent new products that can stop the ticks attaching at all – for dogs that commonly pick up the parasites, avoidance is now a real option. For pets travelling abroad under the latest travel scheme (mainly dogs), treating for fleas before travelling reduces the risk to pets from foreign ticks and their diseases. There’s no compulsory tick treatment required on return to the UK now, but it strikes me as good sense to take some product with you for longer stays to ensure your pet stays healthy. Come and talk to us at London Road or the Hollies if you’re worried about your pets and the effects of ticks. We can offer a range of solutions, especially if you plan to travel out of Norfolk, or even abroad. Best of all we have some terrific offers on the most effective of these treatments throughout May and June so you can get the best for less. For more information (and a lot more pet-related help and advice), visit us online at makeyourpetsmile.co.uk.
There’s an excellent animal rescue centre just on the edge of Downham Market in the village of Denver called Brambles Animal Sanctuary. It’s run by Sue Duffield and her partner Pete, and together they’ve been taking in animals needing care or a new home. As well as dogs and cats they have a large number of pet rabbits and wonderful Guinea pigs needing a loving home. These little creatures have been checked over and any treatment needed provided ensuring they are in excellent health. So rather than just going out and buying a pet, you could give a much needed home to an animal in good health with a known history. At the same time you’d be helping a most worthwhile animal centre by giving rehoming from them for a modest donation. For more information phone Sue on 01366 388456.
Your pets Thanks to KL magazine reader Lorna Margerum for this lovely picture of Rascal, who’s 6 years old and (as you can see) gets a great deal of pleasure from playing about in her garden at Wimbotsham! Don’t forget to keep sending me pictures of your pets (the funnier the better!) to Animal Matters at KL magazine, 18 Tuesday Market Place, King’s Lynn, Norfolk PE30 1JW or you can e-mail them to editor@klmagazine.co.uk
LONDON ROAD 25 London Road, King’s Lynn t: 01553 773168 e: info@lrvc.co.uk HOLLIES Paradise Road, Downham Market t: 01366 386655 e: hollies@holliesvetclinic.co.uk KLmagazine May 2012
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LOCAL LIFE
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KLmagazine May 2012
PICTURE CAPTION: Xyxxyxyx xyxyx xyxyxy xyxyxyxyxyxyxyxyxyxy ABOVE: The Conservator is the latest addition to the Conservancy Board’s fleet – under the watchful eye of Assistant Harbourmaster Captain John Lorking, pictured here (left) on the St Edmund KL
Keeping everything ship-shape at the port For 114 years, the busy port of King’s Lynn has been in the safe and capable hands of the Conservancy Board. Bel Greenwood looks at the vital – and ever-changing – work of the Board...
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he Conservancy Board has been serving the port of King’s Lynn for well over a hundred years and yet most people will have no idea of its purpose. Its rather Victorian name gives little enough away, but it’s a very powerful statutory authority. It’s on duty every hour of every day, 365 days a year. Its role is to ensure the safety of all shipping coming into King’s Lynn. The ‘Board’ (as we’ll call it) lives in a fine, quayside building with a tower looking out over the brown waters of the River Great Ouse. There are thick flagstones in the passageway which hark back to the building’s time as a 19th century swimming pool before it
KLmagazine May 2012
was converted to its present use. There are signs of the history of the board everywhere – a chin-high Victorian desk at the entrance, old charts on the walls with the old names of sandbanks and channels, ‘Vinegar Middle’ or Peter Black Sand (still used today), the dark, sepia photographs of generations of past harbour committee members. There are many differentsized lamps employed over the ages on the solid hull of the ‘Roaring Middle’ a lightship anchored in the midst of the Wash. One lamp sits on top of a large brass bell that would have knelled out its presence over the rocking of the waters. The maritime history of King’s Lynn
runs like a thread through the history of the Board. It’s striking that all that history is juxtaposed with the most advanced modern technology, communications equipment and the 22-knot pilot’s launches available now. The Board was formed as a result of a shipping loss. The ‘Wick Bay’ ran aground in 1889 and in efforts to refloat her she broke her back. The King’s Lynn Corporation were forced to raise the money to clear the wreck. Out of this disaster came the decision to form the King’s Lynn Conservancy Board, as a not-for-profit body who would safely see shipping through the approach channel and river, take dues, mark the navigational approaches in
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the Wash and take on the responsibility for the removal of wrecks. The Board also authorises pilots who guide the ships and bring them safely through the deep water channels to the port. Today, the Board is a trust port and still costs the taxpayer nothing. Its income is derived from fees for its services. The Board would be nothing without the people who work for it. Captain John Lorking became the assistant Harbour Master of King’s Lynn in 1987. After 15 years of serving with the Merchant Navy and with the imminent birth of his first daughter, he decided to come landwards or (in the colourful parlance of seamen) “I swallowed the anchor and came ashore.” In those early days, the Conservancy Board saw a throughput of 1,000 vessels a year carrying a cargo of 900,000 tonnes. In 1999 John was appointed Harbour Master. In an average year, he sees about 300 ships carrying 700,000 tonnes of cargo. Ships’ size has increased and they are both more modern and more manoeuvrable and work because of economies of scale. In the past there were 12 pilots, who were available to go out on the tide, but these days there are 6 pilots and time, tide and the weather carry all kinds of implications for the captain. The Wash is divided into three areas, two of the areas are overseen by the ports of Boston and Wisbech. King’s Lynn has responsibility for the South Eastern slice. “We’re gifted with the approach channel that seems most frequently to change,” says Captain Lorking. Part of the job is to survey the waters monthly, but usually because of the nature of the area, Captain Lorking surveys twice a month. The channels change because of the dynamics of mud and flows of
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fresh water. “In some years, when flows of fresh water are quite high there’s an association with rapid channel changes,” he says. When this happens, the buoys that mark the channels have to be moved. Last year 40 buoys were moved but in 2003, when there was higher than average fresh water flows to the Wash, the buoys were moved 125 times and illustrate the movement of the channels. It’s important to be able to read the effects of weather, tide and time of year and consider the implications for shipping. These days there’s state-of-the-art information technology to help which aids in reading the weather, pinpointing its potential impact on tidal levels and how this will effect the movement of shipping. Even surveying the sands beneath the water is aided with electronic and GPS systems. The weather and tidal conditions determine what vessels, and the board own six, to use for which purpose. The obvious question in a time of drought is what this will mean for the river approaches. It’s already being felt in the height of the Shoals at the edge of the river inland from the docks where the King’s Lynn Ferry operates and may mean a quieter year in terms of channel movement. Captain Lorking has “never heard of the river or the approaches becoming impassable for shipping, although maybe the channel will be narrower.” The Harbour Master’s concerns at a small port certainly aren’t narrow. Neither does he have a typical day. For a start, it’s a multi-skilled job where administration, finance and general management of a workforce (let alone managing the waters outside!) are part of his remit. Captain Lorking could be involved in an oil pollution training exercise on the river one week or be involved in consultation with conservation bodies
over changes to the marine environment the next. In the boardroom upstairs is a section of armour-coated cabling that a windfarm off Skegness has laid through the middle of the Wash to link up to a sub-station at Walpole. It’s part of his remit to question the depth of cablelaying, to consider how the natural contours and complications of the area will impact on the safety of shipping over the life of the cable. He also updates the KLCB website to provide the latest information. Captain Lorking and his dedicated staff are on call for any eventuality and he has seen many – the Board has the powers to detain ships, to determine their fitness for service and it has to respond to any situation that impacts on the river, for commercial vessels, for leisure craft, even the tragic occasion of a car dropping off the dockside. Fortunately for King’s Lynn, there’s always a response and there’s no better preparation for the unexpected, for whatever the sea and the wind can throw up – or however a navigational channel might twist or turn – than years of experience. “It’s a rewarding job,” says Captain Lorking, “on occasion it’s quite challenging, but it’s always rewarding.”
ABOVE: The Harbour Master’s Office and home of the King’s Lynn Conservancy Board
KLmagazine May 2012
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NEXT RACE MEETING: Sunday, 17th June 2012 ARO Arabian Horse Racing (2:00pm)
Fakenham Racecourse Ltd, The Racecourse Fakenham, Norfolk NR21 7NY T: 01328 862388 E: info@fakenhamracecourse.co.uk W: www.fakenhamracecourse.co.uk
34
OUR QUALITY AND OUR SERVICE IS THE FOUNDATION OF OUR SUCCESS
UP TO 50% OFF
SELECTED KITCHENS! l Complete fitting service l FREE planning and design l Supply-only available l Experienced in-house fitters OPEN: 9-5pm weekdays 9-4.30pm Saturdays
The Precinct, 15 Plowright Place ESTABLISHED Swaffham Tel: 01760 724306 FOR 29 YEARS!
www.harmonykitchens.com KLmagazine May 2012
FOOD & DRINK
Spice Crusted Chicken with Orange & Ginger Beurre Blanc CHEF’S NOTES Beurre blanc is a traditional French butter sauce. In this recipe we’ve tweaked it a little by adding the juice of an orange and infusing it with a little ginger. It works very well with the spicy coating on the chicken. Beurre blanc is really quite an easy sauce as long as you take your time. Once you’ve done it a few times, you‘ll find yourself making it over and over and hopefully coming up with new ideas for it as well! RECIPE: Paul Hegeman INGREDIENTS 4 boneless chicken breasts 10 sprigs thyme 1 tsp smoked paprika ½ tsp ground chilli pepper 1 clove garlic, finely chopped 1 pinch turmeric 1 pinch cinnamon 1 knob ginger, peeled and sliced finely 2 bay leaves 1 cup white wine 3 whole peppercorns 2 shallots, peeled and sliced finely 250g unsalted butter (cut into ½in cubes) 1/8 cup fresh cream 1 orange (juice only) extra virgin olive oil sea salt and black pepper
Preparation Time: 35 minutes Cooking Time: 55 minutes Serves: 4
KLmagazine May 2012
INSTRUCTIONS 1 Preheat oven to 180 degrees (350 fahrenheit). 2 Place the shallots, ginger, bay leaves, peppercorns and the wine in a small saucepan. Place on a low flame until only a bit of liquid is left and a slight glaze appears on the bottom of the pan (about 30 minutes). 3 Add the cream and reduce further on very low heat. 4 Place the thyme leaves in a mortar & pestle with the paprika, chilli, garlic, turmeric, a pinch of sea salt and some pepper. Grind the ingredients together and add a few drips of olive oil 5 Rub the paste into the skin of each chicken breast and smear any left onto the bottom of the breasts. 6 Place a non-stick pan on medium heat and add a touch of oil. Sear the breasts (skin-side down first) until lightly coloured, turn and sear the bottom and transfer to a lightly-oiled ovenproof dish and bake for 12-18 minutes. 7 Meanwhile turn the heat up on the cream reduction for just a minute and then remove the saucepan from the heat. Using a wooden spoon, stir in the butter cubes about 5 at a time. Don’t add more until the others have completely melted (and stir constantly). 8 Add the remaining butter (5 cubes at a time) then stir in the orange juice and cinnamon, taste for seasoning and strain the entire sauce through a fine sieve and set aside. 9 Arrange the chicken breasts on the plates and pour the sauce over just before serving.
35
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NO MEMBERSHIP REQUIRED BAR/RESTAURANT OPEN EVERY DAY FROM 12 LUNCH: MON–SUN 12–3pm DINNER: MON–SAT 6–9pm PRIVATE PARTIES WEDDINGS AND CONFERENCES SAILING, KAYAKING AND TENNIS BROW OF THE HILL, LEZIATE KING’S LYNN, NORFOLK PE32 1EN 01553 630393 WEB: www.leziatepark.co.uk E-MAIL: enquiries@leziatepark.co.uk 36
KLmagazine May 2012
COOKS
CORNER
with Melanie Done
Coffee at its best
A
re you a coffee lover? If so, this month if you buy any Nespresso coffee machine you will receive a £40 Nespresso Club Reward to be spent on coffee capsules – that’s around 130 premium cups of coffee. When you buy a Nespresso machine you are invited to become a member of the Nespresso Club. As a Club Member you will gain access to a number of privileges: convenient ordering, personalised services and an environment in which to share your passion for coffee. However, it is the combination of the Nespresso machines and Nespresso capsules that guarantees you the pleasure of a rich and aromatic coffee, cup after cup. Each capsule is hermetically sealed to keep the coffee fresh right up to the
moment of tasting, and only the top 2% of all coffee in the world has the exceptional quality, taste and aroma profile required. There are 16 blends of gourmet coffee to choose from plus limited edition blends available throughout the year, such as the current Naora blend with its delicate notes of blackcurrant and blueberry. There is a wide range of Nespresso coffee machines which are very stylish and would look good in any kitchen, as well as tick all the boxes in terms of functionality. Come and see us for a full demonstration and advice regarding which machine would suit your lifestyle the best.
M el
The recipe for success! C
ook to Perfection is currently celebrating becoming the very first Gold Winner of the Retail Innovation Award (for businesses with under £1 million turnover) at the recent Housewares Conference and Innovation Awards, organised by HousewaresLive.net and Housewares Magazine. Melanie and Alastair Done received their richly-deserved award from Michelin-starred chef Heston Blumenthal at the event, which was held at Heythrop Park in Oxfordshire on Tuesday 27th March in front of a capacity audience. Last year, Cook to Perfection moved premises to a prime position in King’s Lynn’s High Street and had to significantly increase their stock holding due to the increased space. “In a challenging retail environment,
they should be rewarded for such a bold move,” said one of the judging panel. “They’re holding their own – the business is thriving – and they're constantly inventing retail initiatives to keep things moving forward. We take our hats off to them.” It was noted by the judges that the list of initiatives was long and included installing a stunning Italian kitchen for in-store demos, running competitions in the local media and special promotions, and even sponsoring the local pantomime. Alastair and Melanie would like to thank Housewareslive.net and Housewares Magazine for organizing the Retail Innovation Awards, as well as their loyal customers for their support. “It’s great for us to be recognized by our peers for all the hard work that has been put in over the last year by us and
ABOVE: Internationally-acclaimed Michelinstarred chef Heston Blumenthal with Bernadette Smith of Chomette Dornberger, Melanie and Alastair Done, and Housewares Magazine publisher Colin Petty
our staff,” said Alastair. “Retailing on the High Street is very much under the spotlight at the moment with the Mary Portas Review, and I believe this award shows that independent traders have a lot to offer towns.”
PROUD SPONSORS OF MELANIE DONE is the joint owner of Cook to Perfection 47 High Street, King’s Lynn PE30 1BE Telephone: 01553 767575 Website: www.cooktoperfection.co.uk
KLmagazine May 2012
37
FOOD & DRINK
RestaurantReview
We sent Ann Weaver off to the Corn Exchange in King’s Lynn, but before the curtain was raised on the opening act, she decided to enjoy a taste of Prezzo...
I
chose to dine at Prezzo as I had tickets for a show at the Corn Exchange and its location is ideally situated on the corner of the Tuesday Market Place in central King’s Lynn. I pre-booked the table as I’d tried to dine at the restaurant before, but it was always fully booked – which I felt was an encouraging sign. When we walked through the door we were approached immediately by one of the waiters who took us to our table. The restaurant isn’t very large, but it has been designed immaculately with modern decor and I felt very comfortable inside. The tables are positioned quite close to other diners, but this seemed quite a small drawback as I was overwhelmed by the efficiency of all the staff. We were immediately given a drinks menu and the waiter took our drinks order – two flutes of prosecco – while explaining the specials. The menu is very traditional Italian, with a wide selection of pizzas, salads and pasta dishes. I was particularly impressed with the menu as there was a reduced-calorie option to almost every dish and details of how many
38
calories was in the lighter version. Another quirky part to the menu is ordering a half-and-half pasta dish. This means you can pick two pasta dishes for the price of one, each dish being half the size of a normal portion. As I love pasta but do sometimes find a whole dish of it can be too much, I took this option and my friend decided to choose just one with a side salad. Unsure which pastas would complement each other we asked the waitress for assistance and she was very knowledgeable about all the dishes and helped make our choosing easy. I decided upon the spaghetti with tiger prawns, baby spinach, red onion and red chill, in a tomato and garlic sauce. The second pasta choice was seasoned chicken with red chilli, spinach and garlic in a creamy saffron sauce. My friend opted for the Oak Roasted salmon, broccoli and fresh chillis in a red pesto and cream sauce. The efficiency of the staff continued as we didn’t wait long for our main dishes to arrive. They were beautifully presented and tasted amazing. The pasta was so light and the sauces so rich and flavoursome. Even the salad
was well prepared and we liked the way the sauce for the salad was in a separate bowl. As soon as we finished, our plates were cleared away and we were presented with the dessert menu. I have to say that in my opinion this was one of the nicest dessert menus I’ve seen for some time – there was so many yummy options to choose from. I opted for the honeycomb smash cheesecake and my friend ordered strawberry Eton Mess cheesecake. Some of the other tantalising options we turned down were traditional vanilla pannacotta, lemon torte and milk chocolate fudge cake. We also had two cafe lattes to accompany them. Yet again, the presentation of the desserts were exquisite – but the taste even better. My honeycomb cheesecake was divine, every mouthful melted and tasted so creamy and delicious and the honeycomb crunch complemented it so well. Definitely the best dessert I’ve ever tasted and admittedly I have visited the restaurant a few times since to order the honeycomb cheesecake to go! After a thoroughly enjoyable meal we asked for the bill, explaining we’d brought a voucher along with us that we’d printed from the internet – buy one-get-one-free offer on all main meals. The waitress knew all about the voucher and quickly took this off the bill. When I looked around at other diners I noticed these vouchers were on most of their tables. Therefore, my top tip to KL Magazine readers is to log online to www.vouchercodes.co.uk before you book – the offers change regularly, but Prezzo is almost always featured. All you need do is enter your details, print the voucher and take it with you. With this voucher our delicious meal only came to £36! Overall, we experienced fabulous staff, fabulous food and a price you can’t beat!
FOOD
SERVICE
VALUE
55 55 55
PREZZO KING’S LYNN 22 Tuesday Market Place King’s Lynn, PE30 1JJ Tel: 01553 611099 Web:www.prezzorestaurants.co.uk
KLmagazine May 2012
CafeReview
C
afe Blah Blah is new to Hunstanton so we thought we’d pop in for some lunch. Upon entry we were met with a beaming smile and hello from a very cheery young man, who we later found out was the owner! We were made to feel very welcome as we were seated to our table and given the menus. The cafe specialises in crepes and it has a variety of both savoury and sweet options. However, we looked through the more traditional options of panini’s, sandwiches and jacket potatoes. I decided to try the tuna melt panini and my dining partner chose the brie and bacon panini. We were impressed with the wide selection of coffee and tea choices and opted for the earl grey. The atmosphere was lovely, the crockery in which the tea was served was lovely, my only criticism was how long we had to wait for our panini’s (25 minutes.) As there were only four diners in the cafe at the time I felt this was longer than it should have been. However I accept this may be due to it being a new business and they are still settling in. When our food arrived it tasted lovely and was worth the wait. There was a potato and salad accompaniment which was very tasty and overall it was a lovely experience and well worth a visit on your next trip to Hunstanton.
CAFE BLAH BLAHH 72 Westgate, Hunstanton, Norfolk PE36 5EP Tel: 01485 533507 Web: www.cafeblahblahh.moonfruit.com
Fine Fitted Furniture – Designed and Built in our King’s Lynn Factory
Creating rooms you’ll love to live in 48 Bergen Way, North Lynn Industrial Estate, King’s Lynn PE30 2JG t: 01553 762749 Open: Mon-Fri 9am-5.30pm Sat 9am-4pm www.kingsoakkitchens.co.uk
KLmagazine May 2012
39
FOOD & DRINK
LocalTastes Selected by Ann Weaver
NORFOLK DAPPLE www.ferndalefarmnorfolkcheeses.co.uk Produced with unpasteurised cows’ milk by Ellie Betts of Ferndale Farm at Little Barningham, it’s a lovely cheddar-type cheese with a hard, dry texture and a full flavour. It has won both silver and bronze medals in the British Cheese Awards – and there’s a smoked version! WIGHTON CHEESE Mrs Temples Cheese, Wigton A delightful soft cheese produced from the milk of Chalk Farm cows and made to a Fenland recipe. The curds are drained for 24 hours under their own weight, before being lightly dusted with salt. WHITE LADY CHEESE Willow Farm Dairy, Deopham Made with vegetarian rennet, this is a soft, slightly sharp Brie-style cheese. The mouldripened cheese has a beautiful creamy texture and its strong flavour improves with age.
I
t never fails to amaze me that people still choose national (or even international) cheeses when they decide to bring out the cheese board for their guests. We’re fortunate to be blessed with some truly outstanding cheeses in Norfolk – and you’ll be surprised how impressed people are when you serve them. Here’s just a few to try.
LINCOLNSHIRE POACHER www.lincolnshirepoachercheese.com An award-winning cheese made like traditional West Country Cheddar with several key differences that give it a unique flavour and texture. It’s matured for 14-24 months and although the taste varies with the seasons, it usually has a distinctive fruity, nutty taste with a clean sweet finish.
Luxury Rooms, Fine Dining & Great Golf
Heacham Manor Hotel is undoubtedly one of the finest hotels on the Hunstanton coastline. An attractive carrstone Manor House surrounded by charming gardens & our 18 hole golf course set in coastal parkland, making the hotel a perfect setting for a special, relaxing break.
s ,UXURIOUS EN SUITE ROOMS IN THE -ANOR (OUSE
With luxurious en-suite rooms in the Manor House & 1, 2 or 3 bedroom cottages, we can offer Bed & Breakfast or Self Catering, something for everyone!
s (OLE #HAMPIONSHIP 'OLF #OURSE
s 2OOMS IN ADJACENT @.ORFOLK 3TYLE COTTAGES s &INE $INING IN THE ACCLAIMED @-ULBERRY 2ESTAURANT s 1UINTESSENTIAL %NGLISH !FTERNOON 4EA
! WARM WELCOME AWAITS YOU
H OT E L
R E S TA U R A N T
GOLF
Heacham Manor Hotel, Hunstanton Rd, Heacham, West Norfolk, PE31 7JX Tel: 01485 536030 www.heacham-manor.co.uk
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KLmagazine May 2012
Dining Out... If you’re eating out locally, here’s a selection of great places to try...
Eat, drink & stay... A traditional village inn, offering luxury accommodation and scrumptious meals – all freshly cooked using only the very best local produce. THE
BERNEY ARMS
Church Road, Barton Bendish PE33 9GF Telephone: 01366 347995
www.theberneyarms.co.uk
If your restaurant deserves to be featured in our exclusive fine dining guide, please call Nicky Secker–Bligh on 07881 220251 KLmagazine May 2012
the village
Deli th rnham
café and store
Open Daily Extensive menu Children’s play area Lovely location Plenty of parking Telephone: (01485) 512194 Email: villagedelithornham@gmail.com
Boutique Hotel with Superb Restaurant
5% Off all food and drink with this advertisement No photocopies accepted
The Kings Head
H O T E L Great Bircham, Kings Lynn PE31 6RJ Tel 01485 578265 Web www.the-kings-head-bircham.co.uk
41
FOOD & DRINK
All about T asparagus IN THE KITCHEN WITH ANN WEAVER
42
raditionally starting on April 23rd and lasting until Midsummer’s Day, the ‘asparagus season’ is one of the main highlights of the UK’s foodie calendar – due to the plant’s short growing season and the growing demand for local produce, asparagus tends to command a premium. It’s all a bit suprising for a vegetable that was virtually unknown in England until 1538 – especially when we know that it was being enjoyed near Aswan in Egypt some 20,000 years ago! Even the Romans loved it (the Emperor Augustus even had an Asparagus Fleet for transporting the vegetable) and there’s a recipe for cooking asparagus in the oldest surviving book of recipes (if you’re interested, it’s Book III of De Re Coquinaria by Apicius). Generally considered to be a delicacy, with its straight spears and compact tip, asparagus is an attractive and elegant-looking vegetable with a wonderfully subtle flavour. Make sure you choose firm, fresh-looking stalks and don’t keep it in the fridge for more than a couple of days. Asparagus is usually served cooked, but can be served hot or cold. It can be served as an accompanying vegetable to light meals such as poached fish or grilled chicken. You can add cooked asparagus to rice or pasta salads, pasta sauces, quiches or risottos. Hot asparagus can also be served as a simple but flavoursome starter with plenty of warm crusty bread and hollandaise sauce, melted butter or a classic vinaigrette dressing made from olive oil, lemon juice, freshly ground black pepper and sea salt for dipping. To prepare your asparagus, wash each stalk and snap or cut off the end if it’s woody or tough. Trim the stalks to roughly the same length to ensure even cooking and tie them in bunches of about six stems. Although asparagus can be boiled or steamed, for best results you should keep the tips away from direct heat as they cook faster. The cooking time will vary depending on the thickness and freshness of the stalks. To boil, place the bundles upright in a pan of boiling water to come three-quarters of the way up the stalks, and cook for 3-8 minutes or until tender. Steaming is exactly the same, although you’re placing the bundles upright in a steamer! However you enjoy it (and you will) now’s the very best time to make the most of this fabulous vegetable.
KLmagazine May 2012
Ask the
EXPERT
STARTS MAY 1st! TUESDAY NIGHT IS PIE NIGHT!
Stuck for a recipe? Can’t find an ingredient? Don’t know whether garlic should be crushed or sliced? Ask Ann, and she’ll point you in the right direction...
Q
I wondered if it was possible to put a ceramic slow cooker crockpot into a conventional electric fan oven?
A
Why should you want to do that? A slow cooker is exactly what it says – a slow cooker! They’re designed for when you want to go out all day and come home to a lovely cooked meal. Although some makes and models can be put into a conventional oven, you’d have to read the manual carefully or look on manufaturer’s website. If it doesn’t specifically say so you can then I really wouldn’t risk it.
Q
I use a breadmaker to make pizza dough, but the amount is always too much for one pizza. At what stage can you safely freeze pizza dough?
A
It’s probably best if you freeze it at the ‘dough’ stage before you roll out what you need. Of course, you could always make some basic cheese and tomato pizzas with the dough you don’t need and freeze them ready-made for another time.
Q
Is there an easy way to make a good chocolate sauce using evaporated milk?
A
There certainly is! Take 14oz of sweetened condensed milk, 4tbs of cocoa powder, 3tbs butter and 1tsp of vanilla extract. Heat the condensed milk in a saucepan, mix the cocoa powder with a tablespoon of hot water and stir that into the condensed milk. Finally, stir in the butter and vanilla extract and heat it through over a low heat. Scrummy!
Q
I’m looking to do a bit more with my slow cooker in the future. Can you recommend a good cookery book that would be suitable?
A
One of the best I’ve come across is 1000 Classic Slow Cooker Recipes by Sue Spitler (£8.99) – it’s got some great recipes in it. If there’s a The Works discount shop near you, you may be able to find a copy of Slow Cooker:100 Everyday Recipes. It’s published under ‘Love Food’ by Parragon and it’s only £1.99.
Q
I’ve got a great idea for a cake, but I’m not sure how to do the decoration. What’s the best way of attaching fresh flowers onto an iced cake?
A
Wire the flowers onto dowels and insert the dowels into the cake or make up the arrangement on a ribbon and then fix that to the cake. If it’s just a top arrangement, make it up on a small cake board covered in matching icing. Make sure the stems don’t penetrate the cake itself and it’s important to check everything for toxicity.
KLmagazine May 2012
SATURDAY NIGHT IS CHICKEN SHACK NIGHT! Don’t miss our two great new all-you-can-eat buffets coming soon every Tuesday and Saturday from 5pm-9pm
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! Book today! ! Only £7.99 per child
Clenchwarton Road, West Lynn King’s Lynn PE34 3LJ
Tel: 01553 772221 43
LOCAL LIFE
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KLmagazine May 2012
OUT & ABOUT
Terrington St Clement Pictures: Ian Ward
S
ituated in the drained marshlands to the south of the Wash just seven miles west of King's Lynn, the parish of Terrington St Clement covers an area of 17 square miles and the village itself is often claimed as being the largest village in Norfolk. Although the Village sign (left) seems to read Parat Use Tfidelis, it actually says Paratus et Fidelis, which means 'faithful and ready' and it's certainly true that the village offers visitors a warm welcome. Terrington St Clement has a wider selection of amenities than you might expect from a village, including a supermarket, a farm shop, two doctor's surgeries, a post office, newsagents, bakers, an Indian restaurant and a takeaway, a fish and chip shop and a Chinese takeaway, a hairdressers and an estate agent in addition to the wellknown Marshland Stores, a traditional hardware store with a very large range of products. The village also has a village hall, scout hut, and two popular
KLmagazine May 2012
45
OUT & ABOUT
pubs – the King William and the Wildfowler. The life of the village can be traced back to around 970AD when Saint Godric gave part of the lands of Turrintonea as a gift to the monks of Ramsey Abbey. The name Terrington itself ultimately comes from the early Saxon word 'tun' meaning enclosure or homestead of Tiras people. By the time the Domesday Book was compiled, the settlement was referred to as Tilinghetuna. By medieval times, the small settlement which had begun on the raised ground on the edge of the marsh had grown substantially, and in the 14th century Edmund de Gonville (who also founded Gonville and Caius College at Cambridge) built the magnificent parish church dedicated to St Clement (Pope Celement I). The church is sometimes (and quite accurately) referred to as the Cathedral of the Marshland and is considered to be one of the finest Perpendicular churches in England. The reason why Terrington has such a magnificent church lies in the boom years of the first half of the 14th century, when raw wool exports to the continent increased and Terrington
46
Terrington St Clement
offered excellent grazing on marshland and summer lands in the Fens. The church has a truly massive bell tower containing eight bells which stands a few feet way from the northwest corner of the church. It's believed there were plans to build a central lantern at the crossing (similar to the one at Ely Cathedral) but the weight was probably too much to support at that position and the work never progressed. Similarly, the transepts were originally to have been longer (you can easily see that from the unfinished work on the outside) but the Black Death of 1349 interrupted work. The interior of the church is equally impressive, and visitors should take some time to examine the lovely font the cover of which opens out to show some wonderfully-painted scenes (believed to be Flemish) depicting the Baptism and Temptation of Jesus. The Methodists arrived in the village in 1813, and during the Victorian era the Wesleyan Methodist Chapel and Primitive Methodist Chapel were established, along with a Salvation Army headquarters and three other mission chapels. By the beginning of the 20th century, a lively shopping centre had developed in Terrington, but although
most of the independent traders have now disappeared (along with the railway station and all but the two remaining pubs), Terrington St Clement is still a thriving community that's still 'faithful and ready' to welcome visitors.
KLmagazine May 2012
Collings
Anglia and BBC East
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l Over 40 years experience in the local housing market l Free market appraisals and competitive commission rates l Floor plans on all our details l No sale, no fee l Offices in Terrington St Clement, King’s Lynn, Dersingham and Long Sutton l A full range of surveys and letting services are also available
GEOFFREY COLLINGS & CO 50 Marshland Street, Terrington St. Clement King's Lynn PE34 4NE Tel: 01553 828012 View all available properties on: www.geoffreycollings.co.uk www.rightmove.co.uk
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KLmagazine May 2012
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Fakenham
RACECOURSE
Sunday 27th May 2012 First race at 2.35pm
Sunday 27th May 2012 | Gates open at 12 noon
I
t’s the first of its kind at Fakenham Racecourse, and Ladies Day promises to bring some extra style to the racetrack and is set to become North Norfolk’s unmissable social event of the year.
Ladies Day Fashion Awards
Be first past the winning post and book your tickets in advance.
17 years and under FREE
Picknicing 6 top class races Lady jockey hurdle race
A day of excitement, entertainment and elegance
Invite your friends and get a 15% discount for parties of eight or more (please note that discounts apply to badges paid for in advance only).
Make a weekend break of it with friends
FUTURE RACE DATES Tuesday, 8th May 2012 (first race 2:30pm) Sunday, 17th June 2012 Arabian Horse Racing (first race 2:00pm)
The Racecourse, Fakenham, Norfolk NR21 7NY
T: +44 (0) 1328 862388 E: info@fakenhamracecourse.co.uk
F: +44 (0) 1328 855908 W: www.fakenhamracecourse.co.uk
hats
Unique XXXXXXXXX
PICTURE CAPTION: Xyxxyxyx xyxyx
Xyxyx xyxyx The sale of an island or convincing a understood to be interested, although a spokesman denied he is about to invest. Greece has embarked on the desperate measures after being pushed into a Euro 110bn bailout by the European Union and the International Monetary Fund last month, following a decade of or a special andRichard personalBranson touch foritthat have a small selection of bespoke or Sir is areaWe inalso Mykonos, one of Greece’s top overspending and after jittery investors important occasion (whether a wedding, a pieces available – and just as we’re confident our Neckar in the Caribbean, the tourist destinations, is one of the sites trip to Newmarket even Ladies Day at collection willarea suit is every outfit, our price range for sale. The one-third owned by raised borrowing costs to unbearable billionaireorBarclay brothers Ascot), there’s prefer no better place than willgovernment, suit every budget. levels. KL Brecqhou in Unique the Bride. the which is looking for a
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Recently opened in the loft of a 15th century Channel Islands, while barn in Castle Rising, the location is a perfect Aristotle Onassis married Jackie setting, offering a friendly and professional Kennedy Greekstyles and service and a on vastSkorpios, amount ofhis designs, hideway. colours to choose from – you’ll find hats and NowinGreece making it easier facinators silk andis sinamy, with feathersfor and the rich and and famous to fulfill their beading, crystals pearls. dreams by preparing sell, orthe offering In the unlikely event you to can’t find ideal hat,long-term we can even makeon, minor alterations to an leases some of its 6,000 existing design to bring ainsplash of individuality sun-kissed islands a desperate to blend perfectly withits your outfit. attempt to repay mountainous debts.
We always encourage customers to bring in
buyer willing to inject capital and their whole outfit – it’s by far the best way to get develop a luxury tourism complex, the right design and colour to complete the look. according toSam a source close to the Binny and manage Unique Bride and want negotiations. to keep their service as personal and one-to-one Potential as possible. investors, who are also looking at like property investments in the If you’d to book an appointment in isle of Rhodes, mostly Russiansumptuous, and advance, make aare date for a uniquely elegant way to find the hat ofcountries your dreams. Chinese. Investors in both are We think love the choice we have looking for ayou’ll destinations for their available. It is,affluent in fact, unique. increasingly populations. Roman Abramovich is among those
The Guardian has learned that an Castle Rising, King’s Lynn, Norfolk PE31 6AG Tel: 01553 631500 Web: www.uniquegiftsandinteriors.co.uk E-mail: uniquegifts.castlerising@btconnect.com 00
KLmagazine April 2012
Spend Time @ Silverwood Silverwood Centre, St James Road, Long Sutton, PE12 9AU Web: www.silverwoodcentre.com Tel: 01406 365948 Garden Centre & Nursery Producing an array of Plants, Shrubs, Trees, etc, along with our amazing bespoke hanging baskets. Stroll around the mature gardens with small seating areas.
The Shop
tiful Bath Bombs & Hand crafted gifts, Beau furnishings to Fizzers, unusual Bygone ding into the enhance the garden, lea quilting, bunting and ‘Workroom’ for sewing, and community other future workshops projects.
Workshops, courses and other interests l Bricklaying and block paving. for sittings, l Silverwood Photographic Studio weddings and other commissions. ry wools. l Yarn Shack for spinning and luxu
Licensed Tearoom & Restaurant Wholesome homemade dishes, mo uthwatering cakes, traditional afternoon teas. Monthly ladies day, includes talk and /or demonstration and refreshments. For enquiries call 01406 364644
Tyrrell Contractors for drives, all groundworks. Compton’s garages. For enquiries, telephone: 01406 364364 50
KLmagazine May 2012
HEALTH & BEAUTY
FeetFirst
with Elizabeth Dutton
Preparing your feet for the Spring....
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fter a long, rather cold and damp winter, our feet aren’t looking their best! For months they’ve been hidden away by socks, tights shoes and boots and unless you’ve soaked, buffed and oiled your feet through the long winter, you may have been left with tired, pale skin, dry and/or rough skin and lightly discoloured nails. However, warm and sunny days are on the way and it’s finally time to peel off those layers and reveal our feet to the world once again. Here’s what to do to get your feet sandal-ready! Yes, it’s time to pamper your feet! DAILY: This applies to everyone, but especially so if you have diabetes. Wash and dry your feet carefully and thoroughly. Buff your heels with a good quality foot
JUST PUBLISHED ON KINDLE! The first of Elizabeth Dutton’s books, entitled Essential Foot Care for Diabetics is now available to read as an e–book. No Kindle? No problem – you can get a free app from the Kindle store, so you can download a Kindle book to your computer or mobile device.
A Spring Treat for Your Feet! Get a huge 10% discount on all Medi-Pedis booked before the end of May! To claim your discount, quote MP-0512 when you book, or bring this coupon in with you to your appointment
KLmagazine May 2012
buffer (also known as a ‘pedi wand’), but don’t be tempted to pick or cut bits of dry skin! This is because there’s a risk of tearing (ouch!) which could lead to very sore heels and even a bad infection. 2-3 TIMES A WEEK: 1 Wash your feet separately and then give them a 15-minute soak in Epson salts dissolved in warm water. No salts? Just use the juice of half a lemon or a few drops of tea tree oil instead. 2 Gently dry your feet thoroughly, especially between the toes. 3 Buff any hard skin on the heels with a pumice stone or heel buffer. 4 Apply a generous amount of olive oil (try some from our bespoke range) over both feet. 5 Soak your feet for another 10 minutes, using the original water if it’s still clean and warm, or a fresh foot bath. 6 Now gently dry and either wipe away any excess oil or ask someone to massage your feet while there’s still a little oil left on them – bliss! If you can’t persuade a loved one to massage your feet, you can do it yourself if you can reach! Alternatively, gently roll a jam jar, can, ball or other small moveable object backwards and forwards using the balls and heels of each foot. In fact, a short regular session of this at any time will relieve the tensions that build up in your feet.
CHECK YOUR SHOES – AND THEIR FITTING! This is important! Check your summer sandals and flipflops for wear and tear, and replace them if necessary. If they’re fine, but your feet are prone to blistering when you shed the socks or tights, wear the sandals for an hour or so around the house several times over the next few weeks. If you go for a long walk in them as soon as it gets hot, you can end up with the pain of blisters and sloughed off skin. The plasters don’t look too pretty either! If you haven't had your feet measured properly in the last year or two, then take advantage of our FREE professional measuring service where we’ll tell you the width and length your footwear needs to be.
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 07973 230293 (mobile) or send an e-mail to enquires@thefootcarecentrekingslynn.co.uk
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PICTURE: SEAMUS RYAN
ARTS
ABOVE: Cameron Mackintosh of Oliver! is a visual treat – and the songs are as fantastic as ever
Brian Conley brings Fagin to Norfolk... The lavish new production of Oliver! comes to Norfolk this summer. John Bultitude tracks the story of the much-loved musical and catches up with star Brian Conley...
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ith a cast and crew of 108 featuring a host of West End performers (plus Bullseye the dog), a stunning set and an iconic story, Oliver! is set to be a massive show for the region – and one not to be missed when it comes to Norwich Theatre Royal this summer as legendary theatrical impresario Cameron Mackintosh presents a fabulous new production of one of Britain’s most beloved musicals. The show brings to life the timeless characters in the story of the boy who asked for more with a host of classic songs including Food Glorious Food, Consider Yourself, You’ve Got To Pick A Pocket Or Two, I’d Do Anything, and many more. And one of Britain’s best loved entertainers Brian Conley is taking on the role of Fagin in the hit show. Catching up with him a few weeks before he takes over the part from previous on-stage Fagin Neil Morrissey, he admits he can’t wait to get started. “I’ve always wanted to play Fagin,” he says. “It’s a loaded part in one of the greatest ever British musicals. It’s written by Lionel Bart, who is truly a
KLmagazine May 2012
legend although I know Charles Dickens had something to do with the story!” Ever the joker, Brian’s natural sense of humour stood him in good stead learning the craft of showbusiness while working in cabaret clubs after leaving school at 16. He started his TV career as a warmup man for the likes of Terry Wogan and Noel Edmonds before appearing live in front of the cameras on a number of hit TV programmes. Brian then got his own small-screen series like This Way Up and The Brian Conley Show which pulled in more than 12 million viewers. Since then, he’s enjoyed a varied career doing everything from starring in the sitcom The Grimleys and hosting the National Lottery Live to hosting game shows and appearing in several films – including Circus opposite John Hannah and Eddie Izzard. In recent years, he’s also become a renowned stage star becoming highly acclaimed for a wide range of theatre roles most notably gaining an Olivier Award for his West End role in Jolson at the Victoria Palace. And now he’s planning to take on yet
another iconic role as Fagin in Oliver! following in the foosteps of a host of top stars who’ve taken on the part onstage including Barry Humphries, Rowan Atkinson, Griff Rhys Jones and Omid Djalili. “Of course, Ron Moody played the part in the film,” Brian recalls. “Initially the producers didn’t want him – even though he was Fagin in the West End – because they didn’t think he was famous enough. The trouble was that they couldn’t get Peter Sellers, and they tried for Dick Van Dyke. Can you imagine him playing the part? They also approached Peter O’Toole, and eventually they went with Ron Moody – and thank goodness they did. Every Fagin stems from that. You look at him and wonder if you can change the part slightly.” The role also brings Brian’s career (slightly) full circle as he’d hoped to get a part in Oliver! as a schoolboy opposite Roy Hudd as Fagin in the West End. “I often got asked to go along to auditions because I had a strong singing voice,” he remembers. “I was about 12 years old. One of my teachers said there were auditions and pointed
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at some of the children saying including versatile stage and ‘you can go and you can go.’ TV actor Robert Lindsay and When she got to me, she said one of the UK’s favourite ‘you can’t go because you’re family entertainers Russ fat. You can’t have a fat kid Abbot. singing Food, Glorious Food.’ Sadly Lionel Bart didn’t live I could have her up for who to see Cameron Mackintosh’s knows what these days!” most spectacular production But weight is no problem of Oliver! – which stunned this time around – although audiences at Drury Lane Brian has to do some serious when it opened in 2009, preparation before he goes gaining the biggest advance on stage and that doesn’t just ever recorded in the West End mean learning his lines. and playing to packed houses “The make-up takes about for over two years. an hour because you have to And Cameron has very have a bald head and then put clear reasons for the show’s the wig on top. It’s great continued success. “Unlike because you can hide behind most musicals, Oliver! works it and let the character come as well in a school hall as the out.” vast reaches of Drury Lane,” This touring production – he explains. “The magic of the which has already wowed show is the combination of audiences in Cardiff, Dickens’s timeless story and Manchester and Birmingham unforgettable characters – marks a long-running link coupled with Lionel’s brilliant between the show and the adaptation and equally legendary theatrical unforgettable music and lyrics impresario Cameron which not only capture the Mackintosh. spirit of Dickens, but also the He first fell in love with unstoppable resilience and ABOVE: The legendary Cameron Mackintosh promises that if you’ve Oliver! while working as a verve of the West End.” never seen Oliver! before, you’re in for a real treat stagehand in Camelot at the Cameron also promises how cleverly it was put together in Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, in London’s audiences something very special if every department.” West End. they head to Norwich Theatre Royal to This was the start of his long term “I desperately wanted the job of see the show between July 3rd and association with the show and saw him assistant stage manager,” Cameron August 4th. meet the show’s creator Lionel Bart for says, “and I managed to persuade the “If you’ve never seen Oliver! before,” the first time when he took him to meet he says, “I’m sure you’ll instantly show’s formidable general manager, the cast on opening night at the Ann Jenkins, to take me on after consider yourself one of the family and Manchester Opera House in November subjecting her to a three hour interview succumb to its magic. Lionel’s 1965. rant in which I precociously told her I masterpiece has enthralled and inspired Twelve years later, Cameron intended to become a producer by the generations of audience for nearly 50 Mackintosh revived the original time I was 25. I actually managed it five years for, like Lionel Bart himself, it has production, taking it back to the New years earlier! real heart. I hope this new production Theatre (now renamed the Albery) in “I already adored Oliver! having will inspire many new generations to that infamous production where Roy queued up with my aunt for hours to come to the theatre – as it did me.” Hudd played Fagin and Brian Conley get a seat in the gallery for only a didn’t make the auditions. shilling and sixpence a few weeks after By the mid-80s, Cameron decided he the show’s unexpectedly sensational wanted to reinvent the show with the opening in June 1960.” help of Lionel Bart. Later in the creative If he thought he was going to be Oliver! will run from Tuesday July 3rd process, he brought some new blood focusing purely on stage management until Saturday August 4th – performances on board in the shape of renowned once the production opened, he was in start at 7.30pm, with Thursday and director Sam Mendes and Saturday matinees at 2.30pm. Please note for a shock. As assistant stage manager, choreographer Matthew Bourne. there are no Sunday performances. he was expected to sing and dance in “Lionel made several changes during the chorus as well as move props. Box Office: 01603 630000. For more rehearsals and was rewarded with a “I was slightly less tone deaf than the information or to book online, visit sensational reception,” he says. “After other ASM’s,” he recalls, “so I got the www.theatreroyalnorwich.co.uk going through a long dark period, he job and – to my delight – had the was once again the talk of the town undeserved thrill of being in a huge, Tickets from £6.50 to £47.50, with basking in both public and critical popular musical bringing down the discounts for over-60s, under-18s and applause. He was proud of his creation groups. There’s an audio-described house while knowing I had absolutely and delighted to own a piece of it.” performance on Saturday 14th July at no acting talent at all. 2.30pm, a signed Opening in 1994, the production “The production did teach me to performance on Friday became the London Palladium’s recognise one vital ingredient through August 3rd at 7.30pm and a longest-running show with five very its staging production and that was captioned performance on different – and highly respected – timing. I discovered I had an instinct for Wednesday 18th July at performers taking on the Fagin role, how a musical worked and understood 7.30pm.
Details
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KLmagazine May 2012
e Consulting Room Hugh WARREN
Consultant General Surgeon MBBS, FRCS, MS, FRCS (Gen) Hugh is a Consultant General Surgeon specialising in laparoscopic gastrointestinal surgery, weight loss surgery and endoscopic procedures. These include laparoscopic gallbladder surgery, gastric banding, gastroscopy, colonoscopy and bile duct endoscopy as well as hernia repair surgery.
GALLSTONES AND CHOLECYSTECTOMY Between 10% and 15% of adults in the UK have gallstones, and while many people are unaware of their presence a significant proportion develop symptoms from them. In many cases patients complain of rightsided upper abdominal pain after eating rich or fatty meals. This pain, known as biliary colic, can last for several hours before subsiding and is often very severe. The pain is due to a stone obstructing the outlet of the gallbladder, which prevents it from emptying and causes the gallbladder to go into spasm. Occasionally a stone may get stuck in the outlet of the gallbladder and the bile in the gallbladder then gets infected. This results in a persistent severe pain in the right upper abdomen, which doesn’t ease after a few hours. The abdomen is usually very tender just under the rib cage on the right and the patient is often feverish. When this occurs the condition is known as acute cholecystitis and admission to hospital is often necessary. When a patient has had many episodes of biliary colic or several attacks of acute cholecystitis they may develop persistent inflammation in the gallbladder, which is known as chronic cholecystitis.
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Your local KLmagazine May 2012
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What are the treatments? Biliary colic is best treated with strong painkillers and muscle relaxants which help to limit the degree and duration of the pain. People who suffer with biliary colic often find that the pain can be avoided if they stick to a low fat diet as it is fat in the food which causes the gallbladder to contract. However, fat restriction doesn’t always prevent attacks and pain after eating can persist. Acute cholecystitis usually gets better after a few days treatment with antibiotics and intravenous fluids but further attacks of cholecystitis are common. In these situations it is often advisable to have the gallbladder removed. Cholecystectomy (surgical removal of the gallbladder) is an operation, which nowadays is usually performed using key hole or laparoscopic surgery. The patient is given a general anaesthetic and 3 or 4 small incisions are made on the skin of the abdomen through which the operation is performed. A telescope with a high definition camera is inserted into the abdominal cavity and the image is relayed to a video screen. The gallbladder is then removed using specially designed instruments inserted through the other holes. Occasionally an “old fashioned” open operation has to be performed, through a large incision. This is usually because the gallbladder is stuck to the nearby organs as a result of repeated infections. Open operations have to be performed in about 3% to 5% of cases. Will it hurt and how long will I be in hospital? All surgery causes some degree of pain but the pain after a laparoscopic cholecystectomy is significantly less than the pain after an open operation. Most patients can be discharged within 24 hours after a laparoscopic operation and many get back to work after only 2 weeks. Most people have fully recovered after 6 weeks.
e Sandringham Hospital
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LOCAL LIFE
ABOVE: Charlotte Paton helps install one of the first angels for next month’s Festival of Angels at St Nicholas Chapel
The angels planned to help save St. Nicholas... It’s historically and nationally important, but it has a decidedly uncertain future – unless we act now to help preserve it. Here, we preview next month’s Festival of Angels at St Nicholas Chapel
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ext month, dring the weekend of 16th–17th June, St Nicholas Chapel in King’s Lynn will be hosting a Festival of Angels – possibly the first event of its kind in Norfolk, and probably best described as a cross between a Scarecrow Festival and a Flower Show.
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Part of the St Nicholas Chapel Restoration Appeal, the Festival will see the chapel filled with angels of all shapes and sizes (to date, over 60 angels twill be making an appearance), some of them designed and made by members of the general public, others promoting local businesses and organisations.
During the Festival, the Chapel will also be home to a number of craft and gift stalls and there’ll be plenty of teas, coffee and cakes throughout the weekend (there’ll also be face painting for the children). Although it’s designed to be a fun and enjoyable event for the local community, there is a dual purpose to
KLmagazine May 2012
ST NICHOLAS: IT’S TOO IMPORTANT TO LET GO! l Several Robinson Crusos are buried inside St Nicholas l St Nicholas has more ledger slabs on its floor than anywhere else in the whole country – except Bath Abbey l It has the only object in an English church designed by Robert Adam – the Keene monument at the north east end. It’s actually a wine cooler from Adam’s catalogue which someone decided would be just the thing for Benjamin Keene’s heart, and it has a nice carving of Lisbon quay on the side. l The consistory court (where the clergy were hauled up for misdemeanors back in Tudor times) survives – and it’s a very rare sight l There are 22 angels holding musical instruments on the roof beams, and one of them has been the inspiration for next month’s Calling All Angels fundraising event l The Chapel is going to be changed to suit the needs of the local community – the architects are planning heating, toilets and a kitchenette. They’re also proposing the removal of some pews so there’ll be much more room for things like farmers’ markets and after-school clubs. l Eventually, solar panels will be hidden on the roof, so electricity can be generated for the chapel when in use – and for the National Grid when it’s not. Similarly, the rain which falls on the roof (with some degree of frequency!) will be collected and recycled. l When the funds are raised, St Nicholas will be yet another example how the people of King’s Lynn are saving buildings of international importance l The Queen has shown a personal interest in the project to restore St Nicholas Chapel and has given a generous donation
the Festival of Angels. Together with the Churches Conservation Trust, The Friends of St Nicholas are currently engaged in raising a minimum of £210,000 in order to secure a grant of £1.5 million from the Heritage Lottery Fund. These funds are vital to the future of St Nicholas. They’ll be used to complete the urgent re-roofing work (in turn helping preserve the endangered carved angels sheltered beneath it) as well as allowing for the installation of a kitchenette and toilet facilities and the development of new visitor information. Support from the public is essential, and as the money raised will be used both to renovate the chapel and to improve its facilities for wider future use, there’s every reason to take the time to visit the Festival of Angels (or even take part!) and help revitalise St Nicholas Chapel for future generations. To find out more about the Festival of Angels (there’s still plenty of time for you to take part!) and the St Nicholas Restoration Appeal, please contact Mrs Kate Parker by e-mailing her at angels@stnicholaskingslynn.org.uk FESTIVAL OF ANGELS 16th – 17th June, 2012 St Nicholas Chapel, St Ann’s Street, King’s Lynn PE30 1QT Entrance: £3.50 per adult (children free)
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ABOVE: The great door of St Nicholas is being restored under separate funding, and so far no less than 16 layers of paint have been removed – the last estimated to have been applied in about 1400. Wonderful carving is being revealed, and the door will eventually be repainted in the original colours of green and terracotta.
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5 ways DA Seaman can help you and your vision...
H
aving a regular sight examination is something that a lot of people over look. Especially those who do not regularly wear spectacles. Your eyes are a vital part of your body and we rely on them to help us carry out the very basic of everyday tasks. At D.A.Seaman Optometrists we are keen to promote the importance of looking after your eyes. Here are five reasons why we should all have our eyes examined regularly.
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Whether you feel your vision is impaired or you see with absolute clarity, a regular eye examination is essential to confirm the health of your eyes is good and there are no underlying problems that could affect your vision in the future. If you do require some visual help there are lots of options available. Spectacles come in every colour, shape and style these days and we have a wide choice of frames for you. We also offer sunglasses and contact lenses, including the specialist Dream lens contact lenses, that when worn overnight and then removed each morning, correct your vision without
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the need to wear contact lenses during the day!
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Modern technology allows us to view your eyes in much more detail. D.A.Seaman Optometrists have invested in specialist equipment including Optomap, an instrument that allows a digital picture that covers up to 200 degrees of the back of your eye to be taken without the need for drops to dilate your pupils. These images can help to uncover all sorts of general health problems that might otherwise go undetected.
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The law only currently requires drivers to read a number plate at the time of taking their driving test. No further enquiries are made regarding
D A Seaman Optometrists 18 Plowright Place Swaffham PE37 7LQ Tel: 01760 722661 Web: www.daseaman.co.uk
vision until we reach 70! This means that it is likely that there are many drivers on the road who would fall below the legal limit for driving without spectacles. Remember, if your vision is checked and you are found to be driving without any necessary spectacles, it could render your insurance invalid.
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Preventative care is a large part of what we offer. Our Optical Coherence Tomographer (O.C.T.) images a cross section of the nerve fibre layers at the back of the eye. Variations in the thickness of these layers can indicate very early signs of both Glaucoma and Macular Degeneration. The O.C.T. can pick up on these problems before you notice any deterioration in your sight and sometimes even before any defects would show on the more traditional visual field test.
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Finally, there's no excuse! We are fully equipped to meet all your eye care needs locally. We have qualified staff to assist you and we’re only a phone call away. Contact us now to arrange an appointment.
KLmagazine May 2012
Books BRING UP THE BODIES HILARY MANTEL We met Thomas Cromwell in Wolf Hall. Its writer won the Man Booker prize and legions of fans who thought they’d never find a historical fictioneer with so much blood and fire to offer. Not so. Now Mantel fleshes Cromwell with the abiding stink of a corrupting crown as he watches Anne Boleyn fall from favour to the farthest reaches of hell.
David Learner May Day, May Day! It’s a hectic month once again for rescuing new titles and as these little lifeboats show there really is a place for everyone. Women and children first!
SWEET REVENGE TOM BOWER Difficult to avoid Simon Cowell, even if you’ve never seen him on the telly, or heard him interviewed, or watched as his face illuminates the redtop newspapers as they shout for your money while you wait for the train. Influential? Without a doubt. Missable? Never, but Tom Bower’s book is a closer shave than many Cowell has had.
CITY OF LOST SOULS CASSANDRA CLARE New readers: don’t start here. You need to ask very nicely for someone to buy you the first in The Mortal Instruments series. You’ll buy the next three yourself (it’s that good it’s already been translated into nineteen languages) and then you’ll buy this – the fifth in the paranormal thriller series. It’s that good. Honest.
THINKING FAST AND SLOW DANIEL KAHNEMAN When a Nobel Prize winner pens a book about thinking, nine quid doesn’t sound like a lot to pay. Mr Dan’s premise is that we have a choice to make when it comes to making a decision: fast or slow. Pick the wrong one, he says, and you’ll only increase your stress levels, and possibly wreck the chance of meeting the partner of your dreams. Nine quid!? It’s worth double.
THE IMPOSSIBLE DEAD IAN RANKIN Former taxman Rankin never intended to write crime. His wrong turn is our glee. We’re back with Malcolm Fox and the guys from Internal Affairs and nothing is what it seems. Murder’s not enough this time and there are conspiracy and cover-up aplenty, together with a murder weapon that doesn’t even exist. Impossible plot, impossibly good.
THE KILLING DAVID HEWSON If you don’t know who Sarah Lund is, or why the sales of Faeroe Island sweaters have risen to royal level following the lead of the Duchess of Cornwall, then one can only sigh for you. The book of the television series of the fantastically plotted story of the death of Nanna Birk Larsen will sell and sell and sell. Copenhagen crime so good that the tourists now slaver over the murder locations. Tivoli Schmivoli…
May
WHY BE HAPPY WHEN YOU COULD BE NORMAL? JEANETTE WINTERSON Oranges is the not the only book. Winterson’s own story is as guttural in its intensity as any of her own plotlines. She pours out so much in Why Be Happy, now available in paperback for the first time, that we can at last glimpse the person behind the author, and start to understand the fallibilities and weaknesses of the child/parent relationship in all of us.
KLmagazine May 2012
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Events
What is it about King’s Lynn? Now the museum curator’s been found dead! That’s the scene as A Room Full of Bones opens. Come and meet the author Elly Griffiths at 11.00am and demand to know why! He’s written the Kingdom of Gems trilogy for children, has Jasper Cooper. What’s more, he’s illustrated them and he’ll be with us at 10.00am to show us all how easy it is. Yeah, right … Tell him he looks like Gandalf, cos he does.
DAVID LEARNER is Assistant Manager for Waterstone’s at 137 Norfolk Street, King’s Lynn, Norfolk PE30 1AU Telephone: 01553 660111
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LOCAL LIFE
ABOVE: Mark and Lindsay Abel of Denver Mills – looking forward to the future with confidence after their recent TV appearance
Denver Mills and the future after the Fixer... In March, Denver Mills was featured on television as Alex Polizzi took a close look at the business. Now Bel Greenwood goes behind the scenes to see what the future holds for the family...
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enver Mill is a Grade II listed tower mill in a beautiful setting. Located one mile outside Downham Market, it was built in 1835 and replaced an earlier post mill on the site. It was the only working windmill left in Norfolk until tragedy struck in October 2011 when one of the stocks snapped, crashing one of the wooden sails into another. To the Abel family, it was catastrophic – they had started leasing the mill from the Norfolk Historic Buildings Trust in 2008, and were producing a commercial range of high quality flours, operating a tea room, gift
KLmagazine May 2012
shop and bakery into the bargain. The mill, no longer vibrating with life, was silent. It felt like bereavement. It was at this low ebb of the family fortunes that the Abel Family and their business was put forward to producers on the BBC2 television series The Fixer. The programme’s presenter, Alex Polizzi (who’s descended from European hotel aristocracy and a highpowered hotelier and baker in her own right) specialises with turning failing businesses around in the popular series. Polizzi – who had previously presented the Channel Five series The Hotel Inspector – was on her way to shake up the Abel Family’s misfortunes.
The programme aired on March 6th this year on BBC 2 and was directed by Bernie Schaeffer. For the Abel Family it was a make or break turning point – so what was it like to have a film crew inside the family and what’s happened since the programme went out? Lindsay Abel, Managing Director of Denver Mills, thinks one of their customers must have suggested to the producers that they’d be a good subject for the programme. The producers came in and took shots of the family and site, and despite the removal of the sails, they still wanted to go ahead. “They came down to see how we
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ABOVE: Lindsay Abel with Alex Polizzi during the filming of BBC2’s The Fixer, and (below) a selection of Denver Mills quality stone-milled flour
interacted with each other, and all we wanted was a business adviser,” says Lindsay. “We were in a spiral of depression over losing the sails. They came in at a time when we were about to give in and we would have without that support.” The BBC billed the family as being torn apart by differences over how the businesses were being run, but “we’d decided not to argue in front of the camera,” says Lindsay. “The director and cameraman had worked on The Hotel Inspector, so we were a bit worried – but we were reassured it was not going to be like that. It all felt ok. The crew were here a lot. I found it very difficult at first – I was crying a lot, and ended up on antidepressants. I wasn’t coping with not being in control. It feels like you’re not in control at first.” Alex Polizzi was around for only about seven days over the six weeks of filming, but the producers made a lot of
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effort to develop relationships of trust. “Alex Polizzi spent a long time saying it wasn’t personal,” adds Lindsay. In the programme, Alex Polizzi identifies that the business is like a teenager with identity issues. The site comprises the mill, a tea shop, gift shop, function room and holiday rental cottages. She challenged the family to concentrate on the profitable elements of the business – the shop and tea room – but for the family, it was hard because the mill and the quality of the flour they produced was at the heart of Denver Mills and the identity of the family. “To a great extent what she said made a lot of sense,” says Lindsay, “but some of it was quite hard. Alex was very charming and very polite – she doesn’t say much until the cameras are on and then it’s bang, bang, bang.” Asked whether the programme has been fair, Lindsay, is (on balance) happy. “Our passion comes through,” she says, and the family has received a lot
of sympathy from people. The impact of the programme has been astonishing. In the first 24 hours after the programme was aired, there were 500,000 hits on the website. People now visit from all over the country and there’s a lot of support for the family – and the overall experience has restored their faith in their business. The family is doing new things. There’s a new logo (a wheatsheaf) which has helped separate the business from the mill. There are new products. Two new kinds of biscuits are made at the mill – Chaffs, made from spelt flour and coffee chaff, a rich, high quality and uniquely flavoured and textured biscuits; and Millstone Biscuits. The biscuits which started life on the programme are now going out to shops. They’re also selling an online range of Denver Mill Hampers – boxes stuffed with wholesome and delicious local products, depending on the hamper selected. There’s a Wholemeal Baker’s Hamper with specialist stone-ground flours and everything needed to experiment with baking bread; a Taste of Denver Hamper, with homemade jams and chutneys from local producers; the Afternoon Tea and Beer Selection hampers look set to have strong appeal, while the Breakfast Hamper offers a luxury spread of Norfolk Honey, oats, muesli, bread and whiskey marmalade and is an affordable pleasure in hard times. The hampers have come with support and input from the programme. “We are doing something specifically Norfolk,” explains Lindsay. “It was something we would have thought of doing and in the winter months it would bring money in – but Alex gave us that push. We actually did it and that’s been really good.” “It’s given us a lot of extra confidence in the business. It was the most fantastic adventure I’ve ever had. Having the opportunity like going to London was great.” And for the family, there’s a renewed closeness. “We all know what we are supposed to be doing,” she says. The family are working towards returning the mill to its working state but they’re also full of renewed energy, producing and promoting local produce. The tea shop is full of great food – it’s a great space and full of thoughtfulness, like the well-stocked play area for small children. It is now also hosting farmer’s markets. Denver Mills is well and truly back.
KLmagazine May 2012
Every time is hot tub time! There’s a fantastic display of hot tubs and pools right on your doorstep...
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here couldn’t be a better time to buy a Hot Tub. With people taking less foreign holidays, the trend is to invest more in their homes and gardens, investing in a hot tub is like taking a holiday everyday! Bamber Leisure have been selling hot tubs and swim spas for fifteen years. Lee Bamber, the proprietor was the first person in Eastern Counties to display hot tubs, he has been awarded the No1 Hot Tub dealership in the UK for two consecutive years. Usually there are fifteen hot tubs on
display in the spacious showroom. Bamber Leisure hold the agency for Sundance, Elite And Astro hot tubs. Also available are a number of high quality pre-owned models. Also on display are above ground swimming pools, pool chemicals and games. Fortunately Lee Bamber points out the hosepipe restrictions do not apply to hot tubs. The shop is open 10am – 4pm every day and has a large car park and tea room. Why not pay the Bamber Leisure a visit choose yourself that new lifestyle you rightly deserve.
Details BAMBER LEISURE Lynn Road, West Walton Highway, Nr Wisbech, Cambs PE14 7DA Tel: 01945 585946 E-mail: bamberleisure@btinternet.com Web: www.bamberleisure.co.uk
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KLmagazine May 2012
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LOCAL LIFE
ABOVE: The beautiful setting of Blickling Hall, the birthplace of one of England’s most captivating and tragic Queens
New festival celebrates the life of Anne Boleyn This month sees the traditional remembrance of Henry VIII’s tragic Queen Anne Boleyn at Blickling Hall turned into a major four-day festival. Bel Greenwood previews this important event...
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midnight vigil is held at Blickling Hall annually on the anniversary of Anne Boleyn’s execution. It’s a tradition that has grown spontaneously over the years as people gather in the belief that on May 19th, Anne’s headless ghost might come galloping up to the door in a coach and four. Historic evidence points to the probability that Blickling Hall was the birthplace of one of England’s most captivating and tragic queens. As Anne’s life ended, where else would she turn but to her Norfolk home?
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In the past, Blickling Hall has celebrated the Boleyn connection with a selection of Norfolk’s most chilling ghostly tales extolled on that night by local historian and storyteller, Neil Storey. This year, the strongly atmospheric watch has extended into a four-day Anne Boleyn Literary Festival between 17th and 20th May. It is the first of its kind, and the most celebrated and passionate academics and writers on the turbulent Tudor period (and Anne Boleyn) will gather at the hall with musicians and actors.
It will be a fascinating lifting of the layers of history to reveal the world Anne Boleyn lived in, the woman she was and the mystery and extent of her allure. Exeter University’s Elizabeth Griffiths opens the festival with an exploration of the Boleyns at Blickling. Griffiths has uncovered evidence that shows the Boleyns involvement goes back further than has been thought. Sir Geoffrey Boleyn built a large brick house at Blickling in the 1450s –this means the 1620s remodelling by Henry Hobart into the Jacobean hall we know today
KLmagazine May 2012
was built on this, and not the medieval manse of Sir. Nicholas Dagworth as previously thought. David Loades, Emeritus Professor at the University of Wales will talk about his book The Boleyn Family while Alison Weir draws Anne’s sister Mary out of the shadows in her book, Mary Boleyn: The Great and Infamous Whore. Eric Ives, OBE and Emeritus Professor of English History at Birmingham University (who is considered to have written the definitive biography of Anne Boleyn) will give a keynote address as the festival ends its first day. Anne Boleyn was a complex figure who inspired strong emotions. Today, she still stirs passion and controversy. George Bernard, Professor of Early Modern History at Southampton University and author of Fatal Attractions, will present his provocative view that Anne Boleyn did commit adultery with at least some of those accused, in her desperation to give Henry VIII the male heir he craved. Every child recites the litany of Henry VIII and his six wives – divorced, beheaded, died, divorced, beheaded,
KLmagazine May 2012
survived – but how much is known of what was going on in Henry’s head when he made the decision to execute two of his wives; and most famously Anne, for it is Anne who lives on in our imaginations and not the luckless Catherine Howard (Anne’s cousin) who also lost her head. What drove Henry to take such extreme actions? We may find out during the festival as Suzannah Lipscombe details Henry VIII’s mental breakdown of 1536. Anne will be the centre of conversation around the Sunday tea table too, as the public are invited to join four acclaimed historical novelists – Alison Weir, Suzannah Dunn, Harriet Caster and Sarah Gristwood – for high tea in Lord Lothian’s study. What marks this occasion out from most literary and academic fests isn’t all the planned talk of the Boleyns and Henry’s actions but a simple ceremony in the church at the entrance to the
Blickling estate. “It has never been done before,” says Festival Producer Carole Richmond. “Prayers will be said for Anne by the Reverend Marion Harrison.” It is an act that will bring Anne Boleyn as a mother, wife and woman closer to people. “The Boleyn family were known as religious reformers who questioned the power of the Roman Catholic church,” says Carole. “Reformers wanted people to be able to read the Bible in their own language, and we know that the Boleyns owned English Bibles. Today they would be considered evangelical – they were quite simply extremely powerful and people were scared of them.” Anne is such a mesmerising figure she lives on in the most extraordinary ways. Carole Richmond has put together an alphabet compendium of alternative facts about Anne and the court and modern day products which have been inspired by Anne’s image. It’s on the Blickling Festival website. The ‘A’ entry is a 12-inch Airfix model, but there’s also a perfume smelling of roses, a headless mannequin, the novels of Jean Plaidy, a Barbie Boleyn and even a Zombie Anne Boleyn. My favourite is under the letter ‘I’ which stands for Idle Gossip. Anne Boleyn’s catchphrase at court was the equivalent of “up yours” today. It is ‘ainsi sera groigne qui groigne’ – which means ‘let them grumble, that’s how it’s going to be.’ It gives an insight into the spirit of the woman who challenged a kingdom and put on a crown. And paid dearly for it.
Boleyn Festival Blickling Hall, Norfolk 17th–20th May, 2012 The full programme and details of all four days of the festival can be found at www.boleynfestival.co.uk You can buy tickets by e-mailing blickling@nationaltrust.org.uk for details or call the ticket hotline on 01263 738030 Tickets for the events start at £10, but you can buy a four-day pass to the entire Boleyn Festival for £90 – ring 01263 738030 for details
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ABOVE: Springboard TV students filming an interview, and (left) the Production Studio at the College of West Anglia
The future of TV talent starts at King’s Lynn... The College of West Anglia is home to an exciting media company that’s getting more and more recognition for quality productions. Bel Greenwood meets the team at Springboard TV
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here’s a good, strong energy about Springboard TV. It’s as if all the doors have been flung open and there’s a coming and going of excitement and purpose that isn’t always found inside every further education college. Springboard TV is a media production company located inside the College of West Anglia’s media department on the King’s Lynn campus. It arrived three years ago and services
KLmagazine May 2012
the media needs of the institution and provides real industry-standard work experience for students. It increasingly makes productions in the community for a growing number of local charities, schools and private clients. It might be tucked away in temporary accommodation as the college undergoes a rebuilding programme, but it doesn’t matter – because it feels as if there’s a bit of blue sky floating inside the department. The company is getting recognition
for its work with students. Last year, Springboard TV was awarded The Association of Colleges Beacon Award – sponsored by LSIS Leadership of Innovation in Curriculum Development – the first time the college has won such an award. There’s an obvious enthusiasm at work. The film and television industry is a small, highly competitive world with a lot of the talent and a most of the work siphoned off to London and the South East. It’s here that Springboard TV
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ABOVE: Springboard TV’s Project Manager Paul James
enthusiastically wants to make a difference. It’s intent on developing talent in West Norfolk and it seeks to create new film and TV in King’s Lynn too, with a big welcome sign up for the community and its needs. Paul James, the Springboard TV project manager, comes from a background in documentary filmmaking. He recently made an intimate portrait of Enzo Ferrari (Italy’s great racing car genius) or National Geographic in a large body of work. He has worked in the games industry, freelanced for Euronews and edited on everything from the old industry warhorse Steenbecks, splicing film together with tape to online editing and special effects design. Seven months ago he made a conscious decision to take a break from the industry to work in education. He discovered the College of West Anglia was rated as the best place to do media in the country. These days he commutes weekly from his home near Guildford in Surrey. It was the first time he had ever set foot in King’s Lynn and he didn’t even see the town in daylight – but after being shown around the media department and seeing the ‘fantastic’ resources, that was it. The department has an abundance of equipment, includeing a fully-functioning fourcamera television studio with the means to do motion capture, animation and any technical TV magic associated with green screen technology. It also has 15 HD camera kits and a plethora of small portable cameras for use off-site, state-of-the-art editing suites, sound recording and mixing desks. James was determined to get the students using this bounty in
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professional situations. Students are treated as if they are staff for the time they are on work experience. “They do about six weeks for two days a week,” explains James. But even when they’ve finished their stint, they still come in – Vicky, who served her time with Springboard now volunteers every Friday and has no other ambition than to continue to work with the company. It’s just as well there’s so much desire and goodwill because Springboard has so many projects on the slate of so many different types. The day before my visit, the company had been working with pupils at James Bradfield Primary School to help explore the link between science and media. The pupils filmed their own scientific experiments and now they’re making a five-minute documentary with the help of the company. Recently, Springboard TV made a programme for the Friends of St. Nicholas Chapel. They interviewed Lloyd Grossman, TV chef and chairman of the Conservation Trust inside the sweeping space of the enormous medieval church. After some re-voicing the film will be on YouTube, part of the whole media experience that Springboard TV can offer. The short film will support fundraising efforts to preserve the 14th century building and be part of the campaign to push June’s Festival of Angels in the chapel. Another community programme project has been work the company has done to support Scotty’s Little Soldiers, the local charity which supports the children of serving members of the armed forces killed in conflict zones. Springboard supports local charity
and film-making but it’s also heading across the waters on an exciting and unusual two-year European project. It hasn’t got the catchiest of names. It’s called the Comenius European LifeLong Learning ‘Eco-Cart’ Project. Sponsored by the British Council, the project is cross-curricular and crossborder. Media students will be following the work of the engineering and motor sport departments at the college which are developing the engine of a vehicle that can travel 1,000 miles on a litre of petrol. A partner college in Germany is developing the chassis. Subject to final project approval in June, Springboard TV will be providing the official media coverage on a truly long term project. “We’re doing real projects that our students can be involved in,” says Tony Barnett, lecturer in video production and performing arts, who’s the founder and inspiration behind Springboard TV. “Some of our students arrive with an idea they can write a blockbuster movie and some want to make wedding videos. We teach them you can earn a living making corporate videos. We give them a taste of reality, the heart of the business.” “I’m trying to provoke ad hoc projects,” he says, “stories that are newsworthy like Campbell’s Tower.” The company is developing feed opportunities, revamping its website and developing a distinctive presence in the region. On the flip side of the contact card for the media department is a short sentence. It says ‘I am the future of TV & Film.’ It is a card the students carry with them and as individuals they’re the future generation of film-makers and TV camera operators. It is also a short sentence which aptly sums up Springboard TV for King’s Lynn.
KLmagazine May 2012
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LOCAL LIFE
The Cambell’s tower pictured on January 14th 2012, just 24 hours before fifty years of history came crashing down in only a few seconds. Bel Greenwood looks back at the history of Cambell’s in King’s Lynn...
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KLmagazine April 2012
PICTURE: LEWISCOLLARD/WWW.LEWISCOLLARD.COM
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top anyone of a certain age in King’s Lynn and they’ll have a memory of Campbell’s Soup Factory – or an opinion about the tower, good and bad. Whether it’s the memory of generous Christmas parties for the workers’ children and the company Christmas presents they took home, or the friends on the production line, the school friends who became work colleagues or being able to take fresh, leftover produce home as an impromptu bonus. It was as if the factory from overseas became very local here. Often employees would work for decades and there are many newspaper stories of retirement ceremonies for longserving members like Arthur Whitear – who joined in 1963 and developed a career in the company. He started out as a serviceman, carrying vegetables, became a cook and then graduated up to quality control and finally product development, retiring after 36 years. Campbell’s was big enough to mean there was a possibility of a career within the company. It was an international corporation with a local feel. Making soup in the King’s Lynn factory was said to be just like making soup at home in the kitchen – but on a giant scale. High-quality produce would be pulped ready for use and mixed with the flavourings prepared in a special spice room; the top secret element of the process where the formulas were stored. All the ingredients were mixed together in blending kettles in exactly the right proportions. Highly-trained cooks would man a row of enormous drums. It was the cooks who had the job of making sure the soup was the right flavour, the right texture, the right taste, the right amount of salt, the right temperature. What was important was consistency in the soups for each individual batch. At its height, Campbell’s had nine production lines and the cans would flow down them while the soup was pumped in from overhead. Most of these production lines would handle one particular size of can but two or three different soups per shift. Later, when Campbell’s moved into thicker foods (meat, pasta and vegetables) a new, hi-tech line was brought in. Imagine the sight and sound of cans moving in automated lines. In
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Campbell’s these production lines would fill 250 to 500 cans a minute. Once the soup was in a can, those cans would trundle into enormous cookers. Most products would go into a hydrostatic cooker, and be heated to temperatures that would ensure the sterilisation of anything bacterial or microbial lurking. Pressure cookers were used sometimes as well as a rotary cooker. Speed was of the essence. Labels were swiftly made and thousands of cans an hour were labelled and automatically packed on pallets ready to go. Campbell’s Soup was part of the modern world – so much so that Andy Warhol used it as an iconic representation of modernity in a series of pop art silkscreen prints in 1962. Campbell’s was cool, sophisticated and modern – and it came from America. King’s Lynn was, in fact, the first Campbell’s food factory to open in the UK. Campbell’s started life in 1896 in Camden, New Jersey. A fruit merchant called Joseph A. Campbell and an icebox maker called Abraham Anderson started making tins of tomatoes, tinned mince and soup. Anderson left and Campbell’s nephew John T. Dorrance developed a method of condensing soup to half its size by reducing the water content. Campbell’s condensed soup was born. Eventually, the soup company became one of the biggest food companies in the world. Today, the company sells to 120 countries and many different ranges of food, but condensed soup remains its flagship line. There was a lot of excitement about the arrival of Campbell’s in King’s Lynn in 1959. It was the first factory built outside the USA and it seemed to herald an optimistic age of consumer progress in the UK. The spirit of modernity continued in the building itself. In a flat landscape, the Campbell Tower was erected in all its rectangular flair, towering above everything around it and rivalling the church spires.
It seemed to say King’s Lynn is going places, and just knowing that King’s Lynn had been chosen as a site of international expansion because of its vibrant agricultural economy somehow united the region with the promise of growth. For 50 years the company thrived, but then a downturn in the economy in America and the UK led the company first to shed jobs and then (because of lack of expected growth in the UK) to sell to Premier Foods, who promised King’s Lynn it would be business as usual. It spent £460 million on Campbell’s sites in the UK and all looked secure for the Hardwick Road facility although savings of £28 million were mooted. Sadly, Premier Foods decided to close the factory six months after taking it on – and after 50 years the last can rolled off the production line. It meant the loss of 245 jobs. After the closure, Premier Foods stripped out the machinery from the plant and the site was sold to Tesco. All that was left – apart from memories and rubble – was the iconic Campbell’s Tower. There are some who are happy to see the end of the tower, which was blown up by Sarah Griffiths, the daughter of local man Mick Locke who died in a tragic accident at the plant. That single act gave a sense of closure to the family. But there are still others, including Raymond Monbiot, the retired former UK chairman and chief executive of Campbell’s who see it as an act of town hall vandalism to have the tower destroyed. There had been hundreds of votes in a BBC poll to save the tower as an unusual and unsung landmark; famous in West Norfolk, but not famous enough nationally to win enough of a vote to keep it on the skyline. The tower was demolished by a controlled explosion on the 15th of January 2012.
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SPORT
Swing like Tiger Woods whatever the weather... Mike Timson is proud to offer some of the latest Golfing technology to help North & West Norfolk improve their game. Mike Timson and his team at Kings Lynn Golf Course are at hand every day to advise you on how to improve your game. They can tailor your requirements to offer you first class tuition individually or as part of a group. Mike says, “When I am teaching Golf at the local schools in the area I am often asked by the teachers or parents if I’m able to teach complete learners or Golfers who are not part of King’s Lynn Golf Club. The answer simply is Yes!” The Mike Timson Golf Academy runs all year round and is designed for every level of golfer, from newcomers and beginners, through to intermediate and advanced players. Catering for Men, Women, Boys and 74
Girls. When you take part you will be coached by one of their fully qualified PGA Golf Professionals who carefully structure the lessons to ensure you get the most out of your session. Mike explains, “The sessions last for one hour and they’re an ideal way to introduce new budding golfers into the game and also develop the skills of existing players.” Mike is very proud to offer the latest Golfing technology to aid in his tuition. He has a state-of-the-art all weather video swing analysis studio, where he can record your golf swing and then break it down frame by frame and compare your swing to the likes of Tiger Woods or Luke Donald to help correct any flaws or tweak your swing for maximum impact on the course.
Mike also stocks the latest Golfing equipment and can advise you on the best type of club for your swing (and budget.) He currently offers all of the major brands at extremely competitive prices. He has a Club Fitting Centre in his shop to ensure that what you buy fits you perfectly. Mike understands that the clothing you wear can play a large part on how you perform on the course. Within the Pro Shop he stocks a wide range of mens and ladies clothing including names such as Oscar Jacobson, Lyle and Scott, Ping and Calloway. Mike is passionate about Golf and is happy for you to call or pop in to see him at his Pro Shop at King’s Lynn Golf Course. KLmagazine May 2012
Mike Timson Mike Timson Head PGA professional joined the PGA in 1997 working as a professional at Sherwood Forest Golf Club, Marriott Breadsall Priory before joining King’s Lynn Golf Club in2009 becoming Head Professional in 2010. Mike has established himself as a highly renowned and respect coach to pro’s, amateurs, novices and juniors. Mikes philosophy is “I want to take everyone in golf at any level and make them play to their best, through an easy coaching strategy which is easy to implement whilst keeping the enjoyment factor”.
Details MIKE TIMSON GOLF ACADEMY King’s Lynn Golf Club, King’s Lynn, Norfolk, PE31 6BD
01553 631655 KLmagazine May 2012
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ARTS
Kate Monro’s natural talent The sculpture Migration (main picture) fascinates all vistors to Holt Country Park. Bel Greenwood meets its creator, local artist and sculptor Kate Monro...
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PICTURE: ADAM SHAWYER PICTURE: KATE MONRO
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KLmagazine May 2012
ate Munro is a sculptor and a maker. She lives in a kaleidoscope of colour in the small North Norfolk seaside town of Sheringham. Walk through her postbox red front door and enter a spectrum of warm and dynamic shades. It’s not just the richness and texture of colour. It’s the juxtaposition. A circus orange teapot stands against a citrus yellow wall. In Kate’s kitchen there’s an abundance of strong reds, vivid greens and sharp blues. There’s little space for white. The thick, practical wipe-down tablecloth is filled with lozenges of different colours. Colour has a vibrant energy and it fills her family home with excitement. It’s not just the walls, the furniture, the crayoned drawings, the paintings the children have done that flower with colour; Kate’s clothes are a celebration of tone and texture too –strong, dramatic and striking. Even her food is full of colour as she serves up a velvetred beetroot soup for lunch! “Colour is an essential part of my existence and I foist it on my family,” says Kate. “I experiment with colour. I like thinking abut how colours go together even when I’m hanging washing on the line. I can’t always use it in my work but it is good to be surrounded by it.” For all the colour that fills Kate’s life now, her early sculptural work on the surface would seem to have had an absence of it. She began snow carving in Lapland in the 1990s. It is work that has taken her all over the world – to Japan, China and Greenland – after emerging from art school with a BA Hons in Fine Art
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PICTURE: KATE MONRO ABOVE: Kate Monro’s sculpture Drift, created for the Kiruna Snow Festival in Lapland, 2004
followed by a Distinction in Furniture Making. At first glance it might seem there’s little colour in the wild landscape of a winter Greenland, but if there is colour to be found, Kate would find it. “Greenland as a place was unbelievable,” she remembers, “it went purple at dusk. It was an incredible wilderness.” It was an adventurous and cold way of working. To get to some of the snow carving festivals involved flying in tiny aeroplanes beneath the mountains with air stewardesses dressed in sealskin outfits. Despite working in sub-zero temperatures, carving was very physical and sometimes the snow sculptors would work in T-shirts for three days and nights in a row with little sleep. Working with a fellow sculptor, Kate won first prize for the carving of a dragon at Kiruna International Snow Carving Festival in Swedish Lapland in 1993. Working with snow also reflected a deep commitment and love of natural materials and the outside world that is part of her practice today. Kate uses processes of the natural world as a material in her work – growing, melting, moving in the wind, changing light. There’s no better place to be than to be working outside. Kate’s publicly commissioned work is often outside and includes ‘Migration,’ which is sited in Holt Country Park. It’s a sculpture of birds in flight, catching 78
the reflection of the sky in the stainless steel of their bodies and containing the movement, the quality of grace and lightness of a bird as it rises for that moment of leaving. Other regional work includes a commission for South Norfolk District Council, the living sculpture for Becketswell, overlooking Wymondham Abbey, and a sculpture of two ‘Seats of Learning’ for Norfolk County Council’s Children’s Services. She has just won the commission to create a new courtyard sculpture with Holkham Forge for the new Cromer Hospital in Norfolk. Further afield, Kate has created sculptures for hospitals in Bristol and for public space in Crawley. She has worked, re-designing the Myth and Folkore Area of the prestigious Eden Project in Cornwall, as well as winning a residency with the horticultural team at the project. “Even though the work is so different I am trying to reflect the natural world,” she says. “Stainless steel will reflect the sky moving, and the willow growing – they are in some way witnessing the natural world. It’s like respectfully echoing it, playing with it, catching and playing with it all.” Public art is a part of what Kate does but she works extensively in the community too. She is an Artist Consultant for the Sainsbury Centre of
Visual Art in Norwich and is a freelance artist/educator and workshop leader for many organisations, including Great Yarmouth Community Library, Mind and Seachange Arts. Before Creative Partnerships had its funding cut, she worked as a creative practitioner in schools on many projects involving all kinds of materials. She is also part of the award-winning pilot scheme The Artists for Climate Change Collective set up by Norfolk County Council. Kate uses the naturalness of place, colour, collaboration with other artists, the contours of living forms and change, motion, beauty in all her work with community groups. “I do commissions for councils and hospitals, large scale and permanent public works and sculpture,” she says, “but what’s becoming equally important is doing lots of projects in the community. What’s really important is valuing creativity as a tool for building relationships and confidence. The power it has for learning, sharing skills, celebrating, having fun and building new confidence – and that’s so valuable for working with everybody from pre-school to those with dementia.” Play is important. “I find it very easy to encourage others to experiment and it makes me practise what I preach,” she explains, “that making mistakes is really important and that’s kind of great.” The enthusiasm of colour, play and experiment is part of her practice as an artist and is part of a personal philosophy about the world we all live in. Kate is committed to “protecting the world through whatever skills I have.” She also believes in using creativity to bring people together – to use her skills to inspire confidence, learning about the world and celebrating. It’s also about exploring and having a ‘great deal of fun.’
KLmagazine May 2012
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My KL
e page that’s
made by KL magazine readers...
Hefrom Spain...
I thought you readers would like to see this picture of Cookie, a happy little dog I often meet on my travels through the Walks while I’m out taking photographs. If you see him, please say hello! MAUREEN GRIMES King’s Lynn
Poetry next-the-Sea Diamond Jubilee Variety Concert John Harris has presented shows at the Princess Theatre Hunstanton, KL Arts Centre, Hunstanton Town Hall – and his first show at the Corn Exchange is a variety concert to celebrate the 60th anniversary of The Queen's accession to the throne. The Diamond Jubilee Gala will feature the talents of the King’s Lynn Town Band, the King’s Lynn Male Voice Choir and the Diamond Jubilee Players. They’ll be joined by a host of entertainers including comedienne Maureen Larkin, Michael ‘King of the Keyboard’ Sands, West Winch soprano Vera Boxer, the amazing husband and wife, piano and recorder team of David and Kath Burkett, Heacham poetess Doreen Reed and aspiring young saxophonist Malachi Needham. The concert will then then conclude with a grand finale of patriotic songs, words and music – so don’t forget to bring your flags. Tickets are £9 (concessions £6) and are available from the Corn Exchange Box Office on 01553 764864. There’ll also be a Grand Raffle with some great prizes, and proceeds from the concert are in support of The Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Trust. KING’S LYNN CORN EXCHANGE Saturday 2nd June (7:30pm)
KLmagazine May 2012
THE 15TH POETRY-NEXT-THE-SEA FESTIVAL The Maltings, Staithe Street, Wells-next-the-Sea Friday 11th to Sunday 13th May The small (and perfectly formed!) north Norfolk poetry festival that punches above its weight is back this month with a surfeit of talent, including readings by Brian Patten, Vicki Feaver, Matthew Hollis, Jean Sprackland, John Siddique and Jehane Markham – all appearing under the broad theme of ‘On the Threshold’. The event features up-and-coming poets from Salt Publishing, and showcases all that’s best in emerging contemporary poetry, whilst two world-class speakers will be offering a brace of talks – Dame Gillian Beer will discuss the poetry of Lewis Carroll, while Matthew Hollis traces the final years of Edward Thomas in support of his award-winning biography of the poet Now All Roads Lead to France. The culmination of the festival’s annual Education Programme sees poet-in-residence for 2012 John Siddique hosting a reading of schools’ poetry by the students themselves. An open mic event, an exhibition by a festival artist and Poetry Soundings room (supported by The Poetry Archive), complete the lineup for a weekend of poetic excellence. TICKETS AVAILABLE NOW See the website www.poetrynext-the-sea.com for details and booking information or contact 01328 853905. CONTACT US: We’d love to hear from you! Send your letters and photos to KL magazine, 18 Tuesday Market Place, King’s Lynn, Norfolk PE30 1JW or e-mail editor@klmagazine.co.uk
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LOCAL LIFE
Michael Middleton’s
WildWestNorfolk
W
ith talk in the village turning to The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee next month (though it seems most people’s major concerns centre around the finer details of the Jubilee Cake Competition), it’s becoming increasingly clear to me how little people know of The Queen’s place in history – and of British history in general. It seems only the more mature elements of the village even know who The Queen’s father was – and the further back in time you go, the more ephemeral seems to be our understanding of our heritage. It’s a strange phenomena, because outside of schools and colleges history has never been so popular. But a cursory glance at the historical understanding of the younger generations is a pretty woeful one. A recent survey of first-year undergraduates actually studying history at a reputable UK university (it’s probably best if I don’t name it) found that 66% didn’t know who was on the throne at the time of the Armada, 69% didn’t know where the Boer War took place, a staggering 84% didn’t know who commanded the British forces at Waterloo (a third of them thought it was Nelson) and no less than 89% couldn’t name a single 19th-century British prime minister (Edward Heath and Margaret Thatcher were some of the unlucky guesses). Now if you think university life has had an adverse effect on the recall of these students, you’ll be disappointed to learn that younger people don’t fare much better than undergraduates.
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A recent survey of 16-24 year olds in the UK found that 75% didn’t know that D-Day was the start of the Normandy landings in 1944 – 30% of them thought it marked the end of World War II. At least they were close. Nearly 40% of these youngsters thought Henry VIII had eight wives – in the same way they probably thought Henry I was only married the once and that Henry VI had six wives. In fact, I imagine they’re still trying to figure out how one of Henry VIII’s wives managed to star in a James Bond film before becoming Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman. 80% of those polled didn’t know that Queen Victoria’s reign lasted for 64 years, and 60% didn’t know that St George’s Day was celebrated on 23rd April (though our Irish readers will be pleased to learn that most of them thought it was March 17th). And 75% of those questioned didn’t know that Richard III ruled in the 15th century. To be fair, I wonder how many of you reading this would know that? For example, could you name the father of the great castle-building warrior King Edward I? Personally I don’t think those youngsters who think Charles Darwin discovered America are to blame – when asked, 70% of them believed that a knowledge of history was important (in fact, more than 10% of them thought it made them more attractive to the opposite sex). And I have to admit that my admittedly-shaky knowledge of British history has only developed during the years since I left school.
In fact, although I had a great history teacher, he did give me a strange view of chronology. And no national pride. First there was the ancient Egyptians, then there was Tollund Man (who was found in a peat bog somewhere), then the Battle of Hastings, quickly followed by the Industrial and Russian Revolutions and the First World War. What strikes me as rather obvious now is that there was no understanding of how Britain came to be. No Magna Carta, no Black Death, no Reformation, no War of the Roses, no Elizabeth I, no English Civil War (did you know a British monarch was executed?), no Trafalgar, no Waterloo, no British Empire... Over the next few weeks, we’ll become well aware of our history over the last 60 years – and hopefully people will be inspired to go a bit further back in the past and discover what put the ‘great’ into Great Britain. And they’ll realise why my entry for the village’s Jubilee Cake Competition will contain no less than 1,066 currants.
KLmagazine May 2012
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