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Message from the Editor Another packed edition with news of the PostHorn Front Garden Competition. We were impressed by the high standard of entries (see pages 27 and 28 for photographs of winning entries.) What a great day at Scole Fête! Thanks to Robert and Linda for all their hard work (see photographs on pages 25 and 26.) We were pleased to welcome all who visited our stall. We start a two part account of Tony O’Shaughnessy’s experiences in war torn Bermuda. On page 20 we see Norfolk connections with the USA by way of GI Brides and Feather Reporter Trevor Raven shares with us the best local birdwatching sites in East Anglia. Chris Earl
Results of the Best Front Garden Competition 2010
Winner: Mr & Mrs R Humphreys 14 Clements Close, Scole Highly Commended: 6 St. Leonards Close, 9 Clements Close, 11 & 34 Reeve Close. Commended: 3 & 4 St. Andrews Road, Three Bays Bungay Road, 4 Robinson Road, 13 & 17 Clements Close, 24 & 44 Ransome Avenue. The rules of the Best Front Garden competition were as follows: Good maintenance, mix of plants and bushes, mix of colours, innovation and creativity. Judges: Sue Auckland & Roy Philpot. See pages 22 & 36 for our Fête competition answers and winners.
Contents Page 10 - 11 Page 15 - 18 Page 20 - 22 Page 23 - 26 Page 27 - 28 Page 29 Page 30 - 34 Page 41 Page 42 Page 48
Birdwatching in East Anglia Church pages GI Brides Fête Report and pictures Best Front Garden Competition Our Passion for Gardening Dark Clouds From the Heart Local man receives award Parish Council News 3
Your
Contacts
To be interviewed or submit articles: Chris Earl on 855416 E-mail: chrisjearl@hotmail.com Main Village Contact & Advertising Co-ordinator David Hillier on 740158 E-mail: chocs4@aol.com Business Advertising & Distribution Trevor Raven on 741285 E-mail: trevor@listangels.co.uk Billingford Correspondent & Thorpe Parva News Sue Redgrave on 740837 E-mail: susan.redgrave182@btinternet.com Distribution : Gordon Larkins on 742713 E-mail: gordonlarkins@tiscali.co.uk
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Bygones by Sue Auckland Well this really had me fooled, but I’m sure some of you country folk out there will get it straight away! It’s a beautiful little piece of machinery and some of you may have used one. What’s it called? What was it used for? Turn to page 43 for the answer.
DISS JOB CLUB Voluntary run coffee morning offering support and a friendly place to help find jobs. Thursdays 10 -12noon, Community Room, Denny Centre, Thomas Manning Road, Diss, IP22 4HL.
Harley’s Hints Jobs in the garden for September, October and November Plant new strawberry beds { Lift onions { Prepare ground for spring cabbage plants { Pick apples and pears { Prune peaches { Plant hardy shrubs { Pot up bulbs for Christmas { Bring in half hardy plants { Prune and train rambler roses { Lift and store main crop potatoes { Plant aubretia and winter flowering pansies { Clean strawberry beds { Tie raspberry canes { Tidy herbaceous border { Lift and store dahlias { Cut down asparagus { Time to lay a lawn with turf { Time to plant fruit trees { Prune wall-trained fruit trees { Plant hedges { Sow broad beans { Prune apples and pears. 6
COMMUNITY SPEED WATCH BUNGAY ROAD Despite the fact that 84 residents signed a petition 8 months ago seeking action to deal with speeding traffic, it had no effect on the Highways Department. The Parish Council and our elected local Councillors continue to support efforts to improve the situation. A survey earlier this year showed the 85th percentile speed (this is the speed reached by up to 85% of traffic) to be 39.6mph. Therefore, 15% travel at speeds exceeding 39.6 mph. Bungay Road is currently a 30 mph zone. Following representation to the Safer Neighbourhood Action Panel (SNAP’s) in February, Police took on Bungay Road as a priority for 4 months. They conduct speed checks on a random basis and drivers have been prosecuted. In the absence of any other initiatives, residents agreed to start a Community SpeedWatch team that monitors speed with police supplied equipment, offenders being written to by Police if recorded speeding. Re-offending results in Police targeting the offender. Whereas the initial aim is education, failure to heed the warning prompts further action. At the June SNAP’s meeting, Police continued the priority for a further four-month period, continuing to check speeds on an irregular basis. Residents who signed the petition might not have noticed any changes, however the preferred solution for three road-narrowing sites remains current, although financially unlikely. The 14 strong SpeedWatch Team operates regularly resulting in a considerable number of vehicles being reported each week, together with random attendance of Police. Gordon Larkins
Thank you Clements Close! Mrs Stephnie Cope would like to thank Clements Close residents for their generosity to the Marie Curie Cancer Care collection. A total of £48.65 was raised. 7
Diss First Responders This summer has been a very busy and productive time for the group. The result of the bucket collection at Diss Carnival, proceeds from Scole FĂŞte and the Diss and District Rotary Club Garden Party in July have given our appeal for a dedicated Responder Vehicle a vital shot in the arm and our grateful thanks go to all who contributed to these events. Six of our Responders have now qualified as Heartstart UK Instructors. Heartstart is an initiative co-ordinated by the British Heart Foundation (BHF) to teach members of the public what to do in a life-threatening emergency; simple skills that save lives. The aims are to facilitate and support emergency life support training in the community and in schools across the UK. If anyone is interested in learning, or brushing up these skills, then we should be delighted to help - it will take just two hours of your time. One of our Responders, Lisa Adamson and some of her friends known as The Merely Divas are presenting a fundraising concert for us on Saturday 18 September. This will now be in Diss Methodist Church starting at 7.30pm and tickets will be on sale shortly from me. The Norfolk Responders Charity Clay Shoot had to be postponed. It will now be held on Wednesday 17 November at High Lodge Shooting School near Darsham in Suffolk. Again, anyone is most welcome to join us, whether shooting or just for the festive lunch. For more information please contact Jessica at High Lodge on 01986 784347 or e-mail: jessica@highlodge.co.uk. As ever, we would welcome more volunteers to enable us to keep 24/7 coverage in our area (approximately a 5 mile radius from the centre of Diss) Please contact either Responder Administrator on 01284 731802, e-mail Christine.Porter@eastamb.nhs.uk or contact me directly. Rachel Hillier 01379 740158
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Where to watch birds in East Anglia by Trevor Raven The Feather Report in the PostHorn has shown that Scole is an excellent place from which to see wild life – and birds in particular. However, we are just a small part of East Anglia, a region widely acknowledged to be the best in the British Isles for its amazing variety of bird life. Within an hour’s drive of Scole, we have some of the best wild life sites in the whole of the UK. No other part of the UK has such a wide variety of birdlife. Indeed, nowhere else in Northern Europe is as good. Some say it is because we are the backside of Britain. Our region sticks way out into the North Sea attracting migrating birds who alight here when they get blown off course. That may be so, but when the migrants see our countryside – the woodland, the heaths, lakes, marshes and fens, many decide to stay and build their nests. Only here is it possible to see, Nightingale, Dartford warbler, Cranes, Golden Oriole, Bittern, Avocet, Marsh harriers, Stone Curlew, all in a single day. Indeed, keen birders claim to be able to tick over 120 different species of bird in a single day. Where else could you do that? In the winter months when our summer visitors fly south to Africa, the British Isles plays host to millions of northern birds fleeing the fierce winters of Russia, Scandinavia and Northern Europe. In East Anglia some 60,000 Pink Footed Geese from Iceland come to Holkham on the north Norfolk coast. Thousands of Hooper and Bewick Swans winter at the WWT Reserve in Welney. Tens of thousands of ducks, geese, and shore birds rest and feed on the mud flats of The Wash, and along the estuaries and shallow bays of the Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex coasts. Some are passage migrants who stay for just a few days before continuing their southward journey. Others spend the winter here. European Starlings, Blackbirds, Robins, Thrushes and Finches now fly in to join their stay-at-home cousins. We also frequently get to enjoy exotic visitors such as Waxwings, Shorelark and Snow buntings. They all stay until the weather improves in their own countries. The best places to go from Scole to see these birds: If you would like to see Kingfisher, or hear Nightingale and lots of different warblers along woodland and lakeside paths, then a May morning at Lackford Lakes near Bury St. Edmunds is an excellent choice. In just under two hours last May we counted 51 different species of bird from Nightingales, Cuckoo, warblers, Swallows, Swifts and most of our local song birds to the super rare Stone curlew. You also have a good chance to see a Bittern or a Water rail, and maybe a visiting Osprey on its way back to Scotland. A winter visit can also be very rewarding with large flocks of wintering wildfowl and during migration a wide variety of waders, terns, gulls and even an Osprey heading south. 10
How to get there. Lackford lakes is 121 hectares of wetland, woodland, scrub and sandy heath. It is designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and is managed by the Suffolk Wildlife Trust. It is about 25 miles from Scole. Take the A143 to Bury St Edmunds. At Gt. Barton turn right onto the B1106, and stay on this road until Fornham All Saints. At the roundabout here take the A1101 towards Mildenhall. Stay on this road for 3.5 miles until after about 1 mile through Flempton turn right at the sign for Lackford Lakes Nature Reserve. The rough road leads into the reserve car park and visitor centre. Further from Scole, but well worth the visit is the RSPB reserve at Lakenheath Fen. The RSPB has converted an area of arable farmland into a large wetland, consisting mainly of reed beds and grazing marshes. The new reed beds have attracted hundreds of pairs of Reed warblers and Sedge warblers, as well as Bearded tits and Marsh harriers. Bitterns and Cranes have been seen increasingly in all seasons of the year. In early summer, Hobbies catch insects high over the marshes. Golden Orioles breed in the Poplar woods on the reserve, along with Blackcaps, Garden warblers and Woodpeckers. Barn Owls and Kingfishers are regularly seen during the winter months. We last visited Lakenheath Fen on 10th July this year, and it•was wonderful. We arrived at 6.40am as the midday forecast during the heatwave was 31°C. Warblers were singing and calling from the reed beds, the bushes and the trees. Cetti's warbler, Reed warbler, Sedge warbler, Garden warbler, Blackcap and Whitethroat. We watched 2 adult and 2 juvenile Golden Orioles chasing each other in the Poplar trees. A family of Cranes were calling from the reedbeds, their heads could just be seen from the bank top. Common terns, Marsh harrier and Hobby were flying around. I counted 12 rare Bearded tits, all sat out in the open on a bare shrub delightful. In less than three hours, we had identified Golden oriole, Nightingale, Bittern, Marsh harrier, Common cranes, Cuckoo, Hobby, song birds, and of course the family of Bearded tits. There were noisy warblers singing and calling everywhere. Birding 'don't' get better than this. Lakenheath Fen has to rate as the best bird watching site in Britain. Do you know the old rhyme? "The Cuckoo comes in April and sings his song in May. In the middle of June he changes his tune, and in July he flies away." Well I’m afraid it is not true! – well not for Lakenheath it isn’t. That morning, the 10th of July, on the reserve, we had three cuckoos all calling; "cuckoo, cuckoo". We even had one fly right•infront of•us. Finally, at the NWT reserve on Weeting Heath, just 7 miles up the road on our way back to Scole, we had great views of Stone curlew. Nowhere else in Britain could you do this.
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HOW TO MAKE SLOE GIN With the coming of autumn, the sloes will once again appear in our countryside. The hedgerows will show a bountiful harvest just waiting to be picked and made into sloe gin ready for the Christmas festivities. This easy to follow recipe will make a drink that will delight your friends. Sloes are small, plum-like fruits of the blackthorn bush, and are readily available during late autumn in the wild. Check local woodlands and hedgerows around October and November. There should be lots again this year along Norwich Road in Scole. Check the bushes on the stretch before the Norgate Lane junction on the bypass side, and also the hedgerows along the footpath on the other side of the bypass. The hedgerows around Scole Common also had a lot of Sloes last year. The picture opposite shows what the berries look like. Sloe gin is traditionally made in Ireland and Britain and a Sloe liqueur is also made in Scandinavia, Germany, France and Spain. The recipe provided here is based on a traditional Suffolk recipe, and the amount of sugar you use will affect the final outcome, but it may prove too sweet or too sour, depending on your preferences. The flavour of the Sloe Plum is extremely bitter, and not suitable for eating. However, the bitter flavour is lost when making liqueurs. If this is your first time, you might be surprised to learn that Sloe Gin tastes nothing like ‘straight’ gin at all. In fact, it makes for a rounded, fruity refreshing alcoholic drink. This delicious concoction has a similar flavour to plum liqueur and the colour is a vibrant dark red. It is best served in small amounts as an after dinner drink, or just the thing to help ease yourself into a relaxing evening. Ingredients Equipment 500gm sloes 2 x 1L Kilner jars are reccomended or any similar 1L gin sealed lid containers 300gm sugar Method Pour half the gin and half the sugar into each jar. Prick or score each plum with a sharp knife, then add it to each container. Note: some people claim there is an easier way to do this step. If you bag up the sloes into freezer bags and freeze overnight, they will burst as the water expands inside them. You then just share them out between the jars. It is important to ensure that each of the tough skins has split so that the juice can be released. 12
Shake well once daily until all sugar has dissolved, then put in a cool dark place. Shake once a week for 3 months. Open jar and taste a desert spoonful. If not sweet enough, add more sugar - 100gm for each jar should be fine. Leave for 2 weeks and taste again - it should be sweeter and syrupy. Strain jars through muslin cloth or coffee filter and transfer to a clean bottle. It should now be plum coloured and ready for consumption.
When we say “cheers” the Swedes say “skål” (pronounced scole). This would seem appropriate for us! P.S. If you can manage not to drink all your sloe gin, the longer it is kept the more it improves. Roger Davey
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email : lindsay@lindsayflaxmer.com
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60 years together Dick and Queenie King Fisher of Scole pose for the camera during their Diamond Wedding celebrations with family and friends. It was 20th May 1950 when they were married at the old Methodist Chapel, since when they have lived in Scole, first at Beechcroft, Norwich Road and thereafter at The Limes, Diss Road.
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Thoughts from the Rectory ‘A Church for the people among the people ’ No, not a quotation from the Bible but from a moment of inspiration! It came to me as I was thinking about the question - ‘What kind of church does God want us to be?’ It’s a question that I’m challenging folk with this Autumn as we look at some bible readings from I Corinthians in which St. Paul writes to the early church in Corinth. Perhaps it’s a question you might like to think about as well. So here are some thoughts to get you started. - A welcoming church - There’s always someone there to greet you, hopefully with a smiling face and not just with a pile of books for the service. - An open church - oh yes! Scole Church is open from 8am until 4pm (Winter months) and 8am until 6pm in the Summer. Billingford Church can be opened for you - you just have to contact the key holder - Pauline Greenard or Sue Redgrave. - An accessible church - OK, partly. Billingford church is a bit out on a limb but it’s good for the peace and quiet, and Scole Church could not be more accessible. I’m sure you can add much more to the sort of church you’d like to see but consider the following activities and events which take place in these churches ¯Film Club - it makes use of the church building ¯The Holiday Club - there for young people ¯The Juniper Group - place for ladies to have a coffee and a chat ¯Activity Mornings - something for all of us in a safe environment ¯The Churchyards - ‘resting places’ ¯ Kaleidoscope - New style Sunday worship enabling folk to discover and explore faith together ¯Scole Community Christmas Celebration - giving people the opportunity to celebrate, to share and to give. What kind of church does God want us to be? Consider that question, share it with regular church goers or even better come to Kaleidoscope or Lighthouse and share it with us. The kind of church that I feel God wants for our communities is perhaps best summarised in my opening quotation ‘A church for the people among the people.’ With every blessing Trevor 15
Church Contact Details Priest-in-Charge
Rev. Trevor Riess The Rectory, Mill Lane, Scole IP21 4DB
Church Wardens Scole Maurice Cormack Kay Travers Readers Sue Auckland Lynda Mansfield Church Secretaries Scole Chris Murran-Plaitford Billingford Brian Nunn Church Treasurers Scole Gordon Larkins Billingford Brian Nunn Benefice Kay Travers
Tel: 742762
Tel: 741197 Tel: 741054 Tel: 740325 Tel: 740401 Tel: 741839 Tel: 740723 Tel: 742713 Tel: 740723 Tel: 741054
From the Records Baptisms : Nil Thanksgiving & Dedications: May 2nd - Olivia-Sky O’Shaughnessy Marriages: Nil Funerals: April 28th ‘Bill’ WHEELER (81) May 4th Mark HIMPSON (45) June 1st Peter BRADLEY (77) June 15th Peter KENNETT (90)
Various Items: Film Club - The Autumn session starts on Friday September 24th, 7pm in Scole Church. Other dates are October 29th and November 26th. Look out for details of the films being shown on the Community and Church notice boards in September. Gift Weekend at Scole - July 3rd and 4th. Thank you for your contributions and also to everyone who put a sporting display in the church. A total of £830 was raised. We are grateful for all contributions as the continuation of Anglican churches relies largely on collections given by regular church goers; any extra donations are very helpful. The necessary repair to the organ in Scole will hopefully have taken place in August. Annual Memorial Service - this will take place on Sunday September 12th, at 6pm in Thorpe Abbotts Church. All are welcome to this service at which there will be an opportunity to remember the lives of loved ones that we see no longer. 16
Scole Churchyard - The PCC have approved plans and details of the removal of some older memorials in the churchyard. Details will be displayed at Scole Church for information and comments. The proposal is aimed at freeing - up space in the existing graveyard for burials over the next few years. If you have any comments please refer them to Trevor or the Churchwardens, Kay and Maurice. The proposed details will be available for viewing until mid-September at which point a decision will be made to go ahead or not. New Style Worship at Scole - We live in an age of change and of great choice. In order to adapt to changes in society at Scole, we are trying to offer different ways of experiencing God. On the 1st Sunday of each month, our ‘worship’ will start at 10 am for 10.30 am. It’s a flexible start - time to have refreshments , meet folk and share the latest news - maybe even read the paper or meet someone new. Following that flexible opening there will be some modern worship songs, a contemporary and engaging talk followed by an opportunity to pray and share any concerns. Our time together will close with a hymn/song and further refreshments and sharing. It’s for all the family - young and old. It will be a time to discover, try something new, to be involved (if you want to be) .......It will be a time for YOU. Please note - the Lighthouse worship which is very similar and growing, will continue on the 3rd Sunday of each month - 9.30 for 9.45. Billingford Church - is looking into having a ‘permanent toilet’. It’s a great idea but of course it will cost money. If you would like to make a donation towards it, then why not do so at their Gift Day on Saturday September 11th. The Link between Scole School and Scole Church is already very strong but we are looking to strengthen it, subject to consultation, by having regular termly morning service for the school in the church and also to develop and establish a regular ‘After-School Club’ for children between 5 and 8 years old. We hope that these developments will take place over the next year. And looking ahead to December! Billingford Church Christmas Fayre is on Saturday, December 4th at Brockdish village hall Scole Community Christmas Celebration - featuring Rick Wakeman and the Diss Salvation Army Band, and in aid of charity, is on Monday December 13th, 7.30pm in Scole church. Tickets (price to be agreed) will be available from Scole Stores from mid-November. 17
September Sunday
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Services for Scole and Billingford 9am Billingford 10 for 10.30am Scole
Sunday
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11am Scole
HC Kaleidoscope (New Style Worship) HC
6pm Thorpe Abbotts MEMORIAL SERVICE
Sunday
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9.30am Billingford 9.30 for 9.45am Scole
Sunday
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MP Lighthouse
11am Scole
HC
11am Scole
MP
4.30pm Scole
Celebration Service
October Sunday
3
9am Billingford 10 for 10.30am Scole
Sunday
10
Sunday
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11am Scole 9.30am Billingford 9.30 for 9.45am Scole
Sunday
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Kaleidoscope - HARVEST HC MP Lighthouse
11am Scole
MP
11am Scole
HC
4.30pm Scole
Sunday
HC
10.30am Thorpe Abbotts
Celebration Service Benefice HC
November Sunday
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9am Billingford 10 for 10.30am Scole
Sunday
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HC Kaleidoscope
10.45am Scole
SERVICE of REMEMBRANCE
3pm Billingford
Sunday
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9.30am Billingford 9.30 for 9.45am Scole 11am Scole
Sunday
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11am Scole 4.30pm Scole
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SERVICE of REMEMBRANCE MP Lighthouse MP HC Celebration Service
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G.I. Brides by Chris Earl Following WW II, approximately 70,000 British girls left these shores to join their GI husbands in the US. In 1942, building of Airfields for the US Air Force commenced; it didn't take long before airfields were springing up all over England, but the main concentration was in East Anglia, our local Airfields being Eye and Thorpe Abbotts. In PostHorn No.6 (Summer 2007) we told of the shock to Billingford when the population of about 100 suddenly grew to 3,000 with the arrival of the 100th Bomb Group at Thorpe Abbotts in June 1943. The American servicemen were welcomed to Norfolk due to many considerations, mainly because they were helping us in our fight for survival. At a very local level they brought a bit of glamour to a country affected by three years of total war, bombing, loss of loved ones fighting abroad, rationing and all the other privations being experienced. They had access to so many things we had lost, to name three - food, sweets and stockings! A whole new social life surrounded the airfields with regular dances and parties. The GIs loved the British pubs so the Thorpe Abbotts Red Lion, the Brockdish Greyhound and the Billingford Horseshoes were busy most nights; suddenly the single girls had a lot of male company. The GIs enjoyed their furloughs (48 hour passes) with most travelling to London where many social opportunities arose. Due to the population’s increased mobility during the war, they met girls from all over the country. No doubt some were casual affairs but many led to marriage. At Thorpe Abbotts church alone, 19 banns were read for American servicemen and their future wives. Some of these were local, some less so, including girls from London, Doncaster, Burnley, Manchester, Blackpool and Glasgow. Frank and Alice Flaxmer lived at Syleham. They had 11 children, 8 girls and 3 boys. In 1931 when youngest son Frank was 7 years old, Alice sadly died leaving older sister Nesta 18 to help her dad Frank bring up the rest of the family. In 1941, Patsy Flaxmer married George Keeling, a radio operator from Nottingham based at RAF Pulham. They had a long and happy marriage.
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In 1951 they moved to Brockdish. Some may recall George as the local coalman regularly singing and whistling on his rounds. In 1986 George died, but Patsy still lives at their home in Brockdish. In 1943 Madge Flaxmer met a GI serving at Thorpe Abbotts. The romance quickly ended once she told him she was pregnant with his child. Once again the family rallied round. Madge moved in with sister Vera, who cared for baby Dan whilst she worked for the land army locally. Madge then met Pete Cleveland, another GI serving at Shipdam bomber base. He proved a more reliable man accepting Dan as his own. They married at Shipdam where they had another baby. Phyllis Flaxmer met George Keller, a GI serving at Thorpe Abbotts. In 1944 they were engaged when George was called home, but he promised Phyllis he would arrange for them to marry in America.
Madge Flaxmer
Alerta Thompson from Gt. Yarmouth married GI Robert Keys. He was a sheet metal worker who patched up aircraft that returned from Germany with bullet holes and flak damage. Alerta and Robert are just one of many couples who have returned to Thorpe Abbotts 100th Bomb Group Museum. In 1945 at the end of the war, GI’s were demobilised and shipped home on troop transports. Wives were not allowed to travel with them, separate arrangements were made for brides to join their husbands later. In 1946 a large contingent sailed to New York on the liner Queen Mary. On board ship a holiday atmosphere had developed amongst the wives. Now they had to find their way across America. To most, this was a daunting prospect. Alerta Keys told of her journey to New Mexico: after leaving the docks, the wives had to find Grand Central Station and board their train. Leaving New York, they took in the views of this large foreign city. The journey would take several days with many changes of train. After crossing the endless prairies, the mountains came into view. Kanzas and
New Mexico brought miles of vast desert. At each stop, one or two brides left the train until Roswell New Mexico when she was one of the last to disembark. What joy when she saw husband Robert waiting for her at the station!
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Madge Cleveland (nĂŠe Flaxmer) with her two children also travelled by ship to New York, then by train to Detroit where Pete was waiting for her. Madge was killed in a road accident 3 years ago. Pete is still alive and lives at a holiday home near Coldwater Lake. Phyllis Flaxmer was not allowed to leave with the wives. George Keller had promised to marry her, and to send an affidavit and money required for the journey. He was as good as his word. Everything was in place, and in May 1946 Frank Flaxmer accompanied his daughter to Southampton. Unlike the wives, Phyllis was entirely on her own for the whole trip. At New York, she found the station and boarded the train bound for California. In total, she spent three days on various trains. At one stop she missed the connection by two minutes. A large black man approached her offering his help. She was not sure about him but he was very kind helping her on the next train. Phyllis found help from other Americans, but it was this man who impressed her most. Eventually the train pulled into Corona Station and there was George waiting on the platform. To add to her excitement he had a car to drive her to the family home, a large house set in a fruit orchard. Phyllis and George married in August 1946. They had three children. George died three years ago and Phyllis now lives at Redondo Beach, California. Phyllis and George on their Wedding Day at Corona 1946
Did you identify it? The PostHorn stand at the FĂŞte featured a Bygones item as shown here. The item is a Button Stick and used by military personnel when polishing brass buttons. It was placed behind the button, thus preventing any damage to the tunic. Gordon Larkins and Rhiannon submitted correct answers.
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Scole Village Fête – July 2010 Wow what can we say – this year’s Fête was again another great success! We were extremely lucky with the weather, as the morning was so unpredictable! But hey, what a fantastic turnout for everybody! Becky Jago from Anglia Television was an absolute pleasure to have to open our Fête; she also bought along her twin boys. One had their face painted, and they stayed and enjoyed meeting and greeting everyone! We thanked Becky with some flowers and a present for her sons! Having the theme as the 1960’s brought a lot of fun for everyone, even some of us dressed up for the occasion, which was great! Our entertainers for the afternoon, KnockOut Entertainment kept the kids entertained with Oliver, the stilt walker and Kate doing face painting – I don’t think she actually stopped; and having the 60’s music playing throughout the afternoon was enjoyed by all! Poz’s entertainment with his children’s rides was a big hit! Thanks to Eye Do Dance and Bellycise who were our display dance teams for the afternoon. Well done and thanks to everyone that supported them! The under 12’s Girls football tournament was ongoing throughout the afternoon, with a lot of support from friends and family. Dereham Wanderers were the runners up and Aylsham won the Waterfield Shield. We had a good turnout from our vehicle enthusiasts, ranging from the double decker bus driven by Simon from Rosedale Funeral services, the Police car that was used in the 60’s hit drama series “Heartbeat” and the ice-cream van driven by Sutton’s; also Waterfield’s lorries and any others that displayed their vehicles on the day! This year, we nominated two charities to also receive a cut of the proceeds along with our 12 organisations. These were EACH (East Anglian Children’s Hospice), and Diss First Responders. We managed to raise £2802.11, giving each of our 14 recipients £190 to use towards their funds etc. The balance of £142.11 has been passed over from this year’s profit to go towards the 2011 Fête. Money retained from the 2009 Fête totalling £243.06 has also been passed on which totals to £385.17, a good start for the 2011 Fête. We would like to extend our gratitude to everyone who attended meetings and gave their full support up to and on the day. Thanks also to Gary Waterfield for transporting chairs and tables and donating the burgers etc; and proceeds from the BBQ, strawberries and cream stall. Thank you to C. Chenery & Son for donating the strawberries and to Maureen Preston for donating the cake. We ended up with joint winners so they decided to cut the cake in half. 23
Thanks to Mo and Sharon Davey for their donations, also to Chris Bartrum and our Park Attendants for all your help - we can’t thank you enough, and you certainly did a good job – well-done! Our tea helpers, Peggy, Jenny, and Wendy who provided rolls to keep us going on the morning of the Fête. A final thank you to our main Sponsors; Rosedale Funeral Services, Diss Park Hotel, Darren Lummis Electrical, Danny Ward, and Peter Adams, and to all that gave donations of raffle, tombola prizes and cakes. A big thank you to you all and to anyone not mentioned for your help and support for this year’s Fête – long may it continue! Robert and I are happy to continue to organise the Fête for 2011. The first meeting will be on Wednesday, 12th January at 7.30pm at Scole Community Centre, and the date for the Fête will be Saturday 9th July. Again a big thank you to you all!! Robert and Linda
Competition Winners Best Dressed stall 50/50 bucket Drawing of flower(s) Pre-school
5-11yrs
Flower Arrangement 18’s and over
Scole Pre-School Anouska Sharp 1st prize 2nd prize 3rd prize 1st prize 2nd prize 3rd prize
-
Ellie Olander Morgan Cripps Daniel Taylor Jessica Kingfisher Madison Dewsbury Livvy Davey
1st prize 2nd prize 3rd prize
-
Pat Last June Foreman Helen Hall
Squares Board - £30 – Maria Atkins, £30 – Vic Buckle, £15 – Jenny Clarke Raffle Prize Winners - Congratulations to all you lucky winners! Lucky Programme - Janet Constance Bowling for the pig - Josie Coombes, Josh Musk Golf putting - Steve Bartram, Tom Croft Target bowls - Les Norman, Vera Spinlove,Tom Croft Weight of the cake - Neil Goldsmith & Si (joint winners) Sweets in a jar - Zak Wiers Gallon of whiskey - Freda Spurling Leisure Voucher - Liam Rogers Apologies for anyone we missed Congratulations to all our winners! 24
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Best Front Gardens 2010 - Winners Mr & Mrs Humphreys - 14 Clements Close, Scole
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Best Front Gardens 2010 Highly commended
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Our Passion for Gardening by Ron and Pat Humphreys I first got into gardening when I was at school. Attached to the school was a big house called Loughton Hall which had a big walled garden of about two acres. One of our lessons was a morning spent on gardening. I had my allotment in which I grew vegetables, and this I absolutely adored. In my last year at school, 1959, I finally won the school’s big gardening shield which was presented to me with my name on a smaller shield emblazoned on the trophy. Wonderful! I also received a diploma which unfortunately I’ve lost over the years. This however, started me on my passion for gardening, but for years I only grew vegetables. My wife looked after our flower beds and everything looked great to us. We really find our gardening to be both rewarding and therapeutic and recommend it to everyone. We buy our flower plants in plug form, and as soon as they arrive we pot them on into bigger pots and wait for those magnificent results. We get so much more fulfilment from this and all the hard work that’s been put into it all. We find it’s always well worth the effort! My main love is growing Begonias trailing from hanging baskets, any larger ones we like to grow further in pots. But just growing plants in general is my passion and the enthusiasm has never waned. We grow all our vegetables from seed, and although we only have a small plot for them, the crop from this area is really good. It was really nice to learn that we’d won first prize for the best front garden in the area - we were over the moon! The prize money we have decided will be split between Norfolk and Norwich Heart Fund and the Great Ormond Street Hospital. We are now having landscaping done to our back garden which is being done by Waterfields of Scole and we’ll keep you all informed of that project in an additional article later on. Happy gardening!
Joe's Computer Questions No column this time but coming next edition:- All you need to know about using your PC to write and publish a book. Please continue to submit questions to the Editor for future PostHorn issues (or direct to Joe on 01379 652147).
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DARK CLOUDS OVER PARADISE by Tony O’Shaughnessy The word paradise is widely used in the tourist industry to describe an exotic destination. However, many people have their own idea of what the word means, and for the purpose of this article I will be relating what I considered to be my first experience of paradise. Unfortunately, human nature being what it is, we at first sometimes experience a false impression of the society we have just entered. The story I am about to relate started in April 1968 whilst I was serving at Headquarters Strategic Command at Wilton in Wiltshire. On the 26th April I heard on the BBC news that a STATE OF EMERGENCY and CURFEW had been declared in the Colony of Bermuda. The Governor had embodied the Bermuda Regiment and the Police Reserve. He had also requested that HMS Leopard be diverted to Bermuda and that regular troops be sent to the Colony. The following day I listened avidly to the radio, but there was no further information. However, on Sunday morning 28th I was asked to prepare to move at short notice to an overseas location (not specified) where rioting and large scale civil unrest had taken place. It didn’t take a genius to work out where it was. Before lunch, I was picked up from my Married Quarter in Salisbury and on the way to RAF Brize Norton we picked up a Lt. Colonel from HQ STRATCO who I was to work for during the deployment. At the airfield we met up with about 200 soldiers from the 1st Battalion the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers and other support troops. After being briefed on our destination and current security situation we emplaned for our journey to Bermuda. The Bermuda Islands are a small (20.6 square miles) British overseas territory in the North Atlantic Ocean with a coastline of 64 miles and consist of 138 islands, 640 miles South East of Cape Hatteras in North Carolina. Bermuda is the oldest and most populous overseas territory. Its first capital St. George’s was settled in 1612 making it the oldest continuously inhabited English town in the Americas. 30
Bermuda is a very affluent economy, with finance as its largest sector followed by tourism and a subtropical climate. I was to say the least, apprehensive as to what we were likely to experience on our arrival at the destination. We landed late that night at what was then the US Naval Air Station (now the civil airport). The aircraft taxied to a dark quiet corner of the airfield. I was later told that the Americans were not happy with us using their facilities. My boss approached me and told me to get my photographic equipment ready and to get off the aircraft first in order that I could get photographs of the soldiers disembarking. It was pitch dark and when the doors opened and the soldiers began to leave the aircraft I was shocked to see that the Inniskillings (the Skins) were armed to the teeth and looked suitably aggressive. The RAF aircrew were not happy with this situation, but it later transpired that it was the idea of my boss, the eccentric Colonel. We were then shown on to buses supplied by the Americans and made our way across the Islands in total darkness, travelling at 20 mph (the speed limit) and arrived at the Bermuda Regiments, Warwick Camp. The camp was also in darkness and we were told to find somewhere to sleep for a few hours. Our sleeping accommodation was on the floor of one of the single storied blocks that made up most of the camp. At first light, myself and the postal sergeant, who I had teamed up with, decided to explore the camp and immediate surrounding area. On our travels we saw that the Skins were going about their business with a purpose, and the best surprise of all was that the cooks had worked all night to prepare a substantial breakfast for everybody. My first sight of the scenery gave me a feeling of well being; looking out at the blue Atlantic Ocean and the almost pink colour of the beautiful sandy beaches below the camp was a wonderful first impression. However, I couldn’t help but notice how very quiet everything was. I was soon jolted out of my reverie when a soldier informed me that we were to assemble on the square for a briefing by the Commanding Officer. The CO was a great character, whom those of us attached personnel got to know and respect during our time with the Skins. We were informed that during the night, communications had been established between Warwick Camp, the Police, Government House and secure communications with the MOD and Foreign Office in London. We also learned that sections of Fusiliers had taken over the guarding of Key Points (KPs) e.g. utility supplies and Government Facilities. This had happened throughout the hours of darkness and I was very impressed by the professionalism of the soldiers involved. Next, we were informed that patrols were to be sent out during the morning to give assurance to the people that we meant business and that later in the day we were to enter the riot area. 31
The Police and the Bermuda Regiment had done a great job containing the riots, but they needed to rest. Perhaps to stabilise the situation and allow the Police to get on with their job, an outside force was needed. A young Lieutenant led the section that I was attached to and as long service in the Army sometimes can mean that you meet later in your career, I met him again in the Falkland Islands. He was a Lt. Colonel and I was a Captain - we had both advanced in our careers. As we progressed into the area allocated to us, the beauty of the Islands began to unfold. The homes were painted in pastel colours with stepped white roofs, which we were told was to catch the rainwater. We wandered down narrow roads and lanes past lovely homes with well kept gardens and the countryside had a quintessential English feel to it and with parish names like Devonshire, Pembroke, Southampton and Warwick - it made you feel very much at home. It was sometime before the first family appeared to greet us; my impression was that these people were very frightened and were still observing the curfew. However as we progressed, more families began to come out and greet us. We were not aware at that time of the ferocity of the violence. Having covered the area assigned to our section without incident, we made our way back to camp. After lunch we once again assembled to be briefed on our entrance into Hamilton where most of the trouble and damage had occurred. We were first addressed by a Police Officer who told us what to expect, but most importantly he suggested that there were no firearms in the area. However he could not be sure, as none A detachment of the Inniskillings had been used during the prepare for deployment. rioting. Next the CO told us Warwick Camp Bermuda (1968) how we were to behave during our time in the riot area, he did not want to intimidate the local people. However, he wanted them to know that should there be any further trouble we would act firmly and decisively. Once everybody knew what was expected of them we mounted up into the back of lorries that were supplied by the local corporation. They weren’t very macho, but at least they would get us to our destination and back.
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Transportation on Bermuda is very tightly controlled, e.g. only one car is allowed to each household, and there are no hire cars. Tourists get about the Islands on mopeds. Escorted by the Police, the drive into Hamilton was a sombre affair with little activity on the road. As we got closer to the area where most of the rioting had taken place, we noticed plumes of smoke rising above the city. Only a small number of weapons were carried and most of these were kept out of sight, leaving a minimum for self-defence in each vehicle visible. An operation such as this would never be allowed today. We drove into Hamilton along Front Street where normally the cruise liners would be docked and turned up Court Street where we got our first sight of the damage caused by the mob. There were burnt out buildings, cars and looted shops and hanging around in small groups were sullen people who made it obvious that they did not appreciate our presence. The CO stopped his Land Rover at a couple of damaged properties and attempted to speak to the locals, but all that he got was verbal abuse and many rude gestures. There was a distinct air of malevolence shown towards us during the whole journey. Our slow and uneventful progress up Court Street and along some smaller streets eventually brought us past a Hotel where we received the first cheer of the day. The tourists who had been locked up in their hotels since the previous Thursday were delighted to be able to move about in that part of Hamilton. In the days to come, we were able to talk to a lot of these people and they left us in no doubt as to how terrified they had been and how glad they were to see us. The curfew was lifted on that evening and for the next week we were kept at a high state of readiness. The Bermuda Regiment and the Police Reserve were stood down and people began to go about their daily lives without fear. The full time Police were able to concentrate on their job of investigating who were the ringleaders of the riots, knowing that the Skins were available in case of further trouble. A large number of people were eventually arrested and charged. Soon everybody was able to relax and the gratitude and generosity of the people including the many tourists was encouraging. Many locals turned up at the camp gate with offers to take groups of soldiers out to their homes and on their boats for fishing trips off the coral reef. Others were invited to hotels or on board the cruise liners for dinner. Two of the companies that hired out mopeds offered the soldiers a special deal, as did some of the clothing shops in Hamilton. We were also entertained in camp by some of the entertainment groups off the cruise liners. As is usual at times such as this, we were the centre of attraction for the World press who descended on the Islands hungry for a story.
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Eventually the clamour died down and we were left to get on with whatever was requested of us. The press had moved on to annoy somebody else. When it became obvious that the civil authorities on Bermuda had the situation under control and the flow of tourists and cruise ships got back to normal, we were given the opportunity to travel around the Islands and see for ourselves what a beautiful place it really was. When not on duty, a lot of time was spent on Bermuda’s beautiful beaches. I spent most of my time working at the Police Headquarters in Hamilton where I managed to get a better idea as to what reasons lay behind the unrest. There is never a simple answer as to why these incidents happen. However, the basic problems appeared to be rooted in the ethnic mix in the population and the disparity in wealth on Bermuda. It was also mentioned to me, that the influence in the spread of the Black Power movement in America had found its way into Bermudan society. Our first indication that we would soon be going home came when the CO and his HQ staff prepared to leave the Islands after about 4 weeks and on 2nd of June the remainder of us left as quietly and as unnoticed as we had arrived. It had been a wonderful experience for all of us and I left with a certain amount of apprehension that there would be further trouble in the future. Our 6 week’s stay in Bermuda was purposely low key, which obviously worked and I am sure that our presence was enough to keep the lid on a melting pot that could erupt again at any time. My hope was that at some future date I would return as a tourist. Little did I realise how much worse the situation would deteriorate in the next few years. What happened next had all the ingredients of a John le Carre or Robert Harris novel, and I was to return again to paradise, but not as a tourist! We return to Bermuda for the next instalment in our winter issue.
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PRESSED-TO-GO
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Pear Chutney 3lb pears 1lb onions 1lb green tomatoes ½ lb seeded raisins 1½ lb demerara sugar
Ingredients 2 pints vinegar 5 peppercorns ½ oz salt ¼ tsp ground ginger ¼ tsp cayenne pepper
Method Peel, core and slice pears. Peel and chop onions. Wipe and cut tomatoes. Cut raisins. Put all ingredients into a pan and gently cook until tender. Add sugar, spices and vinegar. Simmer for 4 hrs until chutney is sufficiently thick. Pot and cover as usual. Recipe supplied by Sue Cuthbert
Advertise in from £10 See rates on page 4
PostHorn Fête Competition Thank you for visiting our stand at Scole Fête. The “How well do you know Scole?” competition drew much interest with entrants showing they knew a great deal about the village. The correct answers are: 1 Footpath from Bungay Road to churchyard 2 Mill Lane
?
3 Commerce House, Old Post Office, Diss Road 4 Former Greyhound Pub, Norwich Road 5 End of Low Road
?
6 Street Farm, Low Road 7 Waterloo
8 Bridge Road. Thongers House demolished for Robinson Road estate 9 Karen Close 10 Hopefield, Norwich Road Congratulations to the winners who were: 1st - Marion Chapman who received the box of biscuits prize. Runners up - Mr Hall and Paula Knight 36
New Support Group Expands in Diss The Waveney Bereavement Support Group, which began in September in Diss, is already expanding to try to serve as many people as possible. The group, which meets in Rackhams Funeral Service’s Waveney Chapel in Stanley Road has been meeting at 2pm on the 3rd Wednesday of each month. The group is hosted by Andrew Fairweather, funeral director at Rackhams, and Ruth McAllen, one of the leaders of Diss Christian Community Church. The idea is to provide a relaxed and informal setting where people can share their experiences and find support during the bereavement process. “The group has been a great success already with a mixture of ages who seem to be able to support one another in a very natural manner”, says Andrew. As well as meeting as a group, they have also had a trip to Blooms Garden centre for tea and cakes at Christmas, designed a tree for the 50 Christmas Trees In A Church for Dickleburgh and have some ideas for future meetings. However there also seems to be a number of people who cannot make an afternoon meeting but would find an evening more accommodating. The first evening meeting was held on Tuesday 4 May at 7pm in the chapel and continues to meet on the first Tuesday evening of each month. “It may be that we see a few people attending both meetings or that we see a totally different group in the evenings”, says Ruth, “but the important thing is being able to make this service available to as many people who want to use it as possible”. For more information on the group please contact Andrew at Rackhams Funeral Service on 01379 642321.
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Scole Feather Report by Trevor Raven For anyone interested in birds and the wild world, Scole is an ideal location. This year has been excellent for breeding. Our garden on Bungay Road is full of Sparrows, Tits and Finches. Goldfinches are turning up all over the village; six of them are feeding off the Nyger seed as I write this sentence. In early August, weeks after the Blackbirds had stopped singing, a male Blackcap was still singing from his nest in our hedge. The sweet tune is softer than the Blackbird’s, but somehow nicer. Bee Orchids are again growing in the grassy verge by the Norwich Road near Thelveton bridge. They are much smaller this year, probably due to the very dry weather we had in June. Otters have been seen recently along the Waveney from Scole bridge. Kingfishers can also be seen in early morning from the bridge. They have a noisy piping call which you will hear just before they fly along the river. On July 20th two Buzzards were circling over Bungay Road, their loud mewing call is unmistakable. They are almost certainly breeding around Billingford. If you want to see a Barn owl go to Thelveton at dusk. You have a good chance of seeing this beautiful white owl flying silently low over the fields by New Road. The A143 alongside the Waveney flood meadows is also an excellent place to see Barn owl. Nationally their numbers are still low, but they are climbing back from near extinction. In East Anglia however, they are still a fairly common sight. In early August our Turtle dove was still singing from the overhead wires. He will leave by the end of the month for his 3,500 mile journey back to The Gambia or neighbouring Senegal. The Swifts also, were gathering high in the sky getting fuelled up for their epic 7,000 mile journey to the Serengeti Plains of South East Africa. By mid August they will be gone, although some of the young may still be around until the end of the month before they too leave. The little Wren that has been here all year is still coming to the garden every day. He/she stays away from the feeders, just quietly probing around in the undergrowth. Like Robins the Wrens have started to sing again now that their babies have left home. It is a loud easily recognised 5-part trill. Long Tailed tits have nested again in the long hedge, but I can’t find their nest. It’s a beautifully crafted ball of moss, held together with spiders webs with a small entrance at the side. I may have more luck when the leaves are off the trees. Don’t forget to feed the birds now. The young ones are still not so good at finding their own food, and the feeders will be a great help. It also encourages them to keep visiting your garden during the winter months. Our village shop stocks a good range of seeds and fat balls, and the prices are as good or better than the shops in Diss, and the garden centres. 38
The star bird so far this year has to be the Treecreeper. He briefly visited our garden on 31st July, the first time ever for us. Although common in mature woodland this is an unusual bird for our area, and was probably attracted by the mature oak trees along the lane. He starts low down the trunk then runs up the tree winkling out grubs in the bark. From a distance he looks just like a little mouse. A Coal tit was calling from next door’s oak tree on 31st July – a welcome first this year. I think the one we had last winter died of the cold
loud yaffle
A young Great spotted woodpecker comes to the peanuts every morning. He’s a bit of a bully and pushes the smaller birds. Green woodpeckers don’t visit the feeders, but we hear their calls as they catch ants on our lawn.
WAVENEY ANIMAL FEEDS Crown Farm Barn, Mill Road Burston. IP22 5TW 01379 741202 waveneyanimalfeeds@btconnect.com
Opening times Mon - Fri 9.00 - 5.30 Saturday 9.00 - 1.00 39
Experience Gingerbread Cottage Haircutters this autumn New Colours now in Bring this advert with you to receive £5 off your autumn Colour
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Why go further afield when you can get excellent, high quality customer service from well trained friendly staff in your local area! We provide – $ Full NHS and Private Sight tests for all ages $ Diabetic and Glaucoma Screening including Retinal Photographs $ Supply and fit all types of contact lenses. $ Investigate reading difficulty in both Children and Adults being one of the few opticians in the area who can supply specially tinted lenses to help $ Wide Range of fashionable and Designer frames for all ages Contact us at – 33b The Thoroughfare, Harleston Phone 01986 872122 Branches also at Harleston, Norwich, Wymondham, Dereham, Watton and Attleborough
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‘From the Heart’ by Sue Auckland, Governor Generations of children and their parents have a special place in their hearts for Scole School Midday Supervisor, Brenda Notley. Brenda started work at the school in 1979 and would still have been there if an unexpected illness hadn’t forced her to retire. She was very sad to leave but had to be ‘sensible’! “They were some of the happiest days of my life”, Brenda said. “I took the job on because my children were at the school - but I got to love it and kept the job on.” The school loved her too as shown by the wonderful presents, flowers and hand made tributes she was given at a farewell assembly in her honour in May. Brenda’s job was to look after the children at lunchtime both in the dining area where she made sure they behaved and taught them to be responsible but also in the playground. She helped organise games and activities, encouraged them to be kind to each other and was there for them when they needed someone. Brenda saw many changes to the school while she was there including changes to the building - long gone are the days when she helped ‘crocodile’ the children down the busy main A140 in all weathers so pupils could eat their dinner in the village hall! Staff came and went along with the children but one pupil, whom she had caught out in a rounders match, returned to the school in the role of Head Teacher and Mr Berry never forgot it was Brenda who had been the cause of his ‘getting out’!! Looking back on her time at the school, Brenda said “The best thing about the job was the children. I loved all the kiddies - they give you so much. You can reprimand them, tell them to think about their actions but within five minutes they’re back with you. It’s wonderful to have fun with them, wonderful when they trust you and you are able to help and support them.” Brenda had a heart for the work she did and the many children she helped shape into the grownups they became. But Brenda, we have a heart for you too - we shall never forget you - parents and pupils, staff and governors; you go with our thanks and we wish you a long and happy retirement. 41
Norfolk Agricultural Workers’ Awards At this year’s Royal Norfolk show, Ronald Batley was awarded a long service medal for 49 years continuous service with Thelveton Estates; Ronald retires in January 2011. Ronald spends much of his spare time at the 100th Bomb Group Museum, Thorpe Abbotts. He remembers well the dilapidated control tower in the late 70’s when he met the late Mike Harvey who was instrumental in forming the group who have restored the control tower. Ronald is Chairman of Trustees of the Museum which has become a top Regional attraction and is now a pilgrimage for many Americans following family connections to the base.
Boiled Fruit Cake Ingredients 4 oz margarine 6 oz sugar 8 oz dried mixed fruit 8 fl oz milk 8 oz self-raising flour 1 egg
Method Boil together for 3 mins and when cold, add flour and beaten egg. Mix well. Line 2lb loaf tin and pour in mixture. Bake for approximately 1½ hrs at 140°C/275°F until skewer comes out clean. Save gas or electricity by trebling the quantities and making 3 at once. They freeze well and are nice when spread with butter.
Recipe supplied by a WI member
Thank you A big thank you to Ena Davey and family for honouring the late Spencer Davey by donating and installing two lovely seats at the Play Area on the Playing Fields. I am sure future generations will sit and reflect on the contribution this kind gentleman has made to Scole throughout his lifetime. Pearl Fisher 42
Bygones Update Well did you know what it was? Those of you who enjoy the sport of shooting with lead shot cartridges may well know and have even used one. So here it is - I expect it has a number of names but to me it is a 12 Bore Cartridge Recapping Tool. It is made of brass and has the makers mark inscribed on it. It is most likely to have been made during the 19th century and was used when refilling/loading/recapping shotgun cartridges. The little gadget enabled cartridges to be held securely whilst filling and then held in position so they could be resealed. This one is a particularly fine example - in lovely condition and my thanks go to Benny and Sylvia from Beech Close for allowing us to use it in the magazine. It has been in their family for as long as Benny can remember .
Has anyone else got an interesting or unusual bygone? If so, contact Sue on 01379 740325.
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Scole and District Bowls Club The first bit of excellent news the club had at the start of the season was that our long running application to Sport England, for the necessary funds to purchase a new mower and accessories, had been successful. This was due, not only to the dedication to that task by a particular member of the club, but, to a great degree, to the help we received from a member of staff of the S.N.D.C. who guided us through the minefield of an online application. The outcome has been very worthwhile as the condition of the green is improving weekly, much to the delight of Vic Buckle and his green staff. We are mid way through the season now and we have accredited ourselves very well in the Border League matches only losing for the first time in mid July. The situation is a little different in the E.B.A. league; here we are struggling somewhat but hoping that results will improve and enable us to stay in the same division next year. We had great pleasure in mid June in welcoming a touring team from Croydon who were spending a week in the county playing several different clubs. As the match was to be played on a Tuesday afternoon and required 20 male members, we had some difficulty at first, but all was right on the day and we conquered them – in a friendly way though. It was a pleasure to be part of Trev the Rev’s ‘Sport Sunday’ event when village organisations incorporated their ‘sport’ in wonderful flower displays. Thanks to Brenda Shortell, we were very proud of our effort, a photo of which you see opposite. At the end of July we had another friendly against our friends at Thetford and then, in mid August, we welcomed again the return of the Norfolk E.B.A. Past Presidents team. We feel it is a great compliment that each year they request a re-match and it is always a happy, friendly occasion. Robin Shortell Secretary 740053 44
Scole Dominoes Club The domino team congratulate Captain Peggy Stygall and partner Mick Fairweather on winning the League Pairs Cup - well done both of you. Unfortunately the Singles and Captains Cup eluded our players this year. Through the summer months some members have met for practice sessions at the Scole Crossways on selected Tuesday evenings. Anyone wanting to come along, or for information on joining the team, please give Peggy a call on 740986. The team would like to thank Kate and Peter at the Scole Crossways for making us welcome and for hosting match nights. The new season starts again late September. We welcome new members.
Over 60s Friendship Club We were blessed with a lovely sunny day for our outing to Clacton in June. On July 6th we had a strawberry tea - thanks to Mrs Vera Alexander. Stella and her daughter Margaret, Pam and myself helped to sell raffle tickets at the FĂŞte whilst Stanley ran the Bowling For A Pig. Congratulations to Robert and Lynda for organising a great fĂŞte. The Lord blessed us with a fine warm afternoon. The outing on July 27th was to Skegness. There will be a Prize Bingo on November 27th. Joyce Coleman, Secretary.
Gardening Club It is still hoped that a club could be formed in the village for keen gardeners. It would be a very good forum to swap tips, plants and problems and could also act as a good opportunity to have some specialist speakers or the odd outing to interesting gardens etc. This might also be an opportune time for potential allotment holders to meet as it seems highly likely that this may now happen. There will be a meeting at the Community Centre on Thursday 9th September at 7.30pm. Do come and support your community. Pearl Fisher.
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Scole Mothers’ Union A combined Deanery meeting was held in Scole Church in May when members from Harleston and Pulham joined with Scole to listen to Christine Virgin speak about the gifts of the Holy Spirit and explained how everyone has a hidden talent. At the June meeting, Sue Auckland talked to members about her recent selection for Local Ordained Ministry and her journey in exploring a calling to ordination and the process involved. Sue starts her training in September. A talk about the Saints was the subject for June Kooij's talk at the July meeting when she spoke about St. Columbus and her pilgrimage to Iona and also about St. Patrick and her visit to Downpatrick Cathedral, and with it being St. Swithin's day she touched on the life of St. Swithin. Our next meeting will be held in the Church on Thursday 16th September when branch members will talk about their experiences of their visit to the Passion Play in Oberammergau, Bavaria, which is taking place this year. 6 members will have attended the play and so there should be lots to talk about. On 6th October a coach has been arranged for the M.U. Festival Service at Norwich Cathedral stopping for lunch afterwards at the Dun Cow, Swainsthorpe. A Holy Communion service has been arranged for the 21st October meeting. 18th November will be our business meeting when we will discuss next year's programme. All meetings will be held in the Church at 2.15pm. All are welcome.
Women’s Institute On Thursday 7th October the meeting will be taken by the members, and the committee will have a rest. The competition is to make a mask. Nominations for the 2011 committee will be taken. Tuesday 26th October is the date chosen by Pulham and District Institute for the group meeting in their Memorial Hall. It should be an amusing evening with a talk on TV cookery shows by Zena Skinner. 4th November sees Mr Jarrett telling us about Shawsgate Vineyard. The competition is for a wineglass. The AGM will also take place with voting for committee and President. On Thursday 2nd December we will enjoy a Christmas meeting and the competition, as usual, will be 4 nibbles to share. All meetings take place at Hopefield at 7.30pm. Visitors welcome.
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Reg‛ Charity no. 1048460 Scole Community Centre, Ransome Avenue, Scole, Diss, IP21 4EA
Weekdays during term time 9.15 – 11.45 Age from 2½ to primary school age Fully qualified, friendly & experienced staff Secure indoor & outdoor facilities Good Ofsted report Funding available from the term following the child‛s 3
rd
For more information or to arrange a visit contact Shirley 07925 093551 47
birthday
our little Helping y s! row wing g o t s r caterpilla
Parish Council News for May, June and July by Sue Redgrave Main Items discussed were : Election of Officers - Graham Moore was again elected as Chairman & Sue Redgrave Vice Chairman. Already in place are Finance Group - Ray Franklin & Sue Redgrave. Planning Group - Alan Frith & Roy Philpot. Speedwatch Bungay Road - several residents have been trained on the Speed Watch scheme and can be seen actively out in the village along Bungay Road. The PC thanked Gordon Larkins for co-ordinating this. Clearing of ditch behind Ransome Avenue - this is ongoing, but hopefully will be resolved by the autumn. Affordable Housing - building of 12 affordable homes has commenced and the PC looks forward to completion following 3 years in the planning stage. Phone Boxes - the PC has decided not to adopt the three red phone boxes in the Parish, hidden costs being the main reason. Allotments - the Clerk reported land at Dickleburgh which may be available to Scole residents - more details on this shortly. Retirement Village - plans to build a Retirement Village next to Oaklands Nursing Home - the scheme was on display at the Village Fête. This and all other planning applications can be found on the SNDC website. Restoration -Thelveton milestone is in need of restoration. As this is of historical interest the Clerk is applying for grants. The Village sign is also in need of restoration and the cost of the work and materials is being sought. Police statistics - numbers of crimes in the parish has increased over the last three months. Village Fête - the PC had a stand at the Fête; we had a few people interested in becoming Councillors. Please contact the Clerk or any Councillors (numbers in the back of this issue) for more details. Dog fouling - despite press coverage and a request in the last issue of the PostHorn, the dog fouling of our parish has not decreased. This is totally unacceptable, and eight bins are provided, costing £500 to be emptied each year. Internal Audit - this has been completed satisfactorily and the PC thanked the Clerk for her competence in preparing them. We now await the external audit result of our accounts. Full minutes can be seen on Parish website and noticeboards and also at Scole Stores. Meetings are held on the 3rd Tuesday of the month at 7.30 in Scole School. 48
Mobile Library Van THELVETON & SCOLE
BILLINGFORD
2 weekly intervals on
3 weekly intervals on
Thursdays
Mondays
Sept 9, 23 Oct 7, 21 Nov 4, 18
09.55 10.15 10.27 10.45 11.15 11.30 11.45
Thelveton Ransome Avenue Reeve Close St Andrew’s Rd Robinson Road Clements Close Karen Close
Parish Councillors
Upper Street Post box 10am - 10.15 Sept Oct Nov
9, 23 7, 21 4, 18
Situated in
Tel. No.
Graham Moore (Chairman)
Thelveton
01379 741716
Sue Redgrave (Vice-Chairman)
Billingford
01379 740837
Pearl Fisher
Scole
01379 740753
Ray Franklin
Scole
01379 741141
Alan Frith
Scole
01379 742739
Roy Philpot
Scole
01379 670255
Corinne Moore
Thelveton
01379 741716
Jackie Jones
Thelveton
01379 740920
Alex Pullen (Clerk)
Pulham St. Mary
01379 741453
ADVERTISERS’ INDEX Air Conditioning Equipment Animal Feed Supplies Cabinet Maker Car Sales/Servicing Cleaning/Laundry Services Dance Classes Day Nursery Environmental Control Financial Services Food/Drink Foot Healthcare Fuel Supplies
p14 p5 p5 p2,13 p35 p35 p13 p5,37 p37 p9 p35 p9
Hairdresser Heating/Plumbing Keyboard Tuition Optician Paving/Driveways/Asphalt etc PC Advice/Training Pubs Reflexology Stonemason Tree Services Undertaker Village Stores
49
p40 p14,19,34 p5 p40 p51 p19 p2,back cover p19 p35 p5 p19 p51
VILLAGE DIRECTORY Group/Organisation Contact Scole Pre-School
....... Mon, Tues, Thu, Fri 9.15 - 11.45
Friends of Scole School
Helen Soper (Sec) 740873 or Shirley Shiress 07716004946 ....... Georgina King-Fisher 740249
Scole Mothers Union
....... Georgie O’Shaughnessy 740127
Scole Women’s Institute
....... Shirley Hall 740636
Scole Social Club
....... Pearl Fisher 740753
Scole Domino Club
June Foreman 740902 ....... Peggy Stygall 740986
Over 60s Friendship Club
....... Joyce Coleman 740384
Scole & Distict Bowls Club
....... Robin Shortell 740053
Friday Night Youth Club
....... Sue Auckland 740325
Scole Lads FC
....... Paul Partridge 650538
Scole United Football Club
....... Vic Buckle 740327
First Team Manager
....... Ron Edwards 740316
Reserves Manager
....... Paul Edwards c/o Edgars Hairdresser 07768 087144
Scole Parish website
....... scoleparish.org.uk
Diss First Responders
....... Rachel Hillier (Co-Ordinator) 740158
USEFUL TELEPHONE NUMBERS Medical Emergency (out of hours)
01603 488 488
NHS Direct
0845 4647
Norfolk Constabulary (non emergency) 0845 456 4567 Gas (emergencies)
0800 111 999
Anglian Water
08457 145 145
Home Watch
01379 650773
South Norfolk District Council
01508 533 633
Street lighting, pavements, litter Alex Pullen (Clerk to Parish Council) County Councillor (Martin Wilby)
01379 670609 01379 741504
District Councillor (Jenny Wilby)
01379 741504
Network Rail (enquiries)
08457 484950
Borderhoppa
01379 854800
scolepc@btinternet.com
Meadow Green Dog Rescue (Loddon) 01508 548216 Tim Page - Scole Bridge Ranger
01379 788008
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Police Mobile Unit “This service has been disbanded and replaced by an electronic system that can be activated from the Constabulary website” Diss Safer Neighbourhood Team
Scole Village Stores Asset House, Scole, Diss Norfolk. IP21 4DR Tel: 01379 741494
Support your Local Shops!
Website : www.scolevillagestores.co.uk
Shop Opening Hours • Mon - Fri
06:00 – 20:00
• Sat • Sun • Bank Holidays
07:00 – 20:00 08:00 – 17:00 09:00 – 17:00
Your local Convenience Store for; Newspapers, Tobacco, Off-Licence, Sweets, Groceries, Mobile Top-ups, Faxing, Colour or Black & White copying (small quantities) and much more.
Credit and Debit Cards now accepted
Commercial builders. Specialists in all Tarmacadam work & hot bitumen spraying, brickweave, road construction, factory maintenance &
(Established 1950) Bungay Road Scole IP21 4DT 01379 740255 (tel) 741181(fax) E-mail : mail@awaterfield-sons.co.uk 51
Excellent quality home cooked meals using fresh local ingredients Live music every weekend Enjoy log fires Family friendly
Regular weekly activities Monday 8.30pm Poker Tuesday - Dominoes Wednesday - Quiz Night Thursday - Pool Monthly Jazz Club (check for details) Watch rehearsals on Thursdays
Beer Festival Weekend 17, 18 & 19 September Music list and fine range of local ales being served
September Sat 4 Sat 11 Fri 17 Sat 18 Sun 19 Fri 24
Kev and Alex The Undec?ded Walkway Graham McGrotty AJ Karaoke
November Sun 6 Sat 13 Fri 19 Sat 20 Sat 27
Kev and Alex Bazza Steve Pye The Undec?ded Karaoke
Steak nights - Monday 10oz rump steak, chips and peas - must book - £7.50 Curry Nights - Wednesday 6.30 - 8.30pm £4.95 Sunday Roasts, freshly cooked to order- £6.95
New winter menu starts Friday October1st
Coming soon Alfresco Dining/smoking area
October Sat 2 TBC Fri 8 Richard Taylor Sat 16 Amanda Sat 23 Graham McGrotty Fri 29 Karaoke
Starting October 25 Coffee Shop Range of cakes, fresh baked bread, pastries, fresh coffee, tea, herbal teas, hot choc & soft drinks and .................... Book swap shelves & Framed photography and Ros’s fantastic jewellery for sale
SKY TV plus ESPN - Full Menu & Takeaway