Issue 182 November 2016
GREAT PLACES GREAT PEOPLE GREAT MOTORS GREAT LIVING
DISS & ATTLEBOROUGH
Friendly Family Business Est. 1978 Non-Electric Block Salt Softeners • FREE Site Survey & Quotation • Purchase or Lease Rental • FREE Block Salt Delivery • ALL Makes of Softener Serviced
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BRECKLAND HOMECLEAN DOMESTIC CLEANING SERVICE We provide the following services: Regular Weekly or Fortnightly Cleans Home Shopping • Preparation of Light Meals Laundry Service • Gardening
Telephone: 01953 458447 www.brecklandhomeclean.co.uk Email: quality@brecklandhomeclean.co.uk Find us at: Queens House, Queens Square Attleborough, Norfolk, NR17 2AE
Issue 182
Your community magazine Dispatch Magazine would like to thank all those who have contributed to this issue.
Editor
Jonathan Horswell @JonathanHorswel
Administration Luke Keable
for Permanent & Temporary Recruitment
Sales
Arron Self
Quality People continue to provide a recruitment service for the towns of Attleborough, Dereham, Diss, Thetford, Watton & Wymondham plus the
Sales
Jon Cooper
surrounding areas throughout Breckland & South Norfolk.
www.quality-people.co.uk Telephone: 0195 3 4 5 3 6 4 4 Email: results@quality-people.co.uk Find us at: Queens House, Queens Square, Attleborough, Norfolk, NR17 2AE
DispatchMag @Dispatch_Mag Tel 01953 456789 Web www.DispatchMagazine.co.uk Address Queens House, Queens Square, Attleborough, Norfolk, NR17 2AE.
© Dispatch Magazine Disclaimer: No part of this magazine may be reproduced or used in any form or by any means, either wholly or in part, without the prior written permission of the Publisher. The views expressed by contributors are not necessarily those of the Publisher. Every effort is taken to ensure that the contents of this magazine are accurate, but the Publisher can not assume any responsibility for errors or omissions. Whilst reasonable care is taken when accepting advertisements the Publisher will not accept any resulting unsatisfactory transactions. They will, however, immediately investigate any written complaints. The Publishers reserve the right to amend such submissions and cannot accept responsibility for any loss.
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Call 01379 641400 Open 7 days a Week
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DISS
EAST ANGLIAN CHILDRENS HOSPICE
Jingle your bells round Eaton Park in aid of EACH or the second year a sea of red will descend on Eaton Par k in Norwich as East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH) host their Santa Run in the city.
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The EACH Norwich Santa run will see hundreds of excited festive revellers donning full Santa suits to run the 2km course in aid of the charity which cares
Last year more than 400 Santa’s took part in the inaugural event, and organisers hope this year’s event will attract event more. New to this year’s event will be a visit from the real Father Christmas who will have a small gift to all children taking part as well as snow at the finish to add to the festive feel.
“Santa Runs are fantastic fun and a great way to celebrate the festive season while helping a vital cause in your local community. You can run, jog or walk the course, take part as an individual or ask your family, friends and colleagues to join in the fun. Just be prepared to feel full of festive cheer by the end!”
Carol Plunkett, EACH Norfolk Fundraising Manager, said: “We’re delighted to be
Tickets for the EACH Norwich Santa Run are available online now at www.each.org.uk/ santarun
“ Santa Runs are fantastic fun and a great way to celebrate the festive season while helping a vital cause in your local community.” for children and young people with lifethreatening conditions across the region. The run will take place on Sunday 11th December at Eaton Par k, star ting at 11am. Tickets are available now and the event is suitable for all ages. www.DispatchMagazine.co.uk
bring our Santa Run back to the beautiful surroundings of Eaton Park for the second year. Last year was a wonderful first event with a fun festive atmosphere. This year promises to be even better as we create a real Christmas experience for all our par ticipants.
Adults - £12.50 including a Santa suit Children - £7.50 including a Santa hat Every participant will receive a Santa Run medal, and all children will have a goody bag waiting from them at the end of the course, presented by Father Christmas.
For more information on the event please contact the EACH Norfolk Fundraising Team on 01953 666767, or email Norfolk@each.org.uk. Diss & Attleborough | 05
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Norwich manager Lee Rixon believes that Which? have endorsed Cloudy2Clear’s long standing company policy of delivering a trustworthy and credible service at all times. ‘Our service is simple. If your double glazing has steamed up we can replace the glass at a fraction of the cost of a new window, in any type
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06 | Diss & Attleborough
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DISS
DISS MUSEUM
By Basil Abbott
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n 2006 the museum commemorated the centenary of the birth of poet-laureate Sir John Betjeman.
He came to Diss in 1964 and made a film, which the museum re-made and showed again recently. The museum’s mini-festival also included exhibitions, talks and a concert, More Tea Vicar, inspired by Betjeman’s England.
As that did not scan in the poem, Betjeman turned her into Joan. He also dropped her hyphen.
At his funeral she carefully entered and left by a back door at Westminster Abbey, to avoid publicity.
I am indebted to her friend Mar y Friday for this information.
At her dinner par ties she kept to to the old ways of the ladies leaving the gentlemen to themselves at the right moment.
Joanna Hunter-Dunn was, Mar y thinks, Roedean educated, had wide knowledge, was a great manager and a ver y good cook.
One of Betjeman’s favourite muses was Miss Joan Hunter Dunn, celebrated in verse: “We sat in the car park till twenty to one, And now I’m engaged to Miss Joan Hunter Dunn.”
She worked in the Commonwealth Office, married Harold Jackson and had three sons who were educated at Winchester. The Anglican family lived modestly in the New Forest She was patron of the Turner Society and had such a knowledge of his paintings that she was able to spot a fake in a galler y in Heidelberg. She was proved to be correct.
She really existed and died in 2008 at the age of 92.. But few people know that her real name was Joanna.
She was a ver y good friend of Betjeman, although not the sweethear t and fiancee suggested in the poem.
Betjeman and Diss-born Mary Wilson, wife of Labour Prime Minister Sir Harold, came back to the town in 1969 and both wrote a poem about their day.
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Mary Friday suspects, without malice, that Betjeman, although he would become poetlaureate and a knight of the realm, was not considered to be up to her social level. So his engagement to Miss Joanna HunterDunn was just wishful thinking. Find out more about Diss Museum by visiting our website: www.dissmuseum.co.uk Picture caption: For the 2006 Betjeman centenary Diss Museum re-created some of his poems in photographs. Here Carol Tunmore is seen as Joan Hunter Dunn, with Basil Abbott and an authentic Hillman car. (Picture: Chris Hoelzer.) Diss & Attleborough | 07
DISS
SOUND SLEEP
The Seven Year Itch
n September this year, Sound Sleep scooped an award in the category for Bed Retailer of the Year at the National Bed Federation’s Annual awards show and Gala Dinner. These awards are not easy to win. To be in with a chance you have to demonstrate how your business is better than someone else’s and also demonstrate how you are a leader in your field of expertise. At Sound Sleep we have always taken great pride in our extensive range of over 100 beds on display as well as our product knowledge and our customer service. We also believe that in order to be comfortable and supported correctly, you need to change your mattress or bed every 7 years. This ensures that you will have a comfortable and supportive bed, it will also be good for your health as over years dust mites and bacteria settle in our beds and this can cause many issues for asthma suffers and can have an impact on breathing. Have a read of the following facts and decide if your bed is award winning....
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brains to wind down to help us function the next day. Do you spend that length of time on your sofa? Support and comfort is a big reason for changing our bed, but there is another factor to consider, hygiene. The grim facts are that we don’t just sleep with our partners, no we also share our beds with house dust mites. Dust mites feed off our skin scales and moisture through perspiration, as the average couple sweats around a pint per night and shed around two pounds of skin per year, our little friends have plenty to eat and drink. Dust mite droppings contain the allergen that causes asthma, which is very bad news for the 2-3 million asthma sufferers in the UK and with around 10,000 dust mites in your bed, that can equate to several million dust mite droppings. In 7 years, you spend over 20,000 hours in bed ( that’s over 850 days; or two years 3 months plus!!), not just lying there, but tossing
“ It is advised by the National Bed Federation to change your bed every seven years, to ensure that we get the best comfort and support during our sleep. ” It is advised by the National Bed Federation to change your bed every seven years, to ensure that we get the best comfor t and suppor t during our sleep. Although the majority of couples openly admit that they change their bed on average every 17 years! Did you know that your bed will have lost over 70% of its support after just 7 years? As we get older our need for comfort and support increases, yet the majority of people do not regularly change their bed even after complaining of backache, poor sleep and even breathing problems. Yes, we all like to hold off spending money wherever possible, but the reality is that people change their sofas far more regularly than their bed. When you think about it, we should spend eight hours or more in bed per night, that time in bed where you need restful sleep to allow our bodies to rest, our muscles to repair and grow and for our 08 | Diss & Attleborough
and turning as much as 60-70 times a night, sitting up and lying down. With figures like that, it’s not hard to see why beds wear out in time. If your bed doesn’t come up to scratch, why not invest in a new one! Take our Bed MOT (Mattress Obsolescence Test) to find out if you need a new bed. Answer yes or no to the following questions. • Is your bed seven years old or more? • Would it be embarrassing if the neighbours saw it without the covers? • Does it make suspicious noises in the night? • Did you have your best recent nights sleep in a bed other than yours? • Are your waking up more frequently unrefreshed and aching? • Do you and your partner roll towards each other unintentionally? • Are you too close to your partner to sleep comfortably? • Is it sagging? • Does it feel lumpy in the night?
If you answered yes to one or more of these questions, then your bed has FAILED its MOT and a trip to Sound Sleep for some new bed or mattress advice is essential. The key with mattress buying is to try out as wide a variety of options as possible to find the most suitable mattress for you (and your partner). Given the amount of time you spend in bed, it is important to spend a reasonable amount of time in store trying out new ones, especially if you have been experiencing pains that could come from your existing mattress. It this instance, it may be worth having a chat with your chiropractor for some advice on what they advise is suitable for your back. At Sound Sleep, we stock a variety of brands and different types of mattresses, for example pocket sprung, memory foam, latex and so on. Each manufacturer has different mattresses that offer different levels of suppor t and comfor t. When mattress shopping, it is essential to ask for help. We are highly trained mattress specialists and are on hand to advise you, not to high pressure you in to buying something that may not be suitable. If you are thinking about just a new mattress, before coming to visit us in store, check what kind of base you have and it’s condition, as some bases may be unsuitable for a new mattress. We will of course be on hand to give you the correct advice and information. All of our divans and mattresses are sourced from National Bed Federation members, so what you are buying is exactly what it says it is, it’s made from new and clean materials and it meets the strict British Standard fire regulations. More information can be found at www.bedfed.org.uk Once you have chosen a new bed and mattress, don’t forget that pillows are very important too. A cheap, unsupportive pillow can cause neck and back problems. These are just as important as your new mattress. For more help and advice, visit our in store Mattress Specialists who can talk you through all the pros and cons of various mattresses. We also pride ourselves on having the most up to date mattress technology (as well as the old fashioned technology too!). Sleep has never felt so good!! www.soundsleepbeds.co.uk www.sleepcouncil.com www.DispatchMagazine.co.uk
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Showroom Opening Hours Monday - Friday 9:00 - 5:00 Saturday 10:00 - 4:00 Sunday 10:00 - 1:00
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AWARD WINNING Diss & Attleborough | 09 Sound Sleep Dream Team
DISS
JACKAMANS SOLICITORS
Nothing But The Truth
n any legal transaction it is impor tant that the par ties tr ust each other to tell the tr uth before entering into a binding contract. This is illustrated in the recent High Cour t case of Greenridge against Kempton. It involved a commercial proper ty transaction. The vendor was asked a number of pre-contract enquiries about various aspects of the proper ty.
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One of the questions involved details of arrear s, disputes over ser vice charges, unresolved disputes or breaches of covenant. The vendor’s agent had completed a draft set of answer s to the pre-contract enquiries stating that there were no disputes which might be ongoing or cause problems. Following exchange of contract, the purchaser received documentation which revealed that there was in fact a dispute between a tenant and the
vendor, and there were arrear s of ser vice charges because of the dispute. This had not been disclosed in the pre-contract enquiries which had therefore been misleading. The consequence of this was that the purchaser argued that because of the misrepresentation, it was entitled to rescind the contract and argued for the return of the deposit of £800,000 and damages for deceit. The Cour t found in favour of the purchaser and considered there was sufficient evidence in the way of invoices and cor robor ated evidence to show the costs the purchaser had incur red in their prospective purchase following the rescission of the contr act and these costs were assessed at £400,000. The moral of this case is that telling the tr uth is paramount as to do otherwise can have dire consequences.
Our expert tea is here to help
It is ver y impor tant that, if precontract enquiries are completed by the vendor at an ear ly stage of the sale process, that those pre-contract enquiries are updated and verified by the vendor as •being at the Accidentaccurate Claims • Family date of exchange of Negligence contracts to avoid • Clinical • Landlord and Tenan misrepresenting information to the• Powers of Attorney • Commercial • Debt Recovery • Property prospective purchaser. • Dispute Resolution • Employment
• Wills, Trusts & Prob
By Paul Stevens
For fur ther information please contact Ipswich 01473 255591 Diss 01379 643555 Felixstowe 01394 279636 Harleston 01379 854455 Paul Stevens www.jackamans.co.uk at paul.stevens@jackamans. co.uk or call 01379 643555. This ar ticle provides only a general summar y and is not intended to be comprehensive. Special legal advice should be taken in any individual situation.
Our expert team of lawyers is here to help • Accident Claims • Clinical Negligence • Commercial
• Family • Landlord and Tenant • Powers of Attorney
• Debt Recovery • Dispute Resolution • Employment
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Ipswich 01473 255591 Diss 01379 643555
Felixstowe 01394 279636 Harleston 01379 854455 www.jackamans.co.uk
10 | Diss & Attleborough
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Free Survey and Quotations Tel: 01953 459778 Owl Barn, Norwich Road, Besthorpe, Attleborough, Norfolk NR17 2LA
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Diss & Attleborough | 11
ATTLEBOROUGH
ALMARY GREEN
New Entitlement Process for State Pensions his has been a year of significant changes to the way that your state pension entitlement is calculated. Mark Ring explains.
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April 2016 saw the start of the new state pension regime with its planned single tier rate: the launch rate was £155.65 per week. You may be forgiven for thinking that everyone who has retired after that date would automatically get this sum, but life is never that straightforward. In fact, your state pension entitlement will depend on a wide range of factors. Firstly, existing pensioners won’t have seen any change to the way their pension is calculated so anyone who reached their state pension age before 6 April 2016 will receive a pension calculated under the old rules. Retiring after April 2016 doesn’t make it simple either. Even if your pension was entirely calculated on the basis of the new rules, the actual amount would depend on how many years of National Insurance Contribution (NIC) credits you have
accumulated. You must have at least ten years’ worth of NIC credits to be entitled to any new state pension at all, and to achieve the full amount you must have built up a contribution history of 35 years. It’s important to remember that you are awarded NIC credits for years where you have been in receipt of certain benefits such as Child Benefit for a child under 16 before 2010 or since 2010, for a child under 12. You are also awarded NIC credits for years where you were claiming other benefits such as Jobseekers’ Allowance or Carers’ Allowance. The calculation becomes much more complex for the vast majority of us who will have built up entitlements under both the old and new schemes. The new rules see the abolition of the Additional State Pension (formerly known as SERPS or State Second Pension) so there will no longer be the opportunity to increase your state pension entitlement through the contributions you pay on higher earnings. However, the Additional State Pension entitlements you have already accumulated won’t just be thrown away: they
will be taken into account when working out your entitlement when you retire. When the rules changed on 6 April 2016, each individual’s NI record to that date was assessed and you would have been assigned a “starting amount” onto which any entitlements after 6 April 2016 will be added. If you’ve already accumulated a starting amount that is higher than the new State Pension amount, then your entitlement will have been frozen at that point. If your starting amount is lower, then you have the opportunity to build up your NIC record to reach entitlement to the full new state pension amount. Another factor that you will need to take into account when planning your retirement is the change to State Pension Ages. We are currently going through a transition period to bring women’s state pension age into line with men at age 65 and then to gradually increase the state pension age for both to 68. What this means in practice is that if you are in your fifties or sixties at the moment, your state pension age will depend on your date of
SHERBOURNE HOUSE Pre Christmas Menu Homemade Winter Vegetable Soup with Bacon Croutons (Crispy Croutons – V) Camembert and Apple Fritters with Cranberry jelly Crispy Fried Prawns with Lemon Wedges and Sweet Chilli Dip Roasted Norfolk Turkey with Chipolata and Stuffing
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T: 01953 454 363 | E: stay@sherbourne-house.co.uk 8 Norwich Road, Attleborough, Norfolk NR17 2JK
12 | Diss & Attleborough
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ATTLEBOROUGH
birth. The easiest way to find out your own specific state pension age is to go to the Government website at https://www.gov.uk/calculatestate-pension and enter your date of birth into the online form. You can also use the online forms on this site to get a state pension forecast or statement which will show you exactly what you have built up already and will project how many more years of NICs you will need to accumulate to get your full entitlement. Whilst the state pension forms a valuable base for your retirement, it is important to plan ahead for additional income, if you are hoping to enjoy the finer things in life once you’ve retired. To discuss any aspect of your financial well-being, contact Mark at mark.ring@almar ygreen.com or call 01603 706740. Mark is happy to arrange appointments in our Norwich offices, at the offices of M+A Par tners, Cyprus Close, Attleborough, or in clients’ own homes.
By Alison Rudd,
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Diss & Attleborough | 13
ATTLEBOROUGH
ATTLEBOROUGH TOWN COUNCIL
Newly Commissioned Sculpture ttleborough Town Council were delighted to receive a newly commissioned sculpture which has taken pride of place in the front window of the Town Hall.
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The sculpture was a bespoke piece originally designed by Oliver Grantham, a former Attleborough High School pupil, to commemorate the Diamond Jubilee. Oliver, then age 11, designed the complex steel, glass and wood sculpture to enter a competition that the Council held at the time. Oliver’s design was chosen as the winning entr y and has now been brought to life by the skills of local ar tist Fiona Davies (fionadavies. co.uk) who was also recently appointed by the Town Council to restore the two town signs.
Deputy Town Mayor, confirmed “It was wor th waiting for, it really looks nice!” and Oliver said, “[It’s] fantastic to finally see my ideas come to life in a beautifully well put together sculpture”
Oliver attended the Town Hall with his parents to see the sculpture installed by Fiona with the Deputy Town Mayor and Town Clerk in attendance. Cllr Dale,
Local company Fabri-coat Ltd of Besthorpe fabricated the diamond frame and kindly donated 50% of their costs to the Town Council to suppor t this project
and thanks are expressed to them for their generosity. Attleborough Town Council Town Hall, Queens Square, Attleborough, Norfolk NR17 2AF Tel: 01953 456194 Email: enquiries@attleboroughtc.org.uk
P D
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PattersonDESIGN is an RIBA Chartered Architectural Practice based in Norfolk with local, regional and national coverage. Our clients are our first and foremost concern. We believe that each project, regardless of its size, should be designed maintaining our high level of service and skill. We have specialised staff and resources to ensure that every project receives the right level of expertise throughout the project.
Tel: 01953 456 722 Suva House Queens Square, Queen’s Square, Attleborough, Norfolk NR17 2AE, UK
14 | Diss & Attleborough
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CHRISTMAS
CHRISTMAS LIGHTS
Switch On at 16:15 on the 27th November
Attleborough Town Council wish to express their gratitude to the Christmas light organisers, Avril Howell and Geoff Ellis, for their tireless efforts over the many years that they have put on this wonderful display for the town of Attleborough.
and dull. 3 couples decided to put up some money to try and improve the situation. It was a slow progress as we had to star t from scratch and we were able to purchase a few second hand runs and the frames on the posts were remade by a company in the town FOC and it gradually star ted to improve, Geoff did a collection from the businesses and this helped, he still collects every year and this pays for any breakages which come from bad weather conditions and vandals. We also did a grotto for the kids and finished at 12,30am all frozen cold as the heating had gone off at 10,00 pm but it was all wor th it..
Avril Howell was asked to provide a little of the history of the Christmas lights and said, “More than twenty years ago we were at a Chamber of Trade meeting near Christmas and were all unhappy with the lights in the Town as there were hardly any on display and those that had been put up were old
We also source a Christmas tree each year which takes a bit of time but most are donated by local people Each year we were able to purchase some lights and gradually it has got to where we are now, we are just 2 people now as time has taken its toll but we were all very proud
ttleborough’s Christmas lights will be switched on at 4.15pm on 27 November 2016 in Queen’s Square, Attleborough. This annual event will coincide with the ever popular Christmas Carnival with stalls and attractions for all ages and Father Christmas in attendance with live reindeers on the Square.
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of how our town looks each year as we have the best display for miles. None of this would have been possible without the initial outlay and the help of businesses in the Town. It has been hard work sometimes and we know that not ever ybody approves but when we see the people that bother to turn out when the lights are switched on it is all wor thwhile especially as the people who matter most are the children, whose faces are a picture. Hopefully this can continue, we will soon need new lights but we have that covered.” Attleborough Town Council Town Hall, Queens Square, Attleborough, Norfolk NR17 2AF Tel: 01953 456194 Email: enquiries@attleboroughtc.org.uk
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Diss & Attleborough | 15
Christmas has arrived at • GARDEN CENTRE •
Christmas Shop
Trees Lights Gifts Ornaments
Late Night Christmas Experience 16th December until 9.00pm Father Christmas St Mary’s Church Choir Craft Stalls Mulled Wine Mince Pies
London Road Attleborough NR17 1AY Opening Times: Mon-Sat: 9-5; Sun & Bank Hols: 10-4 16 | Diss & Attleborough
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Diss & Attleborough | 17
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Diss & Attleborough | 19
GENERAL
NORWICH THEATRE ROYAL
Jack And The Beanstalk, December 13 - Januar y 15 mainstay of the Royal Ballet, a TV favourite, a top West End performer and now the star of this year’s Norwich Theatre Royal pantomime. Wayne Sleep is set to bring his showbiz sparkle and on-stage razzmatazz to the stage as the nasty Phineas P Stinkworthy in Jack and the Beanstalk this Christmas.
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John Bultitude traces the story of the dance icon who cannot wait to star in this year’s festive spectacular. If you want to personify the phrase ‘whirlwind of energy,’ then Wayne Sleep is the answer. The dance icon, West End legend and raconteur is set to play is set to play the villainous Phineas P Stinkworthy in Jack and the Beanstalk this Christmas, and he cannot wait. “It is my first time as a villain. I usually take on roles like Buttons or The Dame but I am really looking forward to it. I will be out to scare everyone a bit, but not too much,” he laughed. It also marks a return to the city’s pantomime after he previously appeared in two in the 20 | Diss & Attleborough
Eighties at the Theatre Royal. Wayne actually made his panto debut doing a 14-week run at the London Palladium opposite Danny La Rue before taking a break from it for many years due to his other performing commitments. But a call from Norwich to star in Goldilocks And The Three Bears during 1984-85 marked his city panto debut. “It brings back lots of wonderful memories working with Dilys Watling and we had a wonderful cast, and it was a case of no expense spared.They brought in laser beams, a mirrored floor which represented a lake with water, and the laser beams would go ono the water and ricochet all over. I had laser beam mirrors on my costume and, when I spun, I looked like a mirror ball.” Then he was back in1987-88 in Aladdin which also boasted a fantastic cast. Wayne recalled: “I came back and worked with Wei Wei Wong, Bradley Walsh in his first pantomime, and Stephen Mear was in the ensemble who went on to become a fantastic choreographer. I took Stephen on the cabaret circuit with me because he was so brilliant.”
And then it is flash forward to this Christmas where he will share the stage with the likes of panto stalwarts Richard Gauntlett and Ben Langley in a show which boasts the traditional elements of panto and set in the Wild West, although Wayne is not giving too much away. “I hear the dancers will have to put on their tap shoes because I am doing a big tap number. What I love about panto is that it is a family audience. It is aimed at everybody. I think it is a big responsibility because it is often the first theatre that a child sees,” said Wayne. And he said a lot of hard work goes into the production to make it absolutely right, particularly for Richard Gauntlett who takes on the key role of Dame. “I do believe that whoever takes on that part has one of the hardest acting roles of any production. To play Dame and do it brilliantly takes a lot of experience and a lot of technique. You can’t just brush it aside as a man in a frock. It is so much more than that.” So was Wayne always destined to perform? Well it seems so. From the age of three, he www.DispatchMagazine.co.uk
GENERAL was always keen to get up and dance every time he heard music played. His natural enthusiasm was there and he was always keen to put himself forward. “I wouldn’t say I was a big head. I always put my hand up first to answer questions because I was keen, really,” he said. After spending his early life in Plymouth with his mum, they then moved up to the North East and winning a dancing cup for under12s set him on the path of success. “The adjudicator said ‘where is this boys’ mother? He must learn ballet.’ My mother just shivered and thought Fred Astaire would be alright but she did not want her son wearing tights,” he laughed. But that dance victory led to him getting the prestigious Levenshulme Scholarship to the Royal Ballet School which changed his life. Wayne recalled: “I had to give up being hooker in the rugby squad. I was the right size. I could get the ball and get it into my side of the scrum. Our matches were also on a Saturday morning and I couldn’t do it because my ballet classes were also on a Saturday morning. “Dancing also really helped stop me being bullied. I did the Sailors Hornpipe for the West Hartlepool Tech Christmas concert where I studied and got three encores. From being bullied and chastised, I became the school mascot. If people ask me for advice because they are being bullied, I just say ‘make them laugh.’ I remember them announcing in assembly that I had got the scholarship. I went from West Hartlepool Tech to Queen Victoria’s hunting lodge in Richmond Park. Talk about a culture shock.” Wayne admits he was very lucky to be part of the Royal Ballet during what is known as its golden era working with the likes of Rudolf Nureyev, Margot Fonteyn, Sir Frederick Ashton and Sir Kenneth MacMillan. Ironically, his size which was initially seen as a professional handicap actually made him stand out and develop his career. Wayne explained: “The director of the Royal Ballet said you have to spin twice as fast as the others and jump twice as high. I could do a lot of things that the other kids couldn’t. That brought me out into my solo class and choreographers wanted to work with me because they could invent steps for me.” And it did not just bring him prominence in this country but gave him the chance to share his success with audiences all over the world. A total of 18 years at the Royal Ballet would be enough for some, but Wayne had ambitions to learn and develop his dance even further. During some leaves of absence, he decided to explore other genres in more detail. “I had gone to contemporary dance www.DispatchMagazine.co.uk
lessons, acting lessons, jazz lessons at The Dance Centre and I was learning everything that it was possible to learn in the dance world. I thought wouldn’t it be great to put all these disciplines of dance under one roof in one performance?” And so Wayne decided that was exactly what he would do forming the company Dash which became hugely popular nationwide in the early Eighties. “I got the best contemporary dancer, the best jazz dancer etc. There were only six of us and four in the band, and only two theatres in Britain wanted to book us to start with. They were happy booking ballet but they worried that dance pieces with no speaking in them would not work.” But Wayne proved them wrong and Dash proved to be hugely successful mixing different styles of dance with some comedy pieces which saw Wayne creating work celebrating the likes of Charlie Chaplin through Torvill and Dean to John McEnroe. The mix of styles proved incredibly popular and saw him tour venues all over Britain with the show including Norwich Theatre Royal. From there, thanks to its success and runs in some of the biggest venues in London, other West End shows came calling with Wayne gaining the role of Mr Mistofelees in Cats. Wayne said: “I was actually due to star opposite Judi Dench as Grizabella but she snapped her Achilles tendon in rehearsal so she couldn’t do it. They brought in Elaine Paige the day before previews began and they were still writing the song Memories. It was chaos, the whole thing, but somehow it all came together. Let’s face it, you had a show featuring input from TS Eliot, Trevor Nunn and Andrew Lloyd Webber. What a team.” And that West End pedigree has continued with a wide range of roles including Puck in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Emcee in Cabaret, and The Child Catcher in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. In tandem with this, Wayne was also becoming a star of the small screen starting with The Hot Shoe Show which helped popularise dance in the same way as the likes of Dash. Again, it would see a mix of different styles and Wayne dipping into his contacts book to work with the likes of Bonnie Langford, Pans People dancer Cherry Gillespie and iconic Rambert Artistic Director Christopher Bruce. Unfortunately, after two years, then-BBC boss Michael Grade decided the programme had run its course. “I did not want to milk it either. To be fair, that is what happened to Dash in the end, I had run out of ideas so you end up repeating the formula,” recalled Wayne. But he has never been far from TV. His full list of credits is too widespread to list in full but
includes I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here, Celebrity Come Dine With Me, This Is Your Life, The Goodies and Wogan. He was also a judge on ITV’s dance show Stepping Out as well as proving to be hugely popular when he joined several more mature celebrities in The Real Marigold Hotel which saw him explore India. “It was the most wonderful country with really nice people. I definitely want to go back,” he said. And the concept is being extended with Wayne having already filmed a follow-up in America and he will be getting another spin-off in the can in Japan before he starts in panto. If you want even more Wayne in your life, a portrait of him with his manager George is also featured in a room of work by the artist David Hockney at The Tate Modern in London. It was first started in 1972 before Hockney decided to finish it last year. And in spare moments, when he gets them, Wayne is also working hard supporting the next generation of performers though his Wayne Sleep Foundation which was formed through his close friendship with the late Princess of Wales. He recalled: “A year after she died, the media were still asking for interviews and I said no. She is a friend of mine who has died but they didn’t understand. They said they would pay me so I remembered all the letters I got from mums and dads of young people who said they had got a vocational place but they couldn’t afford the board and lodgings because they have to move away from home. “I set the foundation up to pay for all their expenses so they don’t have to go and take on extra work if they do not want to. It eases the pain for the families. I also don’t choose who gets the help. The colleges themselves come to me.” And it also brings things full circle for Wayne bringing back memories of that all-important scholarship he gained that first set him on the road to dance stardom.
Jack And The Beanstalk, Tuesday 13 December 2016-Sunday 15 January 2017. Tickets £7£23.50. Under-threes free. Discounts for Friends, Over-60s, Under-18s and Groups. Signed performances on Saturday 7 Jan at 2.30pm and 7.30pm. Audio-described performances on Wednesday 4 Jan at 1pm and Saturday 7 Jan at 2.30pm. Captioned performance on Sunday 8 Jan at 1pm and 5pm. Relaxed performance on Friday 13 Jan at 5.30pm which is bookable in person or by phone on 01603 630000 To book, log onto www.theatreroyalnorwich. co.uk or call the box office on 01603 630000. Diss & Attleborough | 21
GENERAL
OLIVE EDIS
Norwich-based ar ts writer, Tony Cooper, discovers more about the pioneering British photographer, Olive Edis, a subject of a new exhibition at Norwich Castle soon found out that Olive Edis - who married a Cambridge academic, Edwin Henr y Galswor thy, a cousin of the novelist, John Galswor thy - was one of the most impor tant and pioneering British-born photographers of the first half of the 20th centur y.
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A daughter of Arthur Wellesley Edis, a senior consultant at University College Hospital, London, she and her sister Katherine opened a studio in Sheringham in 1905 where they specialised in portraits of local fisherman as well as members of the landed gentry. With studios in Sheringham and later Farnham, Surrey and Ladbroke Grove, London, Edis was something of a photographic entrepreneur and quick to recognise the importance and potential of this new technology. Joining the Royal Photographic Society in 1913, Edis was quickly elected a Fellow the following year. She preferred working with platinum prints and from 1912 she pioneered colour autochrome photography. Later, she patented her own design of autochrome viewers termed ‘diascopes’. In addition to all of this, Edis was one of the first professionals to use a ‘kinematograph’ camera. She also made films in the 1920s -
one of the wedding of Mr Henry Deterding of Holt and another of the Netherlands entitled Life on the Waterways. Alas, both of these films are now lost. Her extreme talents became widely known especially to the bosses of the Canadian Pacific Railway who in 1920 commissioned her to create a series of advertising photographs for the company. The autochrome prints of her Canadian visit are believed to be some of the earliest colour photographs of that country. Sadly, very few examples of these photographs survive today and none are included in the exhibition. Another important commission was chronicling the interior of No 10 Downing Street in 1917. Hopefully, the exhibition at Norwich Castle - suitably entitled Fishermen & Kings: The Photography of Olive Edis - will raise the profile of Edis even further. Running to 22nd January (curated by Alistair Murphy) it will not be travelling although a smaller exhibition featuring a host of different images will form part of a permanent display scheduled for the Cromer Museum. In fact, the Cromer Museum now holds the largest collection of her work in the world which includes prints, autochromes, glass-plate negatives, cameras and ephemera and is a focus for further research and the
promotion of knowledge and interest in her life and work. The Imperial War Museum, National Portrait Gallery, National Media Museum and the Harry Ransom Humanities Research Centre, Austin, Texas, also hold good examples of her work. ‘Olive Edis was a remarkable woman,’ exclaimed Mr Murphy. ‘She was well educated, forward thinking, a visionary and an astute business entrepreneur but more importantly she was a talented photographer with a natural affinity for her subjects. However grand or humble, each was afforded great respect and dignity. Like the many influential and inspirational women that she photographed, Edis was herself a “new woman”. ‘Her photographic legacy is, without doubt, a ‘‘national treasure’’ and we are more than delighted to be presenting for the first time a highly-impressive display of her work which will reach out to a larger audience.’ Over 190 rare photographs taken between the years of 1900 and 1955 will be on show and they’ll be presented thematically starting with an introduction to Olive Edis and then focusing on her unique photographic technique and technical expertise. Another section will examine her skill in portraiture which offers a rare glimpse into both the high society of the day and the more simple life of East Anglian fisherman. Influential women in the early 20th century is another key element. Not only did she exemplify the emancipation of women and their changing role in society during her own lifetime but she also recorded it. Her remarkable war work also provides another important aspect to the exhibition. One of her earliest examples is a portrait of her cousin, Caroline ‘Carrie’, taken in 1900. Poignantly, it was apparently Carrie who gave Edis her first camera. The original photograph was donated by Edis to the National Portrait Gallery collection in 1948 and has a hand-written inscription on the back: ‘My very first attempt at a portrait which turned my fate in 1900.’ Another early photograph shows Edis’ twin sisters, Emmeline and Katherine. It was Katherine who initially shared her Left: LR Tank on the Menin Road by Olive Edis. Norfolk Museums Service
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GENERAL Belgium with Lady Norman, Chair of the Women’s Work Committee. Edis kept a detailed journal of her travels through war-torn Europe and combined with her collection of photographs - taken using a large glass-plate camera - provide a graphic, documentary evidence of the lives of women in the British Women’s Services who worked on the front line. Atmospheric photographs also capture the devastation that followed the Great War and many of them now form part of the Imperial War Museum’s collection.
Left: Selfportrait, Olive Edis. Autochrome. Right: ‘Lotion Tar’ Bishhop by Olive Edis. Norfolk Museums Service older sister’s passion for photography although her photographic career ended when she married. As to why the sisters set up shop in Sheringham is unknown. However, it has been suggested that Edis spent family holidays in nor th Norfolk and their great uncle John retired to Sheringham. Their first studio, in Church Street, was designed by Colonel Sir Rober t Edis, an uncle to the sisters. He incorporated into the overall design of the building a glass-covered roof thereby allowing plenty of natural light to flood the studio. Later, the sisters moved to the ‘new studio’ in South Street. Edis’ reputation as a photographer grew rapidly and within a few years she already had an impressive list of sitters and commissions. An early self-por trait taken around 1912 shows her as an elegant, rather demure, thoughtful young Edwardian lady, gazing directly into the camera lens. Over the span of her gallant and glorious fifty-year career, Edis photographed a huge cross-section of society. Her signature style, which used natural light and shadow, resulted in striking por traits. Notable are her sensitive, natural photographs of Edward VIII as Prince of Wales and a young Prince Alber t - later George VI. She also photographed several other leading members of the Royal Family including HRH the Duke of Edinburgh as the young 15-year-old Prince Philip of Greece as well as his uncle, Lord Mountbatten, later 1st Earl Mountbatten of Burma. The latter is not included in the exhibition. www.DispatchMagazine.co.uk
Other illustrious sitters of the day included the author Thomas Hardy as well as George Bernard Shaw, John Galswor thy and M R James and no less than four prime ministers: David Lloyd George, Herber t Henry Asquith, Ar thur James Balfour and Ramsey MacDonald. As a forward-thinking, progressive, independent woman, it comes as no surprise to learn that she also photographed several members of the Suffragette Movement including Emmeline and Christabel Pankhurst as well as Britain’s first woman doctor and women’s rights campaigner, Elizabeth Garrett Anderson. Alongside the portraits of the ‘well-to-do’ in society will be a vast number of wonderfullycompelling portraits of local Norfolk fisherman, the salt seemingly etched into the lines of their craggy, characterful faces. Fishermen remained a favourite subjectmatter throughout Edis’ career. Edis had the ability to put all her subjects at ease and she said that her success was down to ‘being in sympathy’ with her sitters. As a result she was able to capture a true and informal likeness. In 1918, Edis was commissioned by the Imperial War Museum to photograph women’s war work in Europe. And she was the first British woman to be commissioned as an official war photographer and only the fifth official British photographer to visit Europe to cover the Second World War. Despite her trip being delayed due to the precarious military situation and some opposition of sending a woman to the front, she set off in March 1919 on a month-long journey around France and
Her passion for photography was undiminished and throughout her long and illustrious career she maintained photographic bases in Sheringham and London, driving to and fro the capital in her Austin Seven. Despite advances in photography she continued to use her large glass-plate camera right up until the 1950s although she did later own folding cameras which used film. The last photograph of Edis (born in London in 1876 and who died there in 1955) was taken in 1953 by Cyril Nunn, her close friend and collaborator, on her own glass-plate camera. It was to Mr Nunn that she left her estate of photographs, prints, glass-plate negatives and autochromes. In turn, the collection was offered to the Cromer Museum in 2008 and was purchased with considerable financial help by a grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund to the tune of £81,000 with additional funding coming from the V&A Purchase Grant Fund, North Norfolk District Council, Norfolk Museums Development Foundation and the all-important organisation that keeps things a-going and in check - the Friends of Cromer Museum. Margaret Dewsbury, Norfolk County Council’s Chairman of Communities said: ‘The sensitive and atmospheric photographs of Olive Edis are ripe for rediscovery and we are delighted that Norfolk Museums Service is mounting this exhibition to bring her work to wider attention. The county of Norfolk has given rise to many notable figures throughout the centuries and with this exhibition Olive Edis can take her place alongside these as a photographer of national and international importance of whom we are rightly proud.’ Fishermen & Kings: The Photography of Olive Edis is an exhibition which will appeal on many levels: historically, socially and emotionally. It also provides visual documentary evidence of the huge contribution that Olive Edis made to the history of photography. Find out more at: www.museums.norfolk.gov.uk Diss & Attleborough | 23
GENERAL
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GENERAL
Lord Baker Community Fund
Suppor t for Local Charities with Over £15,000 Donations he Lord Baker Community Fund which is managed by the Norfolk Community Foundation on behalf of Lord Russell Baker of Little Moulton are pleased to announce a share of over £15,000 has been made to Norfolk Accident Rescue Ser vices (NARS), Star Throwers Cancer Care and Suppor t based in Wymondham, Chapel Road School for severely handicapped children in Attleborough and the Norfolk Community Foundation, each receiving £2,505 each.
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For more information about the Lord Baker Community Fund please visit www.norfolkfoundation.com/funds/the-lord-baker-community-fund/
Lord Baker said, “It is always a huge pleasure to suppor t amazing charities and especially charities that provide fantastic suppor t within Norfolk. The funding releases this year is once again down to the kindness and generosity of all those individuals who have suppor ted my fund raising events in 2016.” An additional £5,000 has been set aside for local community gr ants which will launch for applications on 10th October 2016. Anna Douglas, Director of Marketing and Development at Norfolk Community Foundation said, “We are delighted to be working with Lord Baker and this year we are pleased to announce that Grants of up to £1,000 will be available to suppor t smaller community groups and charities in Norfolk who are doing great work to help local people, par ticularly those who face disadvantage. The Lord Baker Community Fund aims to suppor t capital costs (for example, equipment or resources) to help deliver community projects, and priority is given to applications where a grant of up to £1,000 will cover the majority of the cost.” In 2017 Lord Baker is already organising the Norwich Charity Dar ts Masters which will once again be held at Norwich City Football Club on Saturday 24th June. Currently there are 4 legends attending the 2017 charity showpiece that includes the Former World Champion and 2016 Charity Dar ts Masters Winner Steve Beaton who lives in Nor th Walsham, Former World No.1 Colin Lloyd, Former World Champion Bob Anderson. So another amazing charity dar ts night in Norwich next year. www.DispatchMagazine.co.uk
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MOTORING
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he first words out of my mouth when I handed my Jaguar XF demonstrator keys back were “I’m going to miss that car”. And there’s a reason for that. The British saloon I had on test this month made my life far more relaxing than I had envisaged.
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Now, let me make it clear ; the seven days I had with the XF involved traver sing flat rural routes across Lincolnshire, hammering along fast stretches of motorway in the West Midlands and negotiating narrow, twisty roads in the Cotswolds. I also took the car to Norfolk, which involved the odd wandering herd of cows, pigs and sheep. My point is, that whether driving at 70mph or sat still waiting for a plethora of pigs to move, the XF looks after you. The soft leather seats, the hushed cabin,
the excellent brakes and, even the sound system, make you feel as though a palace has been given four wheels. When there is a chance to bur y your right foot into the deep carpet, the creamy smooth power train of the rear wheel drive XF Por tfolio 2.0 i4 180PS, on test here, pulls the scener y by the side of your head briskly. It is done in such an uncomplicated way that the speedo needle can nudge three figures all too easily. Pure performance aside, handling is ver y good. Indeed, the 2016 XF offer s the fun already available from the Jaguar XJ, mainly due to its precise steering, lack of body roll and excellent traction. The car will hold on to the surface like superglue, only stepping out when www.DispatchMagazine.co.uk
MOTORING
pushed to levels you should never attempt on a public highway. Jaguar’s done a good job by really showing us that the latest XF isn’t just a mile muncher – it’s a machine offering dynamism. In other words, it tr uly is a driver’s car. Oh, and when it comes to miles to the gallon, you’ll be pleased, too. 65.7mpg is achievable on average. The specification levels of the new XF are lavish. The cabin is a seamless blend of contemporar y luxur y materials and finishes, traditional Jaguar craftsmanship and state-of-the ar t technology. W h at’s m o r e , s ter eo c a m e r a tech n ol o gy en ables aut o n om o u s emer ge n c y br akin g, lan e d e p a r t u re war n in g an d lan e-kee p a s s i s t systems . A daptive Cr ui s e C o n t rol with Q u e u e A s s is t take s t h e s t re s s ou t of m o to r w ay dr ivi n g i n s t o p go tr af fic by tr ac kin g t h e ve h i cl e i n f ron t, at a s afe dis tan c e . With its glut of talents and refreshed, more modern exterior, the latest XF www.DispatchMagazine.co.uk
“ The specification levels of the new XF are lavish. The cabin is a seamless blend of contemporary luxury materials and finishes, traditional Jaguar craftsmanship and state-of-the art technology.”
is soon etched on your mind. From a distance, there are slight hints of Audi at the rear, but the car doesn’t look as much like the other premium executive saloons you see double-parked outside Michelin-starred restaurants in Chelsea or in City of London corporate car parks The XF’s boot is slightly bigger than you get in its BMW, Audi and Mercedes-Benz opponents, although, as a saloon, the loading aper ture is smaller, compared with a hatchback.
There’s enough space in the rear for three-up, and those in the front have lots of room to unwind, along with a respectable assembly of stor age compar tments. In summar y, this new XF is loaded with a host of awesome tech, making the dr iving exper ience as luxur ious and as exciting as possible . The Jaguar’s cabin is sophisticated and sturdily built, and the car is quick, as well as efficient. Diss & Attleborough | 27
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ELDERLY
HEARING CARE CENTRE
Improving Your Hearing In Time For Christmas
here is nothing like the festive season with one social engagement after another. From the Christmas office party, drinks with friends and the buzz of the family gathering on the big day, December is a time for fun and social interaction.
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But is it? For those experiencing hearing loss, this can be something of an annual nightmare, causing a variety of communication issues! Imagine if you can, being unable to hear speech clearly because Christmas music is being played in the background or not being able
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to hear the excitement of children opening presents because they are all talking at once and you cannot separate the sounds clearly. Imagine dreading Christmas dinner on a large table with 15 other people because you won’t be able to hear what is being said around you. These are issues a normal hearing person doesn’t normally even consider. One in six people have a hearing loss, but the number is far smaller for those who have sought professional help from their local audiologist. Hearing aids can make such a difference to someone’s quality of life at this time of year. Hearing aids are so much smaller and discreet than they ever used to be and packed full of amazing features that will help during the festive period. You may have thought that with so much noise at a party or family dinner, hearing aids would just make things louder, but modern digital hearing aids aren’t simple sound amplifiers. They are designed to filter out all the unwanted noise - like the clanging
of dishes in the kitchen or the background music - and help you focus on speech. Features such as directional microphones work to reduce the amount of noise allowed to enter your hearing aids. In noisy environments, like at a Christmas party, the system will work to pick up the least amount of noise. If the noise is located behind you, your directional microphones will adapt to pick up sound from in front of you and dampen noise from behind you. If you or someone you know is struggling with hearing problems, don’t struggle through another festive season not being able to join in and have fun. I urge you to book a hearing test now and find out what could be done to help you in time for Christmas. Karen Finch is the Managing Director and lead audiologist at The Hearing Care Centre in Ipswich. The multi-award winning, family-run company has 22 centres across Suffolk and Norfolk. For more information visit www. hearingcarecentre.co.uk or call 01473 230330.
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