Village People South Norfolk edition – April / May 2018 (Late Spring) by Village People Magazines Ltd

APRIL / MAY 2018

South Norfolk edition

COMMUNITY / LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE OF THE YEAR

Cilla

THE MUSICAL

All things Bright & Musical Diss Organ Festival

ISCN W RIPT E S AT TH

ET TICKTFORD THE REST FO

Creative Easter treats in our fine city Sportswear to spring into action Walk down memory lane in Hinderclay

NORFOLK WILDLIFE TRUST 30 days of wild

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Contents

APRIL / MAY 2018

54 Village notice board

Out & About 8

Good news from our region

59 What’s in season – produce for April & May

13 Delicious recipe for a

61 Lolita Owl – short story by

14 Seasonal recipe for

63 Amazing creative Easter

16 Ladies who lunch visit

67 A regal experience in

tiramisu cheesecake

Neil Lanham

asparagus & crab linguine 1066 at The Chequers in Bressingham

21 Cilla the musical arrives at Norwich Theatre Royal

23 WIN – tickets to Forest Live in Thetford Forest

24 All things bright and musical

– Diss Organ Festival returns

treats in our fine city Wymondham

71 A Hard Life – new short story from Attleborough Writers’ Group

75 All aboard! – Tackling

loneliness in Wymondham

Health & Beauty 77 Health Q & A – helping painful stiff joints

79 Footcare advice for spring

Shopping 85 Fashion – spring into action 86 Book reviews – what we are loving this issue

Home & Garden 27 How to make your

conservatory an all yearround space

Jobs, Money & Business 89 Smart money secrets –

bagging the best mortgage deals

91 Refreshing Waters talks to mental health champion Steve Foyster

92 Find a local business in our directory

94 Exercise your brain cells with our crossword

30 On your plot – get ready to grow!

35 Thoughts of a Norfolk author

37 Behind the scenes at the Chelsea Flower Show

39 30 days wild with Norfolk Wildlife Trust

45 Garden Jottings from Ken 49 Memories of Hinderclay

Are you looking for a particular product or service? Check out our Local Business Directory on pages 92 & 93 5

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Welcome

WIN TICKETS TO FOREST LIVE in Thetford Forest

ith everyone’s diaries being super full in December, we decided to have our work Christmas ‘do’ in February so here’s a pic of Karen, Sarah and myself painting the town red! And can you believe it, this was taken at the end of the night so we were really pleased with ourselves for being able to take a selfie… ha ha!

Forest Live in this region takes place in Thetford Forest, near Brandon, Suffolk and this year’s headline acts are: • The Script with special guest Tom Walker on Thursday 7 June • Gary Barlow on Friday 8 June • Paul Heaton & Jacqui Abbott with special guest Billy Bragg on Saturday 9 June • Kasabian on Sunday 10 June. This issue, we’re offering you the chance to win a pair of tickets to see The Script gig on 7 June. To enter, visit www.village-people.info and tell us the name of their lead singer. The closing date is 30 April and usual Village People rules apply.

For more info about Forestry Live events and to buy tickets, visit www.forestry.gov.uk/music or contact 03000 680400.

WIN THE SCRIPT TICKETS AT THETFORD FOREST LIVE ADVERTISE WITH US!

This issue, we look at some fascinating old photos of Hinderclay so be sure to check out the history of this wonderful village. Meanwhile, our ‘Ladies who Lunch’ took a trip over to Bressingham.

Reliably delivered by Royal Mail, reaching 50,000 homes every two months. Three editions of Village People provide unrivalled coverage of South Norfolk, reaching more homes than ANY other local magazine. For more information, call our friendly team on 01284 788623 or send an email to office@village-people.info

And for all the foodies we have two recipes; one of course has to feature the delicious asparagus that we are so good at growing in our region and for all you sweet-toothed readers, we’ve got a new cake recipe devised to combine two favourite puds into one delicious no-bake cake. Don’t miss it! With Chelsea Flower Show around the corner we talk to a local business on how they prepare for the biggest gardening event of the year. With seasonal fashion, local book reviews, community news and events, we are packed as usual so do keep your magazine handy for the full two months. We’re also the best way to find a local business or service so let’s continue to ‘keep it local’!

Lily

Lily Goulder editor@village-people.info 01284 788623

Visit our website to find out more www.village-people.info

APRIL / MAY 2018

South Norfolk edition

COMMUNITY / LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE OF THE YEAR

Cilla

THE MUSICAL

All things Bright & Musical

Diss Organ Festival

NORFOLK WILDLIFE TRUST 30 days of wild

APRIL / MAY 2018

South Norwich edition

COMMUNITY / LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE OF THE YEAR

ALL THINGS BRIGHT & MUSICAL

Diss Organ Festival

Cilla

THE MUSICAL

APRIL / MAY 2018

All things Bright & Musical

Diss Organ Festival

THE AT TICKETS RD THETFO FOREST

WIN

Creative Easter treats in our fine city Sportswear to spring into action Walk down memory lane in Hinderclay

Norfolk

Wildlife Trust 30 days of wild Creative Easter treats in our fine city Sportswear to spring into action Walk down memory lane in Hinderclay

Norfolk/Suffolk border edition

COMMUNITY / LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE OF THE YEAR

CILLA THE MUSICAL

INIPT WSCR

PT SCRI THE ETS AT TICK FORD THET ST FORE

KAREN,

With the spring weather around SARAH & LILY the corner, it’s time to fill our diaries with exciting events and to kick start the season we have a pair of tickets to give away to see The Script at Forest Live in Thetford Forest.

WIN

NORFOLK WILDLIFE TRUST 30 days of wild

NEXT DEADLINE June / July (Early Summer) 2nd May

IPT THE SCR AT TICKETS RD THETFO FOREST

Creative Easter treats in our fine city Sportswear to spring into action Walk down memory lane in Hinderclay

Good News from our region GET ON YOUR BIKE FOR THE DISS CYCLATHON This summer Diss will become the cycling centre of the region once again with the third annual Diss Cyclathon on 24 June. It will include organised rides for all ages and abilities along with lots of stalls and entertainment for the

whole family. Cyclists will have the chance to enter the Nine Town Sportive, which challenges riders to tackle 25, 50 or 100 mile routes around the beautiful lanes of Norfolk and Suffolk with the 100 mile route taking in nine

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Good News

STAR THROWERS MAKE A GREAT START TO 2018

of the area’s market towns. Organiser Alan Franks said: “We had such a positive feedback from last year’s Cyclathon that we simply didn’t have any choice but to run it again in 2018. We’re also aiming to raise even more money to support local cycling as well as our partner charity East Anglian Air Ambulance. More than anything, however, it is about celebrating all the fantastic things about cycling in Norfolk and Suffolk and getting all the family into Diss to enjoy the day.” Find out more at disscyclathon.org and sign up for the Nine Town Sportive. For more information contact Jess Wythe on jess.wythe@disscyclathon.org or 07832 188598.

In January, Star Throwers opened their second charity shop, located on Church Street in Attleborough. The first shop was opened in Wymondham in 2012 and has provided essential funds for the charity, which supports people with cancer. Local 5-year-old, Airlie Pigg, took on the challenge of a sponsored haircut for Star Throwers. Airlie donated 22cm of her hair to ‘The Little Princess Trust’ for children who have lost their hair through illness, as well as raising a fantastic £555 for Star Throwers cancer charity. If you have a fundraising idea please get in contact with Victoria on victoria@starthrowers.org.uk. If you would like to find out how Star Throwers can support you or a loved one at any stage of a cancer diagnosis, call 01953 423304, email info@starthrowers.org.uk or visit www.starthrowers.org.uk.

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Good News

GISLINGHAM DAD RUNS MARATHON IN MEMORY OF HIS SON A 47-year-old father is preparing to run 26 miles to raise thousands of pounds for a cancer charity in memory of his teenage son Jack, who died from leukaemia aged just 18. Novice runner Kevin Cook, who has never run a marathon before, is delighted that family and friends have already raised nearly £3,000 in aid of the Teenage Cancer Trust. The latest fundraiser, a quiz at Gislingham Village Hall, raised £1,250 and Kevin was delighted with a recent donation of £1,000 from the Ichiban sushi manufacturer in Suffolk. Now Kevin is hoping to raise a further £3,000 by running the London Marathon on April 22. “I know this marathon will be an emotional event for me,” said Kevin. “I am running in the memory of my son Jack and I can almost hear him saying, ‘You are going to do what?” “My name will be on the front of my running top and his name will be on the back. My wife Julie hopes to be at the finish line with the charity.” The fundraising will be supported by Kevin’s employers Malthouse Security, based near Diss. Peter George, owner of Malthouse Security said: “The loss of Jack was a tragedy that was felt by all of us here and we think it is admirable that Kevin, who admits that he is not a natural runner, is giving up so much time and effort to run the gruelling 26.2mile race.’ If you would like to donate to Kevin’s run please go to: uk.virginmoneygiving.com/ kevinandjackcook

A HARE FOR HARLESTON You may have read about the Norwich GoGoHares Project in aid of Break charity, which follows hot on the heels of the hugely successful GoGoDragons trail around Norwich. This year, 18 special hares will be sited outside Norwich and the local community group, Harleston’s Future, is raising funds to host a Harleston Hare between 24 June and 8 September. To make it happen the group needs to raise £5,000. Chairman Robin Twigge said: “We have already had pledges from local businesses and organisations totalling almost £2,000 and we are confident that others will want to help once they hear about it.”

‘East Anglia’s Finest’ Specialist Plant, Food & Craft Fair

Saturday 5th May 10am – 4.30pm

Held in the gardens of

Peter Beales Roses London Road Attleborough NR17 1AY

Call in for a fabulous selection of

plants perfect for wildlife gardens, woodland and bog gardens

Our Tearoom serves lunches, homemade scones, cakes and ice creams all day

Find us just off the A47; 10 miles East of Norwich at NR13 6DZ 01603 270449 www.fairhavengarden.co.uk

Good News The Harleston Hare, as it has been dubbed, will be decorated by local artist ScribblyRoo, a member of Harleston & Waveney Art Trail Collective, with swifts, magpies and magical animals in an idyllic landscape inspired by the Waveney Valley. The hares will be auctioned in October and the proceeds will go to Break to support their valuable work with young people in East Anglia. If you can help please visit www.uk.virginmoneygiving.com and search for Harleston GoGoHare or call 01379 85523.

WALKERS TO UNITE AGAINST PARKINSON’S Residents of Suffolk and Norfolk are being asked to unite with thousands of people across the UK and Walk for Parkinson’s at Blickling Estate on Saturday 12 May or Glemham Hall on 10 June. The events will raise vital funds for the charity Parkinson’s UK, and are two of many walks taking place all over the UK throughout 2018. Two people are diagnosed with the condition every hour in the UK and Walk for Parkinson’s events aim to raise over £500,000 for research to step closer to a cure. There are longer and shorter distances to choose from, so whether you’re up for a challenging walk or a gentle stroll, there’s something for everyone. Last year, 330 people took part in the walks in Suffolk and Norfolk to raise £32,000 between them, and Parkinson’s UK hopes to raise even more this year. The registration fee is £10 for adults and £5 for under 16s. Everyone who registers will receive a free Parkinson’s UK t-shirt, fundraising pack and at the end of the walk, a finisher’s medal. The charity suggests that walkers aim to raise at least £50, all of which will fund research into finding a cure for Parkinson’s. Parkinson’s UK is also looking for volunteers to help register people at the start/finish area, or to be a walk marshal at various points on the route during the day. To find out more, visit www.parkinsons.org.uk, call 0207 963 9367, or email fundraising@parkinsons.org.uk

IF YOU HAVE SOME GOOD NEWS TO SHARE EMAIL US AT editor@village-people.info

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Recipe

TIRAMISU CHEESECAKE This is a new recipe at the Pennoyer Centre, devised to combine two favourite puds into one delicious no-bake cake. Be sure to start it the day before as it must have time to set properly. Serves 10-12

705kcal

INGREDIENTS Base 300g dark chocolate digestives, crushed 90g butter, melted 3 teaspoons good cocoa powder 1 tsp instant coffee dissolved in 1 tsp boiling water Sponge layer 12 Savoiardi (sponge finger) biscuits 100ml of strong coffee (instant or espresso) 125ml Marsala

03. While the chocolate melts, prepare the sponge layer. Combine 100ml coffee and 125ml Marsala in a shallow dish, then dip each sponge finger. Lay these on the biscuit layer in the cake tin. Break up the final few to fill in gaps. 04. For the filling, briefly beat the cream cheese and mascarpone in a large bowl until combined. Add the vanilla extract and 3 tablespoons of whipped double cream. Gently fold in the melted white chocolate. Pour into the cake tin, level the top, cover with cling film and refrigerate for at least six hours. 05. Make the syrup. Put 100ml coffee with 20ml Marsala and the caster sugar into a pan and stir over a medium heat until the sugar dissolves. Bring to the boil for five minutes or so, until it becomes syrupy. Cool completely. 06. To finish the cheesecake, carefully run a knife around the edge of the tin, then gently remove the ring. Dust with a thick layer of sieved cocoa and pipe cream around Tip: If y the perimeter. Add chocolate don’t h ou ave an shavings, drizzle with coffee espres so mak syrup and decorate with er, strong instant coffee beans. Keeps 4 days, coffee works refrigerated. perfe

ctly we

ll.

Filling 250g white chocolate, chopped 500g cream cheese 250g mascarpone 300ml double cream, whipped for piping ½ teaspoon vanilla extract Syrup 100ml strong coffee (instant or espresso) 60g caster sugar 20ml Marsala Cocoa powder, chocolate shavings and chocolate coffee beans, to decorate

METHOD 01. Combine the crushed digestives, instant coffee mix and cocoa powder with the melted butter. Press this mix into the base of a 23cm springform cake tin taking it slightly up the sides. 02. Melt the white chocolate slowly in a bowl set above a pot of just-simmering water. Stir occasionally until melted, take off the heat and allow to cool slightly.

The Pennoyer Centre’s volunteer BakeForce make delicious cakes for sale in the café, which in 2014 won the EDP Norfolk Food & Drink Best Baking Award. The café in Pulham St Mary is open Mon-Sat from 9.30am to 3.30pm. www.pennoyers.org.uk 01379 676660 The Pennoyer Centre, Station Road, Pulham St Mary, Norfolk, IP21 4QT

Recipe

ASPARAGUS & CRAB LINGUINE METHOD Serves 4 - 6

INGREDIENTS 300g dried linguine 1 tbsp olive oil 2 freshly dressed crabs (meat taken out of the shells) 1 bundle of British asparagus, trimmed and cut into 3cm lengths 100g of butter 3 tbsp parsley, finely chopped 2 tbsp chives, finely chopped 1 onion peeled and finely chopped 2 cloves garlic, peeled and finely chopped 1 mild red chilli, deseeded and finely chopped 50ml vegetable stock 1 lemon, juiced

01. Cook the linguine in plenty of boiling salted water for approximately 10-12 minutes. Drain the majority of the water and add the olive oil, stir through the pasta and keep warm. 02. Meanwhile, melt the butter in a large sautĂŠ pan, add the onion and asparagus and season well with sea salt and freshly ground black pepper. 03. Sweat over a medium heat for 2-3 minutes then add the chilli and garlic and cook for another minute. 04. Add the crab along with the vegetable stock and cook for a further 2 minutes. 05. Stir in the chopped parsley, chives and lemon juice then add the pasta and make sure all the ingredients are mixed together thoroughly. Season if necessary to taste and serve immediately. Tip: Leave a little bit of the cooking water in the pasta to prevent the linguine from sticking together. If you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t happen to have any chives then an alternative could be to use the tops of spring onions finely chopped.

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Eating Out

Ladies Who Lunch

1066 @ THE CHEQUERS Low Road, Bressingham IP22 2AG

Tel: 01379 688175

here is a reason it’s called the 1066 – the Chequers pub is on the A1066 road from Diss to Thetford. It is a busy road and it is very easy to swoosh straight past, so from the Diss direction, start looking as soon as you have passed the Bressingham Garden centre complex. From the Thetford side, drive through South Lopham and look out for a sign on either side of the road saying ‘Bressingham’ with a 50 mph on top. I had booked a table by filling in an online form and the lady phoned me back soon after to confirm. Early as usual, we found the elegant place almost empty, but it soon started filling up. We chose our table and consulted the menu which offered Smørrebrød (Danish open sandwiches) in addition to the usual starter/main/dessert and sides. I am a fish-lover and instinctively chose the yellowfin tuna with béarnaise sauce which was fabulous, beautifully cooked and a decent size. I ordered a green salad to accompany it and was entirely satisfied. My companion chose the sweet and sour chicken on a bed of champ (mash with spring onions mixed in) and a side dish of asparagus. She was relieved that the sweet and sour sauce wasn’t over-sweet, which it sometimes can be. Drinks were a glass of merlot and, for me, lime and soda water; very refreshing! Real linen napkins were a bonus. And then puddings! Having been told I must reduce my cholesterol and bearing in mind the rich béarnaise sauce, I decided to avoid several comforting favourites (treacle and ginger sponge pudding, bakewell tart and bread and butter pudding) and chose the chocolate cheesecake with amaretto, thinking that it would probably be a fairly small portion. Oh, how wrong can you be? It was so deep and dense and deliciously dark and surpassed all my expectations. My friend chose the crème brûlée served with shortbread and cream, and said it was wonderful and very rich. We ordered two double espressos: strong and hot, and

www.1066chequers.com

A1066

Image capture: Jun 2017

England Google, Inc. Street View - Jun 2017

then ventured into the little shop part of the pub to view the selection of goods on offer.

1066 @ The Chequers Low Road, Bressingham, IP22 2AG Table 24

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This place is a cut Espressos 5.50 Merlot 5.60 above the usual Cheesecake 6.50 pub lunch, offering Crème Brulee 6.50 Tuna 14.95 attentive service Salad 3.25 from host and Chicken 13.50 Soda water & lime hostess, and other 3.00 Total elegantly turned£62.30 out staff members. THANK YOU FOR DINING WITH US! Well-behaved dogs PLEASE COME AGAIN are allowed, and if you are lucky you may catch sight of the house dog asleep in front of the wood burning stove. I don’t know if the jazz music is a regular item, but it was on a low enough volume to be unobtrusive. Toilets are immaculate, and there is a special disabled one. Give this place a try; it’s not the cheapest but what you pay for is very good.

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Queen Mother spent her honeymoon. Later we visit nearby Denbies Wine Estate for a tour and tasting. Day 4: We travel to Waddesdon Manor for an included visit of the house and gardens. Waddesdon Manor was built for Baron Ferdinand de Rothschild in the 1870’s to display his collections and entertain the fashionable world. Day 5: We make our way Windsor

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BURGLARS CAN TAKE £1,000 FROM YOUR SHEDS AND YOUR GARAGE– don’t let them Spring is here and our minds turn to our lovely gardens, with our sheds typically full of bikes, tools and gardening equipment worth more than £1,000 – easy prey for burglars. Our outbuildings often have ladders and tools and a thief can use these to get into your home too. This spring you could beat the burglars by installing a lockable secure shed chest for your valuable equipment and a wireless home intruder alarm can be extended to cover your sheds, outbuildings and garages. Once in to your shed or garage, burglars can not only steal your bicycles but use what they find to help them get inside your home. If you fit a visible wireless intruder alarm, it can protect your home and be extended to cover all your garden sheds, outbuildings and garage too. Install outside security lighting and put any tools inside a secured, lockable chest.

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"You can place locks on shed windows too and we advise padlocks for oil tanks so you don't lose your valuable heating oil to thieves. "Don’t make it easy for the burglars. Contact us and we can help you and your family stay safe this year,” said a spokesman for Malthouse Security at Rickinghall, near Diss. Call security system installer Malthouse Security today on 01379 890 606, email sales@malthouse-security.co.uk or visit the website www.malthouse-security.co.uk for more details of how the company can help your home or business stay safe.

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APRIL/MAY BOX OFFICE: (01603) 63 00 00 Sun 1 April CHAMPIONS OF MAGIC Britain’s top magicians £8 - £30 Mon 2-Wed 4 April RUSSIAN STATE BALLET OF SIBERIA The Snow Maiden, Swan Lake, Romeo & Juliet £8 - £36.50 Thur 5-Sat 7 April CIRQUE BERSERK Adrenaline-fuelled circus action £10 - £29.50 Tues 10-Sat 14 April THE JUNGLE BOOK Exciting new adaptation of classic adventure £10 - £23 Sun 15 April CZECH NATIONAL SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA Schubert, Beethoven, Dvorak £8 - £36 Tues 17-Sat 21 April CILLA THE MUSICAL Heart-warming musical adaptation of Cilla’s early life £10 - £42.50

Mon 30 Apr-Tues 1 May DANIEL O’DONNELL Easy-listening singing superstar £10 - £45

Wed 16 May LADYSMITH BLACK MAMBAZO* Joyful, powerful vocal music £8 - £32

Fri 25-Sat 26 May CINDERELLA IN HOLLYWOOD English Youth Ballet £10 - £23.50

Thur 3-Sat 5 May ENGLISH TOURING OPERA Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro, Puccini’s Il Tabarro & Gianni Schicchi £10 - £37.50

Thur 17 May MARY CHAPIN CARPENTER* Award-winning singer songwriter £8 - £32

Sun 27 May BEETHOVEN SYMPHONIES 4 & 5* Britten Sinfonia with Thomas Ades £8 - £34

Sun 6 May LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION! Stella School of Dance £10 - £18.50

Fri 18 May MISHA GLENNY: MCMAFIA Renowned investigative journalist with international crime expose £10 - £18.50

Monday 28 May JUSTIN HAYWARD The voice of The Moody Blues £10 - £38.50

Tues 8 -Sat 12 May THIS HOUSE Biting and criticallyacclaimed drama of 1970s politics £8 - £28.50 Sun 13 May JIMMY CARR Greatest Hits tour £10 - £28.50 Tues 15 May GRAND FINALE* Hofesh Shechter’s ambitious new dance £8 - £26

Sat 19 May BEN FOLDS* Multi-platinum-selling singer songwriter £8 - £28 Sun 20 May IAN WAITE & OTI MABUSI Strictly favourites £10 - £26.50

Tues 29 May NILS LOFGREN Legendary E Street Band guitarist £10 - £35.50 Thur 31 May-Fri 1 June ACOSTA DANZA Carlos Acosta’s new Cuban dance company £10 - £39.50

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Mon 23-Sat 28 April ART Nigel Havers, Denis Lawson, Stephen Tompkinson star in smash hit comedy £8 - £35

Sunday 29 April HALFWAY TO PARADISE The Billy Fury Story £10 - £23

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CILLA – The Musical

he legendary Cilla Black brought a ‘lorra lorra laughs’ into the lives of so many during her long and varied career in the music and entertainment industries. Before her sudden death in August 2015, an ITV mini-series charted her rise from teenage girlhood friendships with the Beatles, singing in The Cavern Club in Liverpool and achieving her first No. 1 hit at the age of 21, to becoming one of primetime television’s most successful female entertainers with shows such as Blind Date and Surprise Surprise. Now that TV drama has been turned into a musical which comes to the Theatre Royal stage from 17-21 April. We spoke to Robert Willis, Cilla’s eldest son and the show’s executive producer. “I knew it could be good. We had all the ingredients, but you can never be totally sure until you see it all come together,” Robert said. He is talking about the launch of Cilla The Musical which opened in Cilla’s home town of Liverpool at the beginning of September and is now touring the UK with the eventual aim of bringing it into the West End.

Beatles, California Dreamin’ by The Mamas and The Papas, and many more. “We have aimed high with the show – it’s a wonderful cast, the script is so brilliant, the sets are beautiful, the lighting, the orchestration and the dancing are all fantastic. The actors and musicians are incredibly enthusiastic. It’s such a talented young company.” The production team decided to put the lead role out to public audition, a decision which Robert feels has paid dividends in uncovering a star in the making in Kara Lily Haworth, who fought off thousands of other hopefuls to step into Cilla’s shoes. Kara queued for four hours at London’s Dominion Theatre to audition in the first rounds, making it through to the final 30 before being chosen to do her final audition at The Cavern Club in Liverpool.

“Kara is incredible. I’m so happy we found her,” Robert said. “It is a very big role but she really captures what Mum was all about. Mum had determination – she wasn’t there for her looks, although she was pretty, but it was her spirit that people liked. “Kara proved herself in audition. She stood out immediately. She’s physically very different to Sheridan Smith, but I wanted to have a distinct difference between the musical and the TV show. I think Kara is very similar to how my mum was in the 60s. There’s something about her and it is an interpretation, not an impersonation. She really manages to capture my mum.” Tickets are available from the box office on 01603 630000 or online at www.theatreroyalnorwich.co.uk

“We’re very pleased with the show and excited at how it has all come together. It’s been quite an experience!” The musical score is the ultimate soundtrack to the 60s and includes Cilla’s own greatest hits such as Anyone Who Had a Heart, Alfie and Something Tells Me, to Twist and Shout by the

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Forest Live is a major live music series, managed by the Forestry Commission. Held every summer in seven beautiful forest locations across the country, over 1.5 million people have attended a gig in the programme’s seventeen year history. With everything required for a great night out, including delicious food and drink, the concerts are renowned for their informal and relaxed atmosphere set in a spectacular forest backdrop. Income generated from ticket sales helps to look after the forests’ sustainably, for people to enjoy and wildlife to thrive. Forest Live in this region takes place in Thetford Forest, near Brandon, Suffolk and this year’s headline acts are: • The Script with special guest Tom Walker on Thursday 7 June • Gary Barlow on Friday 8 June • Paul Heaton & Jacqui Abbott with special guest Billy Bragg on Saturday 9 June • Kasabian on Sunday 10 June. This issue, we’re offering you the chance to win a pair of tickets to see The Script gig on 7 June. To enter, visit www.village-people.info and tell us the name of their lead singer. The closing date is 30 April and usual Village People rules apply.

For more info about Forestry Live events and to buy tickets, visit www.forestry.gov.uk/music or contact 03000 680400.

Stories from our region Diss

ALL THINGS Bright AND Musical

“Diss at its best!” was one of the many compliments received following last year’s Diss Organ Festival.

he festival was a great success with over 6000 people attending during the day. By popular demand, the festival will return this year on Sunday 20 May, from 10am to 5pm.

A display of vintage vehicles on the park from the Austin 7 Club will be accompanied by the Diss & District Rotary barbecue, stalls and refreshments throughout the town.

The streets and park will be alive with the joyful sound of over 40 mechanical organs; from magnificent concert and fairground organs to Dutch street organs where you can have a go at becoming an organ grinder, to cafe organs and the bijou busker organs with their delightful melodies. This free event is being organised by Alan Smith of Hoxne and Jonny Ling of Palgrave on behalf of the Mechanical Organ Owners Society whose members are bringing these amazing instruments from across the UK and Holland for your enjoyment.

Please come along and be serenaded on the new mere board walk, meet lots of visitors from across the UK and our continental friends – it really will be “Diss at its best!”

One of the headline organs visiting from Holland is the world famous 90 key, Carl Frei Dutch street organ “De Hagenaar”, which translates as “from the Hague.” The organ, made in 1936, will be presented by Fabian Krul of Leiden – a real treat! The Musical Box Society will present a fascinating exhibition of superb musical boxes and mechanical music. There will be organ recitals by concert organists and the Theatre Organ Club will present a nostalgic 1920s silent movie to dramatic organ accompaniment replicating early cinema, before sound tracks were incorporated in the film.

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BRING AN OLD CONSERVATORY Back to Life

Chris Whitehall of Projects 4 Roofing talks about the possibilities for changing a conservatory into an all year round living space

hese days a conservatory can become much more than a room to relax in occasionally and enjoy views over the garden. There are new ways to make a conservatory an all year round living space which keeps the benefits of a conservatory whilst making it a useable office area, dining space, playroom or even a cosy evening snug. Traditional conservatories are normally at least 75 per cent glass and so can be very cold at some times of year, whilst being too hot in the summer months. Some people experiment with blinds or special coatings on the windows to try to minimise the temperature changes, and these do help. However, a better option is available which significantly improves the insulation of the room. Conservatory roof conversion A conservatory roof conversion is the replacement of a glass or uPVC roof with a solid structure. The whole roof is removed and is followed by the construction of a lightweight aluminium frame retaining the original doors, windows, walls and frame. A new high performance insulated roof is installed in a matter of a few days. The finished room has an insulated plastered ceiling, into which can be installed

spotlights. It’s also possible to have roof light windows. The exterior roof is covered in lightweight synthetic slates or tiles that come in a wide range of colours and finishes. What are the benefits? The main benefit is thermal efficiency, which means there will no longer be large fluctuations in temperature in the conservatory. It will be comfortable on hot days and

easy to heat in winter. A solid roof also cuts down significantly on sun glare and furniture fading, removing the need for blinds. The new roof also creates new design options: you can create an open plan look by removing the interior conservatory doors. That’s great for making a bigger entertaining or dining space and improving the flow of the house.

Questions to ask before buying a conservatory conversion ✔ Is my conservatory structure sound? ✔ How will I know if the finished roof meets building

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LAST YEAR WE NEVER USED THE CONSERVATORY - IT WAS FAR Too Cold!

Last Christmas was the final straw! We had spent quite a considerable sum in 2010 building our new conservatory but we found in the winter it was freezing cold and in the summer it was just boiling hot. I think we used the conservatory a couple of months of the year. We had spent £15,000 on the conservatory to keep beer in! £15,000 for a fridge, can you believe it! We had to get more use out of it and then our family came over for Christmas dinner. One of the family asked why we were not using the conservatory as a dining room and we explained it was just too cold. Then Steve’s

mum said that you could now insulate conservatories and we did some research and got three different companies in to give us quotes.

Soliroof were very competitive and the work took two days to complete. They insulated the roof and installed light weight tiles. We had lots of options offered to us including roof windows & LED lights. The conservatory is now more like a normal room and it’s no longer freezing cold in the winter; the temperature is the same as the rest of the house! We would be happy to recommend Soliroof and can honestly say we wished we had had this done years ago. Soliroof were around 25% cheaper than the other quotes and they did a great job.

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Gardens

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Get ready to grow! JOBS FOR APRIL & MAY

Late spring is a good time to plant water lilies and there’s a huge range of choice on offer. As well as different colours and shapes, you can also choose from large or dwarf varieties, making water lilies a great choice regardless of the size of your pond. Water lilies need still, calm water which is undisturbed by pumps or fountains. Choose a spot with full sun and plant them in aquatic baskets, lined with hessian and filled with loamy soil. Cut back any damaged leaves and water the plant well before placing it in

the pond, submerged so that 15-25cm of water covers the crown. Water lilies need a lot of food so you may like to consider adding aquatic slow-release fertiliser to the soil during spring and summer. At the beginning of spring, you may notice that the water in your pond turns a murky green. Don’t worry, this is the natural effect of algae beginning to grow. It should clear up in a few weeks, if not, you can add oxygenating plants such as frog’s lettuce or water crowfoot to clear the water.

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GARDEN DESIGN IDEAS The RHS Chelsea Flower Show takes place on 22-26 May and it’s a great opportunity to get some inspiration for your own garden. When planning a new design for your garden think about how you normally use the space. Do use your garden for entertaining? If so, then you could consider a new seating area, perhaps arranged around a fire pit, chiminea or pizza oven. Add a pergola and climbing plants to soften the look and give the impression of being inside a room – outside! If you like your garden to be awash with colour and flowers, then a traditional cottage

garden design might appeal. Winding brick pathways can add a sense of romance and mystery to your cottage garden, while heavily scented flowers like lavender and rose provide interest for all the senses. If you like to relax in a more orderly environment, then a contemporary garden design may be for you. You can use natural materials like stone and wood to create crisp, clean lines in borders, paths and paving, and plant in neat, geometric shapes. Water features will add movement to your garden, not to mention that lovely, relaxing sound!

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WILDLIFE-FRIENDLY GARDENING If you want your garden to be buzzing with life this spring, then provide lots of nectar rich flowers to encourage bees to nest. Some of the most attractive plants for bees include foxgloves, honeysuckle, marjoram, sweet William and lavender. The beautiful scent from these plants will be attractive to human visitors, as well as the bees! Flying insects such as bees perform an important pollination service in our gardens. Without them, many plants cannot be fertilised which means they will not produce a seed, or in some cases, fruit. With many reports saying that bees are in decline, planting nectar rich plants is a great way to ensure pollination can continue, allowing fruit and vegetable crops like apples, strawberries and tomatoes to thrive. It is unlikely that you will be stung in your garden if you treat bees with respect. All female bees have stings but they are not aggressive and will only use the sting for self-defence. To avoid this happening, don’t stand too close to a nest and leave bees to their business of collecting nectar when you see them buzzing around your flowerbeds.

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Stories from our region

Local author

THOUGHTS OF A Norfolk author Published local author, Keri Beevis, shares her thoughts on home improvements.

ighteen months ago I became a homeowner for the very first time, buying the property I had been renting for the past ten years. There were improvements to be made and much of the winter was spent liaising with builders and doing the dreaded decorating. I say dreaded because decorating and I do not get on (well, unless it’s a Christmas tree) and I tend to end up covered in more paint than the walls. Now the inside of my house is nearly finished and warmer days are beckoning, I am turning my attention to the garden. Well… I call it a garden, but really it is a postage stamp sized space outside of my lounge window. It is my outside space though and it is just about big enough for a tiny table and chairs. I have visions of sitting outside on balmy evenings with a glass of wine and my laptop, penning my new novel, surrounded by summer flowers and bathed in the glow of twinkling lights. Of course I may have this vision, but am conveniently forgetting I am rubbish at anything gardening related. In fact, it’s possible I am worse at gardening than I am at decorating. Hell, let’s cut to the chase, when the DIY fairy was handing out domestic skills to the Beev family, my sister got them all. Cooking: tick, wallpapering: tick, building things: tick. As for me, unless it involves writing, wine drinking, pizza eating or pussycat cuddling, I am fairly useless at most things in life. I want a pretty garden though, so I am figuring I should keep it low key. Tubs instead of plants (as the last shrub I put in took over most of neighbour’s

garden and I spent much of last summer desperately trying to regain control), maybe a few hanging baskets and a couple of pretty lanterns. My mother is already excited at the prospect of gardening centre trips. She used to drag me kicking and screaming so is thrilled that I will now willingly visit them. Not that she is particularly green fingered herself. Her house is where plants go to die and I am sure the last one she took home visibly gulped when she carried it into the living room and it saw all of her dead orchids and spider plants. Yes, seriously, she managed to kill the terminator of all things green: the hardy spider plant. Garden centres of Norfolk: we are coming your way. I apologise in advance.

Find out more about Keri and her new mystery thriller, The Darkness Beneath, at www.keribeevis.com.

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Gardening Theatre

Behind the scenes AT THE CHELSEA FLOWER SHOW Jody Lidgard of Bespoke Outdoor Spaces in Harleston explains how he prepares for the biggest gardening event of the year

he start of the year has been amazingly busy and productive here at Bespoke Outdoor Spaces as we plan our 15th RHS Chelsea Flower Show garden build. This year we are delighted to be working alongside Jo Thompson, who has been asked by Wedgewood to design their garden for the show in May. A Chelsea Flower Show garden is a huge accolade for us and one which we take very seriously. Planning usually starts at least twelve months prior to the show. As a landscape design and build company we are aware of the intricacies and cadence of a build at Chelsea. Our part in the project is to support the designer and deliver the garden on time and to the highest standard possible. As an RHS

judge myself I can see the game from both sides. We are looking for horticultural, design and construction detail to a jawdropping standard that leads the world in terms of quality and excellence. As the contract lead, I work with a team of highly motivated and passionate people. The pace is gruelling from day one as we only have twenty days to build the garden. By the time we hit the ground every member of the team is fully briefed on their role in the process. Of course, there are occasional issues and challenges that arise during this period, so my role is to see these coming, manage them and turn every situation into a win for the team. Hours-wise, every day is a 12 hour stint on site with around an hour each way for travel time so physical and mental fitness is paramount. Logisticswise, we programme a

military style delivery system that relies on minute to minute timetabling. A delivery that is even an hour late will impact on the schedule further up the line. If I’m being honest with myself the biggest thrill I get out of the whole project is during the build phase. It’s as stressful as you make it, with a “drop dead finish line” which can’t be extended. In fact, our aim is always to complete 24 hours before judging begins to allow the garden to take a breath and exhale! Once the garden is completed I prefer to make my exit and contemplate next year’s build; the period between finishing the garden and receiving word on the judging results is a strange sort of limbo. Of course, everyone wants the best results, but experience shows me that remaining sanguine and a little humble throughout the project is the best way for us.

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Nature

30 DAYS WILD Would you like to deepen your connection to nature and add a pinch of wonder, awe and wildness to your everyday experience? David North from Norfolk Wildlife Trust might just have the answer.

here is much talk today of the benefits of ‘mindfulness’ as a way of coping with the stresses and strains of modern life. But ‘wildfulness’ – simply spending time in nature – also brings great rewards. Becoming more connected to nature, tuning-in to the sounds, smells and textures of the wild world around us brings unexpected benefits: a different sense of perspective, feeling part of something bigger than ourselves, seeing things in new light, discovering that the boundary between you and the wild is perhaps not where you expected. The Wildlife Trusts have a saying: ‘All our lives are better when they are a little bit wild’. They have developed hundreds of ‘Random Acts of Wildness’ which are easy and free to do and can help you engage with nature wherever you are.

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This June, Norfolk Wildlife Trust is challenging people everywhere in Norfolk to spend ‘30 Days Wild’ and commit to taking just a few minutes every day for 30 consecutive days to build a connection to the natural world. Just step outside into your garden to begin. Whether you live in a town or in the country there is wildness all around you to be discovered. There are free resources for families, schools and individuals and we would love you, whatever your age or interest in nature, to give it a try. Whatever the time of year, taking just a few minutes every day to spend time outdoors can help us feel happier, healthier and more connected to nature. Try it! You can also use 30 Days Wild as the perfect excuse to visit some wild places or have a go at seeing a wild species you have never seen before.

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Nature Images Courtesy of David Tipling

To get you started here are our top suggestions for ways for to connect with nature in Norfolk: 1. Find wildlife, peace and tranquillity in a Norfolk churchyard – churchyards can be havens for wildflowers, butterflies and bees and are beautiful places to spend a few quiet moments 2. Take a few minutes on a clear night to head outside and star watch – somewhere away from artificial lights is best 3. Visit a Norfolk common and discover its wildlife – Norfolk has more commons than any other county in England and they can be great places to discover wildlife 4. Walk bare foot on a lawn, a beach, or best of all on soft moss – notice how cool or warm different areas feel and if you try this in the early morning feel the tingle of dew on your skin. 5. Talk to the birds – listen to bird song and try and whistle back. If you are good at imitations then the bird may even answer! 6. Talk a walk in a wood – enjoy walking under a canopy of soft green leaves. NWT has some great woods to explore including NWT Lower Wood, Ashwellthorpe, a wonderful ancient woodland in South Norfolk. 7. Stand on a bridge and watch a river flow below – you never know what you might spot, even a kingfisher or an otter if you are really lucky. 8. Reflect on the water’s edge – spend five minutes sitting quietly at the water’s edge and let

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wildlife come to you. June is a great month to look for dragonflies and damselflies at ponds. Try the ancient pingo ponds at NWT Thompson Common in South Norfolk. 9. Smell a wild scent – on warm, muggy June evenings smell the scent from honeysuckle or jasmine. It’s strongest at night to attract visiting moths. 10. Take a wild photo and capture the day – get creative and take a really wild photo and send your image to wild@norfolkwildlifetrust.org.uk Norfolk Wildlife Trust is here to help you and our website www.norfolkwildlifetrust.org.uk has details of nature reserves across Norfolk, the wildlife you can see and how to get there. Take our 30 Days Wild challenge and commit to a Random Act of Wildness each day in June. Register now at www.mywildlife.org. uk/30DaysWild/ to let us know you are joining in!

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Gardens

Garden Jottings from Ken

hat a sight to behold - overflowing pots, sinks filled to the brim, sheds barely visible through the vegetation, no bare earth to be seen. Who would want a garden that looks so… stunning! A true cottage garden is a thing of outstanding beauty, originally created when large gardens were for the landed gentry, while farm and estate workers toiled long days for little return and so their small enclosed plots became an opportunity to provide extra food. Plants were raised from saved seed and exchanged cuttings, most plots contained fruit trees as well as herbs, aromatic flowers, and vegetables. New plants were inserted as others were lifted, no space was wasted, compost was made, and a few free-range hens scratching about offered eggs, pest control and fertiliser. Over the years the balance between food and flowers changed, but the essential nature and form continues today. This style of gardening is very relaxed, no straight lines, no formal lawn or regimented planting plan, but a ‘random effect’ cannot be achieved without work or an uncared-for disaster will emerge! Almost any mix of plants can be used, a few good clumps will add a sense of maturity, interspersed with single dot plants of the same variety to give a self-sown impression. Include delphiniums, lupins, foxgloves,

hollyhocks and verbascum for towering height, add aquilegia, scabious, asters, campanula, border phlox and the golden heads of rudbeckia for a long season of insect-friendly colour. Low down, elephant and lambs ears (bergenias and Stachys byzantina) mixed with mounds of aubrieta, saxifrage, cushion phlox, pinks and dianthus, plus hardy sprawling geraniums will soften path edges. Most of these plants are herbaceous (dormant in Winter) so include shrubs such as fragrant lavenders, philadelphus, lilacs and viburnums, as well as fruit trees and bushes. Boundaries need clothing with scrambling honeysuckles, roses and other climbers, clematis look great winding through established plants or hoisted up on obelisks and arches. Now intermingle patches of herbs and vegetables, plus a scattering of hardy annual flower seed and it’ll soon be looking the part! If you think that this all seems a bit old fashioned for you, think again - cutting edge design may be ultra-modern to the eye, but it draws many of its elements from old cottage gardens!

Cheers Ken,

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LOCAL HISTORIAN

MEMORIES OF HINDERCLAY Local historian, Dennis Cross from Diss, shares with us his fascinating collection of old postcards, focusing on a different village in every issue. This issue, we take a walk down memory lane in Hinderclay.

St Maryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Church, Hinderclay, has a lofty embattlement tower containing six bells. The church was restored in 1904 costing over ÂŁ600. The register dates from the year 1567. This image is from 1910 when Edmund Farrer was the rector.

Hinderclay Public Elementary School was erected in 1873 for 54 children. Florence Williamson was headmistress when this 1912 postcard was taken. This one-time school closed many years ago and is now a private house.

Grove Farm is one of the bigger farms in the area. At the time of this 1913 picture the farm employed many villagers who helped grow wheat, barley, beans, peas and clover.

The Crown pub was situated just up the road from the post office in the main street. James Mole was landlord at this time. Note the transport of the day outside this delightful building which has long since closed.

History

This 1909 view of New Farm, Hinderclay, is by photographer Mailing Of Diss. Thatched houses like these needed re-thatching every 20-25 years whereas wheatstraw only needed replacing every 50 years.

Hinderclay used to have a lot of thatched cottages 100 years ago. Poplar Cottage used to house many farmworkers. This postcard shows a thatched roof still needing to be replaced. Many were re-roofed with tiles or slate.

The Six Bells Inn was one of two pubs in the village. This view is dated 1912 and Robert Scarfe was landlord. Today no pubs exist in Hinderclay and once again the building has been converted into private accommodation.

The Norfolk Postcard Club meets regularly in Trowse in Norwich and new members are very welcome. The next meetings are on 11 April and 9 May. Dennis is also the author of several local history books that can be purchased by contacting him direct.

Hinderclay Post Office in 1915 was run by Richard Peach. The post office has long since closed and is now a private house.

If readers have any local postcards of Diss or the surrounding villages, please get in touch with him after 7pm on 01379 651897. ÂŠ

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What’s on this month

VILLAGE NOTICE BOARD EVENT

CRAFTS

HISTORY

FELINE CARE EASTER OPEN DAY

BORDER CRAFT COLLECTIVE MASTER CRAFTS FAIR

MEMORIES OF DISS A SHOPKEEPER’S TALE

Join the cats of Feline Care this Easter Sunday at their sanctuary. Easter eggs to win, meet plenty of our fluffy residents, close magic from Alan Nunn, plenty of scrumptious homemade treats to feast upon, bric-a-brac stalls plus live music from the Ukulele orchestra of Spalding. Entry £1 for adults, 50p for kids and under 3’s are free. felinecare.org.uk

Come and meet local crafters Free admission

SUN 1ST APR 12PM TO 3PM Feline Care, Roudham Road, East Harling NR16 2QN

JUMBLE SALE

SAT 14TH APR 10AM - 3PM Diss United Reformed Church, Mere Street, Diss IP22 4AD

PLANT SALE PLANT SALE

SUN 15TH APR 10AM-3PM Redgrave & Lopham Fen, Low Common Road IP22 2HX

Annual event with a wide variety of plants, second hand tools & donated plants. £1.50 adults, children free. Hot & cold refreshments available. Dogs on leads welcome.

CRAFTS SILVER SOCIAL: STAMP & COLLAGE PRINT MAKING WORKSHOP

JUMBLE SALE

SAT 7TH APR 2 - 4 PM Flordon Community Centre

Good quality clothing and footwear for all.

CHILDREN CHILDREN’S WILDLIFE ACTIVITY DAY

WED 11TH APR 10AM Peter Beales Roses, London Road, Attleborough, NR17 1AY

A variety of fun wildlife themed activities suitable for children of all ages. Swallow Aquatics will be bringing along plenty of reptiles to handle!! Bug hunts, Face Painting, seed sowing, build a wormery, photography competitions, more! Admission is free - small charge will apply for face painting.

MON 16TH - WED 18TH APR Various Libraries across Norfolk call 01362 656852 for details

Life is too short for ordinary biscuits, come & design your own fancy biscuit at your local library! Create designs using paint, collage & stamping - all materials, guidance (& biscuits!) are provided. Everyone is welcome - no experience necessary! Free entry.

FRI 20TH APR 19:30 St Mary’s Church Hall IP22 4QQ

Derek Potter has lived in Diss all his life and started running the general stores on Fair Green in the 1960’s. Come along and hear his recollections. Members £3, non members £5.

ARTS DISSFEST’ LAUNCH FAMILY ARTS DAY

SAT 21ST APR 1 - 4.30PM Diss Youth and Community Ctr, Shelfanger Road IP22 4EH

Come and join us in making fish-themed decorations which will be displayed at our Festival in Diss in July. There will also be a local storyteller too! It’s a drop-in workshop, so pop along anytime between 1.004.30pm. Under 16s go free, Adults £1 per entry.

EVENT WYMONDHAM HERITAGE SOCIETY MEETING

THU 26TH APR 7:30PM Fairland Hall, Fairland Street, Wymondham

Talk entitled “Ethel Gooch Wymondham’s First Lady” by Georgette Vale. Non-members (£2) welcome.

CINEMA HARLESTON CINEMA: GOODBYE CHRISTOPHER ROBIN

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Village Notice Board author A.A.Milne & his son Christopher whose toys inspired the magical world of Winnie the Poo. Tickets £4.

EVENT A CLAIRVOYANT EVENING FRI 27TH APR 7PM Palgrave Community Centre, Upper Rose Lane IP22 1AP

EVENT

CRAFTS

CHARITY FUNDRAISING AND COFFEE MORNING

BORDER CRAFT COLLECTIVE MASTER CRAFTS FAIR

SAT 12TH MAY 10 TIL NOON Tasburgh Village Hall

Cakes, Raffle, Tombola, Bric a Brac & various other stalls. All proceeds to Breast Cancer Now (reg charity no. 1160558)

Wayne McHugh, a gifted psychic will be at Palfrave Community Centre engaging with the audience.

JUMBLE SALE

EVENT

SAT 12TH MAY 2PM Lincoln Hall, Hingham NR9 4HW

THE ROYAL NAVY PRESENTATION TEAM TUE 1ST MAY 7.30PM Diss Cornhall

This is a unique opportunity to engage with the Team & find out more about today’s Royal Navy. After their presentation there will be a Q&A.

BUCKENHAM HOUSE RIDING FOR THE DISABLED GRAND JUMBLE SALE Jumble, bric-a-brac, books, cakes, tombola, raffle draw & refreshments.

PLANT SALE GIANT PLANT SALE 26-30TH APRIL AND

17TH-20TH MAY 9AM-4.30PM Foundry Plant Centre, Trinity Park, Ipswich, IP3 8UH

Quality plants at competitive prices. 1000’s of plants, roses, trees & perennials all under one roof. FREE ENTRY

EVENT SAT 5TH MAY 10AM Rickinghall Village Hall, Hinderclay Road Diss, IP22 1HD

EVENT BECCLES ANTIQUES STREET MARKET SUN 6TH MAY 8AM Beccles Town Centre

Host to a hundred general and specialist dealers. Many local shops and restaurants open and local ‘street food’.

Eye Town Hall, IP23 7AF

Come & meet local crafters. Free admission.

ARTS BUNWELL AND DISTRICT CAMERA CLUB ANNUAL PHOTO EXHIBITION

New Buckenham Village Hall, Moat Lane NR16

A selection of images taken by our members over the last year. The exhibition is on both Sat 19th May 10.30am - 5pm & Sun 20th May 10.30am - 4pm.

EVENT WYMONDHAM HERITAGE SOCIETY MEETING

THU 24TH MAY 7.30PM Fairland Hall, Fairland Street, Wymondham

Talk on tracing a house history by Gill Blanchard. Nonmembers (£2) welcome.

RICKINGHALL MODEL RAILWAY SHOW

Featuring 17 layouts from across East Anglia. Model traction engine trailer rides and a children’s play area. This is a show for all the family.

SAT 19TH MAY 10AM - 3PM

ARTS EVENT THE R34 ADVENTURE WORK IN PROGRESS

FRI 18TH MAY 7.30PM St Mary’s Church Hall IP22 4QQ

Diss Museum Manager, Basil Abbott will give a report on his work so far for next year’s airship centenary. The R34 did the first double airborne crossing of the Atlantic & came back to Pulham. Members £3, non-members £5. Pay at the door, all welcome.

NORFOLK AND NORWICH OPEN STUDIOS

26 MAY - 10 JUNE 10AM-4PM Woodview Farm, Church Lane, Wicklewood NR18 9QH

Exhibition of contemporary Landscape Painting & Fine Art Photography by local artists.

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Seasonal food

WHAT’S IN Season? Keep an eye on what’s in season and you’ll get the most out of all the fresh local produce that Norfolk and Suffolk have to offer. This issue, Juliette from Fredrick’s Fine Foods in Diss shares her favourites for April and May. VEGETABLES

FRUIT

n Rocket is a deliciously peppery salad leaf, but don’t just use it in salads! Try making rocket pesto – a punchy change from basil for pasta sauces or stuffing chicken breasts.

n Gooseberries don’t just make wonderful fools and jams; they are great partnered with mackerel and chicken and make particularly delicious vodka!

n Watercress is another nutritious and peppery salad ingredient and good in stir fries, pesto and soups too.

n Elderflowers are just coming into season. These delicate flowers make a refreshing cordial and an equally delicious alcoholic champagne – have a go, they are both easy and fun to make.

n Wild garlic has quite a short season but it’s a really lovely treat if you can get hold of it – the flowers are pretty to use too. It pairs well with meat and fish so why not give it a go. n Asparagus is just starting to come into the farm shops or up in your veg patch – eat it as fresh as you can in salads, with butter or hollandaise, or cooked as a vegetable accompaniment. Enjoy it while its here! n Radish – the French love to eat radishes with an aperitif – just washed and dipped in salt – crunchy and refreshing. n Samphire is a real treat from the seaside. I like it quickly cooked and served with butter, or served in stir fries.

Outside catering is our speciality

FISH n Local Cromer crabs are a treat not to be missed – why not try a crab linguine or a quiche using crab and leeks? n Sardines are great with new season Jersey Royal potatoes and a fresh herb sauce vierge – delicious!

MEAT n For the most tender lamb choose the early season meat, but why not give the flavoursome hogget or mutton a try?

Juliette at

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Stories from our region

LOLITA Owl

A short story by Neil Lanham

n the easy days of the Albion Fairs of the 1970s, there was a magnificent little local newspaper known as The Waveney Clarion. This paper in turn carried an equally magnificent cartoon strip simply entitled Coypu. Coypus were massive South American rodents brought here to be bred in captivity for their fur, which was known as ‘nutrea’ in the fashion industry. These massive brutes had escaped and were undermining the river banks. There was a bounty put on their heads which eventually eliminated them from the shores of Blighty at about the same time, sadly, as the admirable Clarion seemed to drift into oblivion.

Well, I have no idea where Henry got his inspiration from this time but the resultant drawing was certainly of a more shapely creature all round, not only having the prescribed rounded head, but eye lashes that could probably carry mascara, most shapely owl type legs and nails that looked as though they needed to be enhanced by owl nail varnish. When Henry brought his drawing round to show us, memories of those halcyon days of Albion and The Clarion came flooding back for I could not help thinking: “It’s Lolita Owl.” Thanks Henry!

The irascible coypu and its cartoon antics were taken to the heart of all Waveney Clarion readers and he became a cult figure. In one issue, no doubt to further spice things up, a female of the species was introduced. She was more Marilyn Monroe than Marilyn herself, if you get my meaning, and was duly given the title ‘Lolita Coypu.’ Now recently I taught my grandson, Henry, how to draw stylised creatures such as a frog, a hare and an owl. About a week later, Henry’s school mistress asked the class to draw an owl. Henry obliged as he thought he knew from my instruction how to draw owls. But no! “That’s not an owl,” said his school mistress. “Owls are more shapely with round heads!” And she put a cross over the owl that Henry had drawn from my inspiration. “Do it again.”

Neil Lanham runs www.oraltraditions.co.uk, a website devoted to spoken word history, traditional folk song, story, wisdom, history and cultural identity. You can contact Neil on 01379 890568 or traditionsofsuffolk@gmail.com

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Arts

Creative EASTER TREATS Kristy Campbell is on the hunt for creative Easter treats in our fine city of Norwich. chocolate making. The famous Caley’s Chocolate Factory dates back to 1883 and served the country and its troops with ‘Marching Chocolate’ throughout World War I. The factory may be now be closed but the brand lives on and many people will have enjoyed its hot chocolate drinks and chocolate eggs every Easter. This month, I’ve had the pleasure of interviewing Ria Ewles, a contemporary independent baker on the Norwich scene who brings mouthwatering creations to the table. She crafts edible designs tailored to her customers’ requests and posts them online for the world to see.

standout feature of Easter is that its date changes each year due to different calendars that various churches follow. The date is calculated in relation to the full moon after the vernal equinox so we can celebrate anytime between March 22 and April 25. This year Easter Sunday falls on 1 April. Regardless of the date, it is a time for reflection, thanks and celebration of our friends and families near and far. Over the years, new traditions and customs have entered our society. Easter egg hunts and baskets of treats have been adopted by this inclusive holy day, while remaining symbolic of the sealed tomb of Christ.

Other festive treats include Easter bread, hot cross buns, butter lamb, salted herring and ham. If you’re looking for sweet treats this Easter, then Norwich has a lot to offer. There is an abundance of small businesses in the lanes preparing to delight your taste buds. Cupcake & Co (Upper St Giles, Norwich) has a delicious selection of cakes, including gluten-free and vegan options. Another favourite is without a doubt Macarons & More (Royal Arcade, Norwich). If you want something that is pleasing to the eye and packed full of flavour, you’ll be sure to find the perfect gift. Norwich has a strong history of

Looking back to a blissful youthful time that lay down the foundation for her love of baking, Ria says, “As a little girl I have fond memories of baking gooey chocolate cakes with my mum and sisters. We’d cover them with a huge amount of chocolate frosting and cut a big slice off for Dad to try”. This delightful scene is such a magical example of one that gives birth to a lifelong passion. Ria’s journey as a baker has both developed and been inspired by her becoming a shop assistant at Macarons & More. “I’m surrounded by the most amazing pastry chefs and bakers,” she says, and this undoubtedly motivates her to experiment more with her production line.

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Arts best thing I can advise is to bake, bake and bake some more! Baking is definitely a science and it’s taken me countless failed recipes to figure out what works for me and my oven. Bake at every opportunity and get ready to have wrinkly fingers – the washing up is ENDLESS!” If you’ve got an idea in mind and want to bring it to life for a special occasion, get in touch with Ria. She is friendly, enthusiastic and she cares passionately about baking!

While Ria has shaped commissions for friends and family, she tells us how her most dramatic challenge so far has been a two-tiered wedding cake for close friends Skyee and Bee. “With seven layers of rainbow sponge in each tier and three hours of washing up, it was hard work, but it gave me huge sense of pride to see my cake in their wedding photos!”

covered in chocolate sprinkles. I made lots of these with my partner Frankie for our Village Easter Fair last year and they sold out before the fair was even open to the public!” A little advice from the expert: “If you want to get into baking the

Contact Kristy on kristycamp17@gmail.com, visit her website www.axisweb.org/p/ kristycamp or find her on Instagram @kristycamp. Contact Ria on riaree@live.com or see her amazing cakes on Instagram @riabakesxo.

Though her classic cakes are delectable, Ria is always eager to try something out of her comfort zone. Of late, she has been pairing together some unusual but elegant flavours, including a raspberry sponge cake with prosecco buttercream, and raspberry and rose cupcakes, decorated with edible rose petals. So, what’s her top Easter bake? “My top Easter treat has got to be the Creme Egg Scotch Egg,” says Ria. “These consist of a whole Creme Egg, which is rolled in chocolate sponge, dipped in melted chocolate and finally

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Stories from our region

Wymondham

CINEMA LOVERS ENJOY A ‘Regal Experience’ IN WYMONDHAM

hen 1952 Ealing comedy The Titfield Thunderbolt was shown at Wymondham’s former Regal Cinema in July 2000, it was meant to be a one-off screening… The Regal Cinema had closed down in 1993, over 50 years after it was constructed, and the building was being used by the Wymondham and District Ex-Services Social Club. With the aid of Cinema City in Norwich, the first screening to be held at the Regal in 7 years was arranged to celebrate 100 years of cinema in the county. It attracted wonderful support and everyone involved decided to try another couple of classic movies the following year. A small group of dedicated movie buffs was formed under the chairmanship of Michael Armstrong, who had been associated with the Regal since 1958 and was once the projectionist there. The Regal Experience was up and running! The group now put on up to ten classic movies a year on Sunday afternoons. With some patrons travelling from as far away as Cambridge and London the shows have proved most popular. The Regal Experience presents traditional shows with supporting shorts, adverts and trailers. Occasionally there is a display of memorabilia, perhaps relating to one of the film’s stars. A bar is open before the start and during the interval when ice-creams are also served from “the original Regal tray”. It’s all pure nostalgia and Regal picture-goers certainly get their money’s worth!

Over the years there have been personal appearances by a galaxy of stars, among them June Whitfield, Virginia McKenna, Sylvia Syms, Susan Hampshire, Shirley Anne Field, Helen Fraser, Dora Bryan, Maddy Smith and even Fred Astaire’s daughter Ava. The Regal Experience is not-for-profit and supports various charities from Star Throwers to the RSPCA. All shows are at Wymondham Ex-Services’ Club (the old Regal Cinema). Tickets are available from Michael Armstrong on 01953 603246 or at Simply Cards, Market Street, Wymondham. They are £5 with concessions £4. Sunday 8 April, 2.30pm, A special show to commemorate 100 years of the Royal Air Force. Sunday 13 May, 2.30pm The African Queen (1951)

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Writing Story

A HARD Life

A short story by Ron Brewer of Attleborough Writers’ Group

cleaned up, given some nutritious food, something to drink and settled down in a comfortable bed. I think I fell asleep almost immediately and woke up later feeling much, much better.

Family life meant that I didn’t get the best of starts in this world. My father had disappeared off by the time I was born. Seemed he was looking for another woman, well that’s what we were told. With two brothers and two sisters at home as well, mum was always on the scrounge for more food. She did her best but just trying to get enough nourishment to even put on weight was difficult.

I was determined to try to turn my life around, to grasp this opportunity to live in a more normal world. My past life had been hard and I was determined not to go all through that again. So I was a ‘perfect patient’, cooperating with the staff, putting up with the regular baths and the weighing routines. The great day came and I was discharged, taken away from the hospital and given my freedom in what seemed like a countryside heaven.

y life has been pretty hard in the past but things have sorted themselves out and now I am living in relative comfort. Hopefully things will stay this way for a long time so I’d better make the best of it.

Even worse, we lost our home because of some local development, were separated from each other and it was a matter of the survival of the fittest. I was wandering around, having to just use my wits to get by. No one seemed to have any sympathy for those who were down on their luck. I soon found it was easier to hide away during most of the daylight hours, perhaps spending the time sleeping and then to travel around at dusk. I’d pick up odd bits of food that I might come across, even to the point of eating stuff that had been left around for pets and farm animals.

I’ve settled down now, even found a girlfriend. And I’ll always be grateful to those people at the Tiggywinkle’s Hedgehog Rescue Centre who made my past life into a thing of the past.

But as time went on I got weaker and weaker, even walking around was getting too difficult. One day I found my normal route had been blocked off and I had to cross a busy road that I was not familiar with. I went as fast as I could but I was injured by a passing car as I couldn’t get out of the way quick enough. The car driver came back to have a look and kindly put a blanket around me, carefully positioned me in her car and took me straight off to hospital. The staff at the hospital were wonderful. They must have dealt with many similar cases before as I was

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“I can see what’s happening at home and in the stables even when I’m away”

FREE Mira Shower with every walk in shower/bath

Bathing a problem? Try a walk in shower

• Non-slip safety flooring • Waterproof wall panelling • Level entry wet floors • Easy walk in & out shower/baths • Grabrails, shower seats & raised toilets • Discounts for OAPs, the disabled, ex-service personnel, British Legion & SSAFA

NO PRESSURE TO BUY ON THE DAY

01603 605518 www.ahminstallations.co.uk

Bringing in the Sunshine • • •

Your One Stop Conservatory • • Specialist Over 1000 satisfied customers Best prices guaranteed

“Create extra living space...”

Wymondham Showroom

Unit 5 Chestnut Drive Wymondham NR18 9SB

01953 600505 Mon to Fri 9am - 5pm Sat 10am - 3pm

WE COVER ALL OF NORFOLK & SUFFOLK (Opening soon in Bury St Edmunds)

Fully comprehensive 10 year guarantee 10 Conservatories & Orangeries available to view in our indoor showrooms

“How about an Orangery”

£7995

SPECIAL

OFFER

995 £3x6 ft) 3m (10x10 n

Edwardia

What’s included in the price? ✔ High quality Synseal Conservatory in white U-pvc ✔ ‘A’ rated Energy Saving Windows ✔ 35mm polycarbonate roof ✔ Fully insulated concrete base and dwarf walls ✔ All fitting and internal window sill ✔ Solar glass roof upgrade only £895 extra

UNBEATABLE PRICES ON ORANGERIES!

Refresh your Conservatory... Oprtion 1

Diss Showroom

Before...

Oprtion 2

After...

Before...

After...

17 Victoria Road Diss IP22 4GU

01379 650617 Mon to Fri 9am - 5pm Sat & Sun 10am - 4pm

The latest double glazed self cleaning solar glass roof

The latest cosy tiled roof made by Guardian - fully insulated & plastered internally

Visit our website at www.conservatoriesetc.com for inspiration! 73

Independent Stampin’ Up! Demonstrator

Sandra’s Stamp & Craft Studio @ Great Ellingham, ATTLEBOROUGH

Regular, fully tutored classes at all levels Norfolk Craft Retreat escapes Online shop for Stampin’ Up! supplies & much more. Call for more details.

Mobile 07806 616704

www.stampnstudio.blogspot.com

Derek Hardaker Professional

PAINTER & DECORATOR Interior and Exterior

Over 30 yrs experience

For a friendly and reliable service please call

Tel : 01953 605269 Mob : 07967862114

Chapel House, Silfield Street, Silfield, Wymondham. NR18 9NL

ROOFING & BUILDING SUPPLIES ✆ 07825 908287 / 01508 532200 premierroofingsupplies@outlook.com

Public & Trade & Local Delivery • OSB • Sleepers • Scaffold Boards • Treated 3x2 / 4x2 / 5x2 • Plasterboard • Plastering Materials • Lead• Felt • Rolled Insulation • Rigid Insulation • Sand / Cement • Nails & Screws Premier Roofing Supplies Ltd Unit 12a, Wellesley Road, Tharston Industrial Estate, Long Stratton, NR15 2PD Opening Hours

Mon – Fri – 7.00-8.00 & 10.00-16.30 Sat – 8.30 – 12.00

WE OFFER HIGH QUALITY PROVISION IN A SMALL, CHILD-FRIENDLY SETTING The new 30 hours government funding is welcome, along with other types of funding

Owned and managed by Qualified Teachers Flexible hours – 8am-6pm 01953 603333

office@hummingbirdpreschool.co.uk www.hummingbirdpreschool.co.uk

Home

Wymondham

ALL ABOARD! Tackling loneliness in Wymondham J

anuary is traditionally a time when we think about planning our holidays for the year and gathering family and friends for fun and adventure. However, some in the community simply have ‘no-one to go with’. Hub Community Project, a Wymondham based charity, is launching a new project for those who feel lonely or isolated to meet up with others for companionship, food and fun. They are running a ‘holiday at home’ with three days of activities and entertainment including a coach outing. Refreshments and lunch will be provided. The project is supported by two local shops, One Stop and the Coop, each making a grant towards the costs from their 5p carrier bag charges. Loneliness can affect people of all ages but for the elderly in particular it can lead emotional and mental health problems. Many older people live alone and are not often visited by their children or other relatives. They can also often lose touch with their other contacts, as they or their friends become increasingly ill and less able to leave their homes, or they suffer bereavements which leave them feeling less able to make connections with new people. This isolation is widespread among those over

PC or Mac Running Slow? Got A Virus? Need help?

For a friendly and professional IT service for PC & Apple Mac call Joe Richards at

Tel: 01953 718421 & 07928 326008 Email: help@bailiwickit.com Website: www.bailiwickit.com

75, with nearly half saying that television or pets are their main form of company, and with as many as 13% of over 75 year olds admitting that they are either often or always lonely. The new project, called All Aboard, will take place from 10-12 April at the Hub, Ayton Road, Wymondham, NR18 Linda Bradbeer 0QJ. The aim is to gather Linda Bradbeer older people and help them to form friendships with people with similar interests. At the close of the project people will be signposted to local activities and encouraged to attend with their new friends. The project costs £30 per person inclusive of refreshments, lunch, coach and entry fees. Booking is essential. Please call 01953 798505 for a booking form or contact Linda for more information on 01603 812619 or linda.bradbeer@ lineone.net

Architectural Technologist Nick Clarke mciat

• • • • • •

Partial or Complete Service Extensions & Alterations Conversions & New Build Work on Listed Buildings Eco-Friendly Design Outdoor Design

Tel.01379 642555 75

andrew p r love architecture . design . planning cherry tree farm wymondham road bunwell norfolk nr16 1nb 



     



planning applications & building regulations submissions alteration works, extensions & conversions architectural design consultation & drawings specialist in listed buildings & conservation work site supervision & management excellent local knowledge and contacts domestic & commercial projects

Over the past 15 years we have established a reputation for unrivalled service, quality workmanship and attention to detail.

GAS SAFE gas boiler servicing l gas boiler breakdown l gas boiler replacement l gas fires servicing and replacement l gas cooker service, installation and replacement l land lord certificates l gas safety certificates l emergency gas and water leaks l LPG conversions l LPG caravans/mobile homes/ boats/chalets l

South Norfolk

Design Award winner 2011 & 2013 for innovative and ecologically aware architecture please contact us on

t: 01953 789911 m: 07771 855225

e: info@andrewprloveadp.co.uk www.andrewprloveadp.co.uk

F GAS l

air-conditioning service and installation l refrigeration service and installation

CALL FOR A FREE QUOTATION Tel: 01603 512213 / 01502 442327 Mob: 07972 104291

Health

HEALTH Q&A Q A

: I have really painful, stiff joints – what can I do to help?

weight-bearing exercises and eating good protein can do the trick.

: Damage to joints is extremely painful and can lead to long-term conditions such as arthritis but there are steps you can take to keep your joints healthy and mobile.

Reduce stress – Try mindfulness and deep breathing to help soothe the nervous system. Herbal remedies like Stress Relief by Bioforce will help relieve symptoms of stress and anxiety.

Keep moving! Even a very short walk has benefits. Staying active increases strength and flexibility in the joints and muscles.

Herbal remedies – If you suffer from conditions such as arthritis or fibromyalgia, try atrosan tablets to soothe joint pains and always remember arnica gel can bring relief.

Drink water – Cartilage is lubricated by fluid which is 60% water so it’s essential to keep hydrated. Drinking more water reduces pain caused by conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis and gout. Good diet – Eating inflammatory foods such as sugar, dairy, saturated fats and meat can aggravate joint pain whilst foods that are anti-inflammatory such as fruit, vegetables and whole-grains can help to prevent it. Remember protein – Muscles support your body weight! There’s no need to go to the gym, simple

Contact the Natural Food Store in Norwich for more information on 01603 613228 or visit www.shop-naturally.com Village People 93x62 ad:Layout 1 16/02/2018 15:41 P

EYE GOT

MINE FRE E!

free eye tests FOR THE OVER 60s AT CECIL AMEY N O RWI CH AT T L E B O R O U G H DEREHAM HALESWORTH HARLESTON WAT T O N wroxham WYMONDHAM c ec i l a m e y . c o . u k

C ECI L A MEY

Looking Good!

* Terms and conditions apply. See website for details.

Qualiﬁed, HCPC registered podiatrists nail cutting corns and callus fungal nail infections biomechanics diabetic foot health We also sell footwear for men and women, orthotics (insoles), socks, and other footwear and foot care items.

Whartons Court Wymondham NR18 0UQ

01953 425825 info@footsureuk.com

New Dentures & Repair Service

Denture assessment > Advice > Manufacture > Fitting

Nigel Towner CDT RCS

01379 676560

marlboroughdentallab.co.uk

Marlborough Dental Lab

Hypnobalance UK

Unhappy?

Don’t suffer - bring balance back to your life

FIRST SESSION FREE Counselling & Hypnotherapy Stress / Anxiety workshops held regularly

Diane Mortimer

MHS MNCS(Acc) Dip Hyp CS, Dip PC

Call or see website for details

01953 850598 07780 512151

diane.mortimer@sky.com www.hypnobalanceuk.co.uk New Village People 62x62_Layout 1 10/12/2015 19:46

“The time leading up to the funeral was made bearable knowing that you were at the end of the telephone.” – from a family we have cared for at Rosedale

Victoria Rd, Diss High St, Attleborough Middleton St, Wymondham

01379 640810 01953 452538 01953 601103

www.rosedalefuneralhome.co.uk

We are a family business and promise to provide exceptional care and a truly personal 24 hour service, when you need it most.

Health

PUT a spring INTO YOUR STEP Alistair Bielby from Footsure in Wymondham shares his advice for putting your best foot forward this spring.

ritish Summertime heralds a 20% increase in activity levels across the UK, and Norfolk and Suffolk are certainly no exception. Boasting some of the nation’s best coastal, forest and rural walks, not to mention the unique landscape of the Broads, it’s hard to ignore the call of the countryside. But what does this mean for our feet? An increase in activity means an increased workload for our feet. New problems can develop and underlying issues that have been protected by thick winter socks and looser fitting boots can become more apparent. Even if there’s no discomfort, there’s often a rogue nail or two that has happily hidden away in the winter but now rears its ugly head when displayed in sandals! At Footsure we have seen it all, and our expert podiatrists can ensure your feet are in the best

MOBILE HAIRDRESSER GLAMOUR BY BECKY

IN THE COMFORT OF YOUR OWN HOME

Women & Gents Children Cut / Colour All Techniques

CALL BECKY ON 07933 110442 Bloom into who you were meant to be!

Stacey Boyle, MA Counselling staceylee.counselling@gmail.com

07480 360386

shape for whatever adventures lie ahead. Whether you have foot or ankle pain or concerns about foot health due to diabetes, we can help. Our friendly shoe fitters can make sure you get the right shoe size and width, and all our footwear – from sandals to walking boots – has been selected with both foot health and fashion in mind.

To find out more, pop into the Footsure shop and clinic off Market Street, Wymondham or call 01953 425 825 to make an appointment with a podiatrist.

Eden Meadows Riding Centre Riding lessons for adults and children from 5 years (of all abilities) in our purpose built indoor arena. Adults trying something new, or re-kindling a childhood passion, can enjoy a fun and relaxing sport. For the more serious rider advanced tuition is available, providing a good workout as well!

Tiny Tots fun classes now available for 3-4 yr olds Please call for information and brochure. Friendly, family-run business Sandy Lane, Rocklands, Attleborough NR17 1EN

01953 483545 info@eden-meadows.co.uk www.eden-meadows.co.uk

Licensed by Breckland Council

You don’t need private medical insurance to get private treatment at your local Spire hospital Did you know that you can get private treatment, when you want, without having private medical insurance? You can be seen and treated quickly. You can even choose your consultant and the times of your appointments and treatments. Private self-pay treatment at Spire Norwich Hospital lets you pay for medical treatment when you need it.

Typical self-pay medical treatments you can pay for • knee, hip or shoulder surgery • varicose vein treatment • hernia repair • back pain treatment • weight loss surgery • CT, MRI and ultrasound scans • cosmetic surgery • cataract surgery

For more information or to book an appointment call

01603 294 169 Self-funding and insured patients www.spirenorwich.com

Could you become an Able Care Carer and be part of our friendly team? Able care has run a successful live-in care agency since 1980, we believe that the elderly are happiest in the familiar surroundings of their own home. ✔ Professional experience is not always essential maybe you have personal experience? ✔ Applicants should be prepared to travel to either Norfolk, Suffolk or Cambridgeshire. ✔ No upper age limit.

Call Able Care on

01603 624135

You co earn be uld tween

£560 £ PER W 750 EEK

Prestige Nursing + Care

01603 666 643

www.prestige-nursing.co.uk 81

Wymondham’s HOME FURNISHINGS We offer expert advice and great prices on all aspects of home furnishings and are very proud to have been part of the historic town of Wymondham since 1988. LINENS HOUSEWARES FURNITURE CARPETS & RUGS CURTAINS COOKSHOP UPHOLSTERY SOFT FURNISHINGS BEDS MATTRESSES LIFT AND RISE ELECTRIC CHAIRS PLUS FREE CAR PARKING CLICK & COLLECT

MIDDLETON STREET, WYMONDHAM 01953 603251 JARROLD.CO.UK

LEAPING HARE RESTAURANT & CAFÉ COUNTRY STORE, VINEYARD, GARDENS SATURDAY FARMERS’ MARKET OPEN DAILY 10AM-6PM FRI & SAT EVENINGS FROM 7PM 20 CONSECUTIVE YEARS IN THE GOOD FOOD GUIDE ‘THE MODEL OF WHAT A GOOD SHOP SHOULD BE’ COUNTRY LIVING MAGAZINE ‘ONE OF THE TOP 10 FARMERS’ MARKETS IN THE COUNTRY’ HENRIETTA GREEN IN THE TIMES WYKEN ROAD, STANTON, SUFFOLK, IP31 2DW • 01359 250287 • WYKENVINEYARDS.CO.UK

BLINDS Blinds Blinds Blinds

Blinds & Doors Est. 1965

DOMESTIC, COMMERCIAL, TRADITIONAL

Cooks have been supplying blinds in Norwich, Norfolk and across the East of England for over 50 years.

WithNorwich, our expertise and experienceand across the East of England for over 50 years. Cooks have been supplying blinds in Norfolk in the manufacturing and With our expertise and experience in the manufacturing and installation of blinds, you can be confidentWe offer a ran installation of blinds, you can be Verticalwork blinds Venetian Blinds that you will receive the highest quality Installed by our professional and friendly force, confident product. that you will receive the Velux Blinds Plantation Shutters Co have been blinds quality product. our blindshighest fit Cooks perfectly inInstalled to any supplying room, in any setting. Cooks by our professional and friendly have been supplying blinds in OF Norwich, Norfolk and across the work force, our blinds fit perfectly WE OFFER A RANGE DIFFERENT BLINDS INCLUDING: in Norwich, Norfolk and across the in to any room, in any setting. East of England for over 50 years. • Vertical blinds • Venetian Blinds • Roller Blinds • Roman Blinds • Pleated Blinds • Velux Blinds We offer a range of different blinds including: East of England for over 50 years. Vertical blinds Venetian Blinds Roller Blinds Roman Blinds Pleated Blinds With our expertise and experience • Plantation Shutters • Conservatory Blinds • Curtains and Tracks • Insect Screens Velux Blinds Plantation Shutters Conservatory Blinds Curtains and Tracks Insect Screens With our expertise and experience in the manufacturing and in the manufacturing and of blinds, you can be www.cooksblinds.co.uk installation installation of blinds, you can be confident that you will receive the & Doors Tel: 01603 410304Blinds Email: sales@cooksblinds.co.uk confident that you will receive the Established 1965 highest quality product. Installed Showroom: Burnet Road, Sweet Briar Ind. Est, Norwich, Norfolk, NR3 2BS www.co www.cooksblinds.co.uk highest quality product. Installed by our professional and friendly Tel: 01603 410304 Email: sales@cooksblinds.co.uk Tel: 01603 410304 Em by our professional and friendly Showroom: Burnet Road, Sweet Briar Ind. Est, work force, our blinds fit perfectly Norwich, Norfolk, NR3 2BS Showroom: Burnet work force, our blinds fit perfectly in to any room, in any setting. Norwich, in to any room, in any setting.

J Moon

Home Improvements

We offer a range of different blinds including: We offer a range of different blinds including: ical blinds Venetian Blinds Roller Blinds Roman Blinds Pleated Blinds blinds Venetian BlindsClose, Blinds Roller Blinds Roman Blinds Pleated Blinds Postmill Wymondham, NR18 0NL s Vertical Plantation Shutters Conservatory Curtains and Tracks Insect Screens lux Blinds Plantation Shutters Conservatory Blinds Curtains and Tracks Insect Screens

01953 601522

Traditional Conservatories “A” Rated Energy Windows BlindsBlinds & Doors & Doors& Bi-Folding Doors Established 1965 Residential Established 1965 www.cooksblinds.co.uk Extension Work www.cooksblinds.co.uk 603 410304 Email: sales@cooksblinds.co.uk FENSA & CPA Registered l: 01603 410304 Email: sales@cooksblinds.co.uk

wroom: Burnet Road, Sweet Briar Ind. Est, www.jmoonhomeimprovements.co.uk Showroom: Burnet Road, Sweet Briar Ind. Est, Norwich, Norfolk, NR3 2BS Norwich, Norfolk, NR3 2BS The SuperLite Roof Replacement System also for New Build Structures

WE OFFER A WIDE RANGE OF

personalised ENGRAVED GIFTS

Friendly, personal image coaching available in the comfort of your own home across Norfolk & Suﬀolk, or join me in my style studio just outside of Diss.

COLOUR ANALYSIS • STYLING • PERSONAL SHOPPING • WARDROBE REVIEW • SPECIAL OCCASION OUTFIT •

GRE

gift IDAET AS www.spottedmoon.co.uk

10% OFF FOR READERS! MICHELLE DENNY | 07969 669 794 | 01379 788452 www.michelledenny.com | hello@michelledenny.com

VINYL RECORDS WANTED FOR CASH!

Based locally and always looking for new stock. GOOD CASH PRICES PAID! Please Call or Email Racheal on 07495 817809 toptracksmusic@aol.com www.toptracksmusic.co.uk or find us on Facebook

YOUR LOCAL MOTORCYCLE BOOT SUPPLIER - PLEASE CALL IN

To order call 07577 706033 or online www.tsishoes.com

We have the largest collection of second-hand ‘vintage’ jewellery in Norfolk Over 3000 pieces in stock NORFOLK’S HIDDEN ‘GEM’ CASH PAID FOR GOLD & SILVER BRING ALL YOUR UNWANTED GOLD TO US - NOTHING IS TOO SMALL

Watch servicing, brands include

ROLEX, CARTIER, OMEGA, PATEK PHILIPPE & many more. Jewellery repairs, Pearl & Bead restringing, Ring sizing, Insurance Valuations. All work carried out by expert craftsmen & guaranteed.

Berwick Jewellers Your Independent Established Family Business 64 High Street, Watton, IP25 6AH Telephone: 01953 883448

Fashion Laser cut hooded sweater TK Maxx, £14.99

Souluxe trainers Matalan, £16

Snake print crop top and leggings Pretty Little Thing, £15 / £18

SPRING INTO

Action With sportswear this stylish, there’s no excuse for missing that workout!

Apple Watch Series 3 John Lewis, £329

Top and leggings by Savannah Miller Debenhams, £24 / £28

Floral water bottle Cath Kidston, £14 Serena Gym Bag Laura Ashley, £40

Books

Regional Reads

THIS ISSUE WE L VE THE WITCH FINDER’S SISTER Beth Underdown 9780241978054 Penguin £7.99

View our region from a different perspective with this facinating selection of local titles from Chris Rushby of Jarrolds’ Book Department SOPHIA: PRINCESS, SUFFRAGETTE, REVOLUTIONARY

Anita Anand Bloomsbury 9781408835470 £10.99 Sophia Duleep Singh was born into royalty and god-daughter of Queen Victoria. Her father, Maharajah Duleep Singh, was heir to the Kingdom of the Sikhs until the British arrived and plundered everything, including the fabled Koh-I-Noor diamond. Exiled to England, the dispossessed Maharajah transformed his estate at Elveden in Suffolk into a Moghul palace. Sophia travelled to India and returned a revolutionary. This is her story.

A debut novel with East Anglian history at its heart. The year is 1645. When Alice Hopkins’ husband dies tragically she returns to Manningtree, the small Essex town where her brother Matthew still lives. But Matthew has changed, home is no longer a place of safety and Alice will need to make some difficult choices when she finds herself at the very heart of his plan.

DOROTHY JEWSON, SUFFRAGETTE AND SOCIALIST Frank Meeres Poppyland £10.95

2018 marks the centenary of women’s right to vote. Frank Meeres examines the life of local suffragette and one of the first female Members of Parliament, Dorothy Jewson. Dorothy played an important role in the battle to obtain the vote for women and worked tirelessly to support the disadvantaged.

TIMECRUISER

Chris Crowther 9781999811105 £4.95 A Norfolk Broads holiday goes awry for Max, Jenny and Faru when they turn up to the most rundown boatyard on the Broads to find their boat isn’t ready. When another boat catches their eye, Max forgets the warning not to touch and what follows next is a whistle-stop adventure transporting them through time. The trouble is, the time machine boat takes them to some of the most dangerous days in the history of the Broads.

FERGAL IS FUMING

Robert Starling Andersen 9781783445905 £6.99 Fergal is a nice chap, but when someone tells him what to do, Fergal gets very, very angry. A dragon with a short temper is not a good combination so he soon discovers clever tricks to help him cool down and win back his friends.

YOUR WILL

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ASP Wills has Professional Indemnity Insurance (PII) which covers each will to 2.5 million

Other services we offer • Asset Preservation Trusts • Probate and Executor Services • Funeral Plans • Deputyship A TRUSTED MEMBER OF THE SOCIETY OF WILL WRITERS

For Office and Home visits call

01508 494315

email sales@aspwills.co.uk www.aspwills.co.uk ASP Wills Pentland, Marlbottom, Tasburgh, Norwich, NR15 1NP

Website: www.attwoodandwebb.co.uk

Mortgage Forum Limited TheThe Mortgage Forum Limited

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Concentrate on your business and leave your finances to SJB. Combining the best software with a wealth of knowledge we can make your life easier.

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Bookkeeping Payroll Year End Accounts Tax Returns Forecasting Call today: 01508 481765 www.sjarrettbookkeeping.co.uk

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Whether ho interested The inMortgage buy-to-let, commercial or would rea Forum Ltd is an appointed representativefinance of New Leaf Distribution Ltd who are authorised and regulated by The Financial Conduct Authority. like the 460421 facts about equity release, we can provide independent advice you can rely on and support every step of the way. TMFL ESP18.indd 1

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WHY GO TO A SHOP WHEN WE WILL COME TO YOUR HOME OR BUSINESS

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WE ARE CURRENTLY RANKED ON THE FREEINDEX FOR COMPUTER REPAIRS IN THE UK

Self Assessment always a headache? Don’t worry, give it to us and get on with running your business. We speciﬁcally support the smaller business in all accountancy and tax matters. For a free, no obligation initial meeting call us today

Contact Graham Cormack

T: 01953 630 004 E: grahamcormack@taxassist.co.uk Exchange Street, Attleborough, NR17 2AB www.taxassist.co.uk/attleborough 88

We pride ourselves on being approachable and accurate

Accounts preparation for sole traders, partnerships & limited companies Tax returns General book-keeping Payroll services VAT T 01953 601405 E info@accountingsolutions.uk.com Unit 4A, Wymondham Business Centre, Eleven Mile Lane, Wymondham NR18 9JL

Money

A SMARTER WAY TO BAG THE

Best Mortgage Deals

p until very recently if you wanted to find a new mortgage deal you’d go to your bank, perhaps take a look at a comparison website or even trudge down to the local mortgage broker in the high street. However things are moving on at pace in the new smartphone era, and it is now much easier, more convenient and less time consuming to pinpoint the best mortgage offers. Agile new tech providers have recognised mortgages as an area that’s ripe for an overhaul and have launched clever apps which give customers a quicker, more streamlined service when searching for a new home loan. With mortgage rates on the up since the recent base rate increase, many people on tracker and Standard Variable Rates (SVR) will be shopping around for a better deal. With the average SVR at 4.67% and some lenders charging way over 5% (e.g. Kent Reliance 6.08%, Newcastle Building Society 5.99% and Leeds Building Society 5.69%), there are big savings to be made – and now at the click of a mouse at a time to suit you. The key providers in this booming new sector include Burrow (www.letsburrow.com), Trussle (www.trussle.com) and Habito (www.habito. com) – they all enable you to search online or via smartphone at a time that’s convenient for you 24/7, not just when the local broker is open for business.

Using one of the new online mortgage brokers helps eliminate some of the elementary problems mortgage customers have faced up to now. For example, if you look at a best buy table on a comparison website it may be ranked based on the interest rate alone without factoring the impact of the product fee, plus you don’t know if it’s the best deal based on your specific set of circumstances or even if you’re eligible for that particular mortgage. Similarly, if you use the services of a face to face broker, you may eventually find the best mortgage deal, but slow manual processes mean the journey will take far longer than a with digital broker who will be able to point you in the right direction in a matter of minutes. We are all guilty of criticising some apps and new online services which seem little more than frivolous gimmicks, but these new breed of mortgage brokers are the future and can deliver tangible benefits, so don’t dismiss them without giving them a go.

By Andrew Hagger, Independent personal finance analyst from www.moneycomms.co.uk

Save £££’s off your home insurance with Priory Insurance Priory Insurance Brokers Ltd is a local, independent insurance broker and has been based in Wymondham for over 25 years. We offer a wide range of quality, affordable insurance products to both personal and commercial clients alike. Owning a home is probably your biggest investment and Priory Insurance can help you protect it:

£20 DISCOUNT - if you take building and contents insurance

F O O R P

• Our team offer a personal, local service, based on your needs and circumstances • We deal with everything from choosing the policy to making a claim • We are independent, so we can offer you quotes from various insurers • We will find the most suitable and cost effective deals for you Please feel free to call us on 01953 602866 or call into the office

4 Fairland Street, Wymondham, Norfolk, NR18 0AN www.prioryinsurance.co.uk

Make the most of your retirement Michael Boon is your local Equity Release Council member for professional independent advice. If you are interested in releasing a tax-free lump sum from your home then Michael will be delighted to guide you through the different types of equity release schemes available to find the best plan for your needs.

To find out more call Michael on 01508 483983 or visit www.boonbrokers.co.uk

with equity release

Equity release schemes allow you to release tax-free cash from your home to boost your finances in later life • Many clients use this money to repay an existing mortgage, make home improvements, buy a new car and even go on a holiday of a life time, while others may wish to offer financial assistance to their children or to improve their own quality of life in retirement. • Boon Brokers is qualified and registered through the Financial Conduct Authority to offer a valuable equity release service for homeowners aged 55 or over. • Boon Brokers only recommend approved schemes from The Equity Release Council.

This is a lifetime mortgage, to understand the features and risks ask for a personalised illustration. Boon Brokers is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority No. 301141.

Real Lives

SUICIDE SURVIVOR IS

mental health champion Norfolk journalist, Sandie Shirley, spotlights the inspiring stories of men and women from the region and beyond that have seen them reach for victory. For more stories visit www.refreshingwaters.co.uk the therapies and the hindrances, so others can relate and open up as a way of healing. His failed suicide meant six months in hospital with eight weeks in traction as he recovered from a punctured lung, multiple ankle fractures, a ruptured sciatic nerve and vertebrae compaction. “I was told I would never walk again or have children but my survival and turnaround has been hailed as miraculous by a former GP”, explains Steve, who has since remarried and has two grown-up sons. Steve’s mental health began to improve when he found someone who would listen to him. Meanwhile his Christian faith developed and when he was confirmed and later joined a church bible study he learnt about the suffering of others. “I realised everyone had been broken at some time in their lives,” says Steve.

teve Foyster, manager of Norwich’s Christian resource centre, Revelation, has become an ardent champion for mental health sufferers after his life was changed following the ‘miraculous’ survival of an attempted suicide. Steve jumped from the top of a multi-storey city car park 30 years ago. That terrible event, after a year of pain, loss and depression, has forged empathy and concern for others that is being outworked decades later as the scars have healed and life is restored. He hosts regular evenings at Revelation that look at the thorny issues of mental health such as suicide. They are a platform for understanding and shared experience, attracting a wide audience including eminent authorities. Steve has talked about his own experiences with 60 junior doctors as part of a training seminar and last year trained as a peer tutor with the Recovery College – part of the Norfolk and Suffolk Mental Health Trust. As a tutor, he re-tells his story of desperation that has turned to hope and purpose, to enlighten small groups of sufferers. He recalls the sorrows and joys;

Steve doesn’t draw a veil over his past. “It is incredibly important to raise awareness of mental ill health and break down the taboos which still exist. The night before I jumped I did not know where home was although home is where the heart is; I felt completely lost with no security and no boundaries. I no longer had the capacity to love anyone, least of all myself. “Mental health issues never leave completely but I am learning to stay away from the ‘black hole’ of past trauma with the help of cognitive therapy and the use of an eight-week mindfulness course about choosing to live in the moment – which is essentially what Jesus asks us to do.” On 27 April, Revelation will host Dr William Armstrong, former Norwich district coroner and patron for children’s bereavement charity, Nelson’s Journey to talk about grief, bereavement and trauma and their differing effects in individuals. The event will take place at St Michael at Plea Church, Redwell Street, Norwich, NR2 4SN between 6–7.30pm. There is no charge for attendees but light refreshments can be purchased. To book, email norwichcrc@btconnect.com

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Crossword

CROSSWORD Exercise your brain cells

CLUES ACROSS

CLUES DOWN

What follows in a second connected tale (6)

Where a sailor might be when separated from his ship (6)

2 One of those that Cromwell had a go at knocking (4)

9 Turn filaments into a web, politics into policies (4)

Service sung in the evening (7)

10 Making of something from nothing (8)

3 Silent recorder in the cockpit made for disaster (5, 3)

11 Small sectional building for emergency use (6)

4 Track by which a ship may be followed (4)

13 Very funny barrier constructed in a ditch (2-2)

5 Light conversation imparting gossip (4-4)

14 You should feel woe about those to whom you should pay money (3)

6 Coming before in order of importance and time (5)

16 When an issue is discussed, this is the point of it all (4)

12 Not the hind leg of a donkey (8)

17 Exercise tact in changing your mind for unbroken friendship (6)

13 Usually passed down through several generations (8)

19 Motivation coming from within makes a person act (4-4)

15 Red, leggy predator found in the sea (7)

21 Pulled over the eyes for deception (4) 22 Spring back in horror or disgust (6) 23 Energy produced by fire or machine (6)

18 Yield and make concessions to another (5) 20 If you lied about your work, you probably don’t (4) 21 Keep them about you or you’ll not know what you’re doing (4)

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