BALE - BINHAM - COCKTHORPE - FIELD DALLING GUNTHORPE - LANGHAM - MORSTON

SAXLINGHAM - SHARRINGTON - STIFFKEY

NEWS FROM OUR VILLAGES

August & September

2013 ISSUE 91

Read Local Lynx on-line at: www.locallynx.co.uk

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...is a non-profit-making community newspaper, run for the ten villages of the benefice. We warmly welcome drawings, articles and letters for publication, but must reserve the right to edit or exclude items. The items published do not necessarily reflect the views of the editors or the village representatives. For information about submitting items for publication, or if you want to help in any other way, please contact your village representative, through whom all village news must be submitted. For general information please send a message to our email address:

lynxeditor@pobox.com

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CONTACT FOR ADVERTISERS For enquiries about advertising in Local Lynx,

please contact Maxine Burlingham tel: 01328-830375

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Rates for advertising (pre-paid) are: One column x 62 mm (1/8 page): £72 for six issues.

Small Ads Panel on the back page: Available for individuals and businesses

providing local services. Cost: £36 for six issues.

BLAKENEY METHODIST CHURCH High Street Blakeney

Minister: The Rev’d J Pathmarajah Tel: 01263 712 181 Sunday Services at 6.30pm.

For details of weekday services and preachers, please refer to the current issue of ‘The Glaven Valley Newsletter’.

BLAKENEY CATHOLIC CHURCH Back Lane Blakeney

Father Michael Simison 12 Hindringham Road Gt. Walsingham Norfolk Tel: 01328 821 353

Priest in Residence Father William Wells (the house behind the church)

Service Times Masses: Vigil Mass Saturday 6.00pm. Sunday 11.00am

DEANERY NEWS Next Deanery Synod: Thursday October 17th 7.15pm for 7.30pm at St. Andrew’s ‘Meeting Place’ Holt. Watch out for posters with details of speaker. Deanery sung BCP Evensong service is going ‘On Tour’ and will take place in Brinton 11th August and Holt 29th September at 5pm. Holt choir will attend and extra voices from around the Deanery are invited to join them and are asked to arrive by 4.00pm, latest.

WHAT’S ON AUGUST 3rd Sat. Langham Coffee. Parish Room 10am-12 noon 4th Sun. Binham Fete. Village Hall, 1-4pm. 4th Sun. Stiffkey Cricket Match Playing Field, 2pm 8th Thu. Langham Friends Rounders and BBQ 6pm 8th Thu. Langham Mobile Library 9th Fri. Bale Fish and Chips at Village Hall 7pm 10th Sat. Binham Priory Concert at the Priory. 7.30pm 10th-13th. Binham Art Exhibition. Village Hall, 10am-5pm daily. 10th Sat. Field Dalling & Saxlingham Fete 2 - 4 pm' 10th Sat. Langham Friends meal, Horning 16th Fri. Morston Practice Oyster and Gypsy Day 17th Sat. Binham Priory Concert at the Priory. 7.30pm. 17th Sat. Morston Oyster and Gypsy World Championship 18th Sun. Stiffkey Cricket v Marlingford (A) 2pm 20th Tue. Binham History Group & FOBP Matthew Rice 7.30pm 21st Wed. Sharrington Police Street Meeting 9-10am, Village Hall 21st Wed. Gunthorpe Police Street Meeting 2-3pm, Vill.Institute 21st Wed. Bale Police Street Meeting 3-4pm outside Bale Church 24th Sat. Binham Priory Concert at the Priory. 7.30pm. 24th Sat. Morston Regatta 24th Sat. Bale Big BBQ Village Hall 24th - 26th Stiffkey School History Exhib. & Stalls, Church 10-4pm 25th Sun. Morston Fun Day 10.30am-3pm 27th Mon. Stiffkey Warborough House Open Garden 1 – 5pm 29th Gunthorpe & Bale PC Meeting 7:30 pm Bale Village Hall 31st Gunthorpe 50:50 Club 10:30 Gunthorpe Institute SEPTEMBER 1st Sat. Binham F.C. away game at GAGA F.C. 1st Sun. Stiffkey Cricket Match Playing Field, 2pm 3rd Tues. Langham Friends Senior Mystery Tour 10am 5th Thurs. Langham Mobile Library 7th Sat. Binham Priory Concert at the Priory. 7.30pm. 7th Sat. Langham Coffee Parish Room 10am-12 noon 13th Fri. Bale Fish and Chips Village Hall 15th Sun. Binham Village Show. Village Hall, 9am. 15th Sun. Stiffkey Cricket Stiffkey v Holkham (A) 2pm 16th Mon. Binham PC meeting. Village Hall, 7 for 7.30pm. 16th Mon. Stiffkey WI Beetle Drive and Quiz 20th Fri. Sharrington Police Street Meeting 9-10am Village Hall. 20th Fri. Gunthorpe Police Street Meeting 2-3pm outside V.I. 20th Fri. Bale Police Street Meeting 3-4pm outside Bale Church. 21st Sat. Langham Books & Bric a Brac. Parish Room 10-12noon 21st Sat. Bale Harvest Supper Village Hall 22nd Sun. Stiffkey Harvest Festival service 11am 26th Thurs. Binham History Group. Village Hall, 7.30pm. 27th Fri. Binham Parochial Charities lunch. 28th Sat. Gunthorpe 50:50 Club Gunthorpe Institute. 10.30am 28th Sat. Stiffkey Local History Group Visit Burnham Thorpe 29th Sun. Saxlingham Church. Group Service 10.30am

GENERAL 14th Fri. September from 9:00 am Sponsored Cycle ride for Norfolk Churches Trust. REGULARS Mondays term time Binham Parent & Toddlers Vill. Hall 10-12. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays Sharrington Bus Service 3rd Monday Stiffkey WI Village Hall 7.30pm Tuesdays Binham Guild of Artists Village Hall 10-12. Tuesdays Field Dalling Drop In Yoga, Village Hall 7.30pm Wednesdays term time Binham Youth Group Village Hall 6-8pm. 4th Wednesday Field Dalling Friends & Neighbours Club 2.30 pm Thursdays Field Dalling Pilates 10am Thursdays Field Dalling Bowls Club 7.30 pm 3rd Thursday Binham & Hindringham Open Circle, Hindringham Village Hall 7.15pm (NB. Not in August). Saturdays in August Langham Stall on the Green 9.30-11am

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Dear Friends and Parishioners,

I re-read recently Kenneth Clark’s Landscape into Art: “We are surrounded by things which we have not made and which have a life and structure different from our own: trees, flowers, grasses, rivers, hills, clouds. For centuries they have inspired us with curiosity and awe. They have been objects of delight. We have recreated them in our imaginations to reflect our moods. And we have come to think of them as contributing to an idea which we have called nature”.

In the leaf, the flower, the grain – in a sense, I suppose God is. But more really – He is beyond, engaged in Creation and Sustaining and Redemption. It’s tempting to be an Earth/Sun/Nature worshipper – but that path is rudely and beautifully blocked by a long-dead, ever living 33 year old who abandoned apartness – for nearness: a man whose Spirit breathed life and conscience and eternity into us – and something of Himself into everything else.

Commitment to radical excellence is of course the battle of a lifetime. But because we always have to have something to do He has committed Himself to bringing about excellence and fulfilment – in us. Nature perfected.

I wish you an excellent and fulfilling summer.

Yours truly, Ian Whittle, The Rectory, Langham 01328 830246

Church Services for Bale and Stiffkey Benefice for August and September 2013 HC=Holy Communion. CFS=Church Family Service. MP=Morning Prayer. BCP=Book of Common Prayer

Sunday 29th September: Group Service at Saxlingham at 10.30am. Regular Weekday Services

Binham: Tuesday, 6.00pm Evening Prayer – all welcome

Parish 4th August

11th August

18th August

25th August

Bale 9.30am HC 9.30am HC 9.30am HC 9.30am HC Field Dalling At Saxlingham 11.00am CFS At Saxlingham 11.00am MP BCP

Saxlingham 9.30am HC At Field Dalling 11.00am HC At Field Dalling Gunthorpe 11.00am MP 4.30pm Silent Meditation 11.00am HC Sharrington 9.30am MP BCP 9.30am HC 9.30am MP CW 9.30am HC

Binham 11.00am HC 11.00am HC 11.00am CFS 9.30am HC Morston 9.30am HC BCP 9.30am HC BCP

Langham At Stiffkey 9.30am MP At Stiffkey 9.30am HC Stiffkey 9.30am MP At Langham 9.30am HC At Langham

Parish 1st September 8th September 15th September 22nd September

Bale 9.30am HC 9.30am HC 9.30am HC 9.30am HC Field Dalling At Saxlingham 11.00am CFS At Saxlingham 11.00am MP BCP Saxlingham 9.30am HC At Field Dalling 11.00am HC At Field Dalling

Gunthorpe 11.00am MP 4.30pm Silent Meditation 11.00am HC Sharrington 9.30am MP BCP 9.30am HC 9.30am MP CW 9.30am HC

Binham 11.00am HC 11.00am HC 11.00am CFS 9.30am HC Morston 9.30am HC BCP 9.30am HC BCP Langham At Stiffkey 9.30am MP At Stiffkey 9.30am HC Stiffkey 9.30am MP At Langham 9.30am HC 11.00am Harvest Service

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MOVING ON As I write, issue 90 lies on my desk, having just

dropped through the letter box. Items on page 4 record my retirement after working with the Local Lynx for getting on for 14 years. That the paper exists at all is due to the determination of Revd John Penny that what had started out as a local news-sheet should not be allowed to disappear after its founder, Adrian Hill, had found himself unable to continue with it.

Knowing that Helen had been helping Adrian with type-setting for several issues, John felt that she would be the one to take it on, if anyone could. She had been involved for many years with helping to edit a very successful community newspaper in our part of Bristol.

She also shared John’s concern that social changes could easily lead to the breakdown of social connections between the villages of his benefice, as the number of original residents declined and newcomers from all over the country moved in. There was a real risk of villages becoming isolated communities.

The rest, as is often said, is history. Helen had the knack of involving as many friends and neighbours as possible in the physical production of the paper, and the representatives appointed by each of our ten villages, if not originally friends, soon became close friends.

My role was to enjoy the company of the Support Group every-other month when chairing our meetings, designed to ensure that every village had its fair share of attention, and to cope with the increasing burden (to Helen) of technology as our methods for producing the paper inevitably changed.

Leaving the paper to find its own way in the world is much like sending a much-cherished child out into the wide world. But the paper is now so well established that I can have no fears for its future – safely in the hands of a most competent Support Group and experienced team of editors.

Could I echo one editorial plea. Now is the time to write in to the paper if you have any suggestions to make about its future or if you feel moved to help in any way. The address is, necessarily, by email to: lynxeditor @pobox.com.

On behalf of both Helen and me, many thanks to all our friends and acquaintances who have made Local Lynx the success it is and good luck to you and the paper for the future. Bob Brandt

50 YEARS FOR ALDERMAN PEEL On Saturday 21st September 2013 Alderman Peel High

School celebrates its 50th anniversary. We will be holding an "open afternoon" for community groups to organise an activity or stall and members of the public to visit the school. Everybody welcome. More information and contact details will follow shortly. Alastair Ogle (Headteacher)

BLOOD TESTS FOR HOLT MEDICAL PRACTICE PATIENTS

Lost in Translation….. Some of you may already be aware that patients are

being asked if they would be willing to attend Cromer Hospital for their routine blood tests. Unfortunately, what appears to have been lost in translation is that this is the patient’s choice. The Practice are fully aware that there are patients who would find this far from easy and an added expense and are keen to reinforce their commitment to LOCAL care.

So, the Practice will continue to actively encourage patients to go to Cromer for their blood tests as the feedback they continue to receive from patients who have chosen to go to Cromer has been unreservedly positive; the walk-in service is a definite advantage. We are all in agreement that increased patient choice is a good thing and I am encouraged to hear that as a consequence of patients choosing to go to Cromer, there are more free Healthcare Assistant appointments that can be better utilised by patients who absolutely need to be seen in the Surgery.

Having raised a number of patient concerns about this change at our recent Patient Group meeting, I am fully in support of this enhanced service that allows patients to have a choice they were not previously aware existed. I am reassured that those who do not wish to attend at Cromer, can still book in at Holt.

The Practice has produced a very informative leaflet about having Blood Tests at Cromer. It is available to view on the website or for collection at Reception.

I shall do my best to have further information in the near future when we shall all be able to better judge the effects of this enhanced service. Cllr Maggie Prior,

Chair, Holt Area Patient Group

COUNTY COUNCILLOR’S NEWS

Broadband The Wells Division, as you may have read, includes

thirty-six parishes and I am grateful to the Lynx editors for allowing me to share my news with eight of these parishes - namely Binham, Cockthorpe, Field Dalling, Langham, Morston, Saxlingham, Sharrington and Stiffkey. And I was delighted that representatives from all of these parishes attended the Broadband Seminar which I organised and which covered the Better Broadband for Norfolk’s objectives and the benefits it is expected to bring to Norfolk; how the implementation will take place; the types of technologies that will be used and the broadband speeds that are to be expected. It was also an opportunity to announce those parishes which will be in the first tranche to be upgraded and

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which include homes and businesses in four areas from our division namely: Bayfield, Letheringsett, Little Thornage and Saxlingham. On 5 July I attended the launch of the first parish in the tranche, Croxton, which can now expect download speeds of up to 80 Mbps and upload speeds of up to 20Mbps! We hope to hear early in August the next set of parishes to be upgraded. Watch this space.

School Funding You may remember that together with Norman

Lamb MP I took a deputation to Westminster to see the Minister of State for Schools, David Laws. The purpose of the visit was to stress that the proposed funding formula was particularly disadvantageous to our small high schools. And as we know in a rural county our small schools are an essential feature in offsetting rurality. Mr Laws listened to our concerns and those of others and promised to give further and serious consideration to the situation. He kept his promise to us, and other rural counties, and a number of important changes have been made to the formula. Whilst it is a lengthy document the most significant change Mr Laws is introducing is a new optional sparsity factor for 2014. This will enable rural authorities, including of course Norfolk, to target additional funding to small rural schools. Local areas will be provided with a number of flexibilities in how they use the sparsity factor in order to best meet local circumstances.

Norwich Bus Station To end on a very pragmatic note I know people have

been disappointed to find the Norwich Bus Station facilities closed at week-ends. There is a strong possibility that the opening hours will be extended in the not too distant future and the bus timetable signage is being improved. Dr. Marie Strong Wells Division

County Councillors’ contact details: Dr Marie Strong: County Councillor Wells Division (Glaven, Priory and Walsingham Parishes) marie.strong@norfolk. gov.uk or 07920 286 597 David Ramsbotham: Melton Constable Division (Bale and Gunthorpe Parishes) david.ramsbotham@norfolk.gov.uk 01263 577418.

DISTRICT COUNCILLOR'S NOTES It is a great honour to have been appointed as

Chairman of North Norfolk District Council for 2013 - 2014 and this is my theme for the year: Embracing the future with optimism and encouragement particularly for the

young. The Council is working to stimulate economic

growth wherever and whenever it can. In this age of austerity, the District Council - members, officers and staff - works hard to find new funding to strengthen and diversify our economy, which in turn creates opportunities for young people in the form of apprenticeships as well as new job opportunities. The Council protects the environment but also promotes the tourism industry and encourages appropriate business and residential development because it is so important for local people is to have a job and a house to live in.

The Council appreciates the enormous amount of time and energy the voluntary sector contributes and actively supports their work, which is often in the area of youth clubs, sport and societies.

We live in a beautiful place, we must protect our assets but also expand the opportunities and facilities for the young - the future.

Watch out for ‘Greenbuild’, the region's biggest sustainable lifestyles event. Felbrigg Hall, 7th & 8th September 2013. Visit www.northnorfolk.org/green build or join in on Twitter #Greenbuild13.

Lindsay Brettle, Glaven Valley Ward

District Councillors’ Contact Details: Jonathan Savory (01328 820719) e: jonathan.savory@north-norfolk.gov.uk and Peter Terrington (01328 711126) e: peter.terrington@north-norfolk.gov.uk (Binham, Langham & Stiffkey) Lindsay Brettle (01263 710030) e: lindsay.brettle@north-norfolk.gov.uk (Sharrington, Field Dalling, Saxlingham & Morston) Ann.R.Green (01328 878273) e: ann.green@north-norfolk. gov.uk (Gunthorpe & Bale)

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MONTHLY SOCIAL MEETING FOR BRAIN TUMOUR PATIENTS

and their families This meeting will be held on the third Thursday of each

month at WNDA (West Norfolk Deaf Association) headquarters in Railway Road, King's Lynn, close to the bus & train stations. We plan to meet for coffee/tea and cakes between 11.00a.m. and 1.00p.m. to socialise and exchange experiences.

The meetings are sponsored by three local charities whose members can offer information and experience of brain tumours and the problems they can cause: Astro Brain Tumour Fund - www.astrofund .org.uk, The Lisa Wiles Red Wellies Brain Tumour Support Fund - www.redwellies.info, and Reach for a Star - www.reachfor astar.co.uk.

The dates for 2013 are: August 15th, September 19th, October 17th, November 21st, December 19th.

To let us know if you are interested in attending or for more information please contact:

Christine 01485 572767 : info@astrofund.org.uk Mary 01485 525279: treasurer@astrofund.org

BLAKENEY NEIGHBOURHOOD HOUSING SOCIETY

Help wanted! Can you join the committee? The Society wants to continue the pioneering efforts of

the late Norah Clogstoun in providing affordable housing for local people. Many of the Society’s houses are Listed Buildings and make an important contribution to the character of our villages.

Two long-standing members of the Committee retired at the recent AGM and we need new people with similar expertise and commitment to replace them.

You should have some knowledge of buildings, basic secretarial and computer skills, and be willing to help with fund-raising and grant applications.

Please phone Lal Wright (Secretary), Hillside, Morston Road, Blakeney, NR25 7BG on 01263 740589 for further information and to discuss.

THE PURCELL SCHOOL’S CONCERT IN BALE CHURCH

The Purcell School’s IMPULSE Outreach group gave another of their annual community concerts in Bale Church on Sunday 23rd June. This time two massive orchestral harps were in place with harp duets being played as the audience arrived and partook of wine and pink fizz.

These concerts always have their lighter side and the young music students are encouraged to talk to the audience to introduce themselves and the music, which is more difficult for them than the actual performance.

The first half of the concert was a series of short pieces from J.S. Bach to Massenet for various combinations of strings, piano and harp, including an atmospheric tone poem, Distant Peaks, by Sophie Sparkes, a composition student, for cello and piano.

After the interval we were treated to more exotic fare from Brazil, Argentina and the Americas, including part of a Piazolla piano quartet, and a dynamic performance of Ginastera’s dramatic Danzas Argentinas for piano by Martin Bartlett, who reached the finals of the BBC Young Musician of the Year competition this year. More foot tapping was produced by a Boogie Woogie played on piano and percussion, and Herbie Hancock jazz.

The grand finale was the Brazilian Spectacular led by Claudio Kron, a Brazilian musician, culminating in about six enormous drums marching up the aisle attached to students and making a fine old racket. Bale Church’s roof was raised.

Thanks are due to Margaret and Alan Sankey for their help and hospitality, to John and Jean Schofield who sponsored the excellent piano for the two concerts and the outreach programme, and to Paul Turnbull and Alastair Macorkindale for running the bar.

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BALE DIARY Syrup and Jam

Bale Diary 3rd July Recently I bought a new Hipstamatic kit, San Paolo

(that’s the app for iphone which gives you photos that look like old Polaroids). The pinkish slightly underexposed syrupy filter reminds me of sleepy, humid, cloudy English summers – just like today - so I have been happily snapping the hedgerows and garden with it.

It’s the time of year for roses. Despite the recent rain and wind they are full of flowers, dog roses in the hedgerow, and their tamer cousins in the garden. Most of the dog roses I have in the garden got a punitive prune in February, so we won’t be seeing any flowers or hips on them this year. I must try for a more selective pruning that leaves some of this year’s wood next time. I love them; their looping habit and simple flowers turn hedges into things of beauty. I have several bourbon roses, which are doing very well, (the bourbon rose comes from the Isle de la Reunion off Madagascar, which used to be called Isle de Bourbon after the French royal family); a particularly glorious one, Mme Isaac Periere, wafts a gentle spicy citrony scent across the flowerbed to the path. One day I will try making rose petal jam with the flowers, downwards facing fat rosettes of violet-pink petals around an almost hidden flesh-pink centre of stamens.

In my garden, I have bumblebees buzzing in the hedge woundwort – it has colonised several sheltered spots. Hogweed is my particular bête noir; but outside of my garden I adore it! It is sculptural and graphic, every plant has a different curve and length of stem and arrangement of the great plates of flowers, and I think I have to make an embroidery of it for the next knit collection.

A plant you find all over Elizabethan embroideries, and scenting especially favoured hedges, is honeysuckle, or woodbine. Moths pollinate it and the red berries are loved by many birds, including bullfinches, which visit my garden for them in the autumn. Ribwort plantain, another decorative plant, with its ribbed leaves and halo of stamens, is everywhere, competing with the grasses after they have been trimmed.

I love field scabious, big round cushions of a delicate

lilac-blue colour. In a good year for butterflies the flowers in Clip Street Lane will be full of them; the caterpillars of several feed on the leaves. Clip street lane is the best place to find white campion round here. It has a delicate scent, which the red doesn’t.

I never tire of grasses in flower, luckily I don’t suffer much from hay fever. Grasses, hogweed, nettles, thistles; a frieze of graphically pleasing shapes - the edges of the fields are lined with them now weed killer is not used on roadside hedges and banks. Jane Wheeler

BALE VILLAGE FETE 2013 The annual village fete is an English rural institution,

with its collection of stalls, games and, most English of all, tea, and Bale once again played its part in upholding the tradition on 8th June. As in previous years, a good crowd defied the weather and came to Manor Farm to support the efforts of those who had been collecting saleable items, growing plants, selling raffle tickets and baking cakes for the cause.

The calibre of merchandise on sale this year was (for the most part!) of a high standard. The usual generous donation of designer knitwear from Jane Wheeler was a not-to-be-missed opportunity to add style and glamour to any lady’s wardrobe. The bookstall, in a move to keep abreast of the times, was also the location for the raffle of a Kindle, donated by the Bale Fete Booksellers Paul and Alastair. The fabric stall also extended its range this year, with soft furnishings – cushions and lampshades – which were snapped up very quickly. In addition, the stallholders offering plants, cakes and some weird and wonderful bric-a-brac enthusiastically succeeded in lightening the purses of visitors.

For those of a more competitive nature who enjoyed testing their skill rather than shopping, there were a number of opportunities to prove their mettle in the sideshows hidden away in the walled garden. Many a coconut was seen being carried away, either to be eaten later or simply shown off as a trophy. And after all that exertion, what was needed was a reviving cup of something accompanied by a sandwich or a cake, keeping the ladies and gentlemen on refreshments busy all afternoon.

Although the sun refused to shine again this year, any flagging spirits were raised by music from the Cromer and Sheringham Brass Band – and singing along or even dancing to some of the show tunes was a great way to keep

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warm! A good time seemed to be had by all and the very

creditable sum of over £3,000 was raised in support of Bale Church. A huge thank you to everyone involved.

Paula Moore

VILLAGE HALL COMMITTEE MEETING 9TH June, 2013

Present: Margaret Dent (chair) Alastair Macorkindale (Treasurer), Anne Peppitt, Geeta Maude-Roxby, Paula Moore, Jim Peppitt, Eileen Spooner, Paul Turnbull, Jane Wheeler.

Regrettably Richard Scott has tendered his resignation due to too many commitments. It was unanimously agreed to record a huge vote of thanks to Richard for all that he has done as a committee member. Topics covered:

Harvest supper date 21st September. It was suggested that an extra event, catered by the

village, should be held between New Year and the BBQ, possibly at Easter, one of the May bank holidays or Mid-summer This could be catered by a number of people each providing a dish.

The Bale Big BBQ, 24th August. Alastair Macorkindale is catering this.

Suggested Bar, perhaps on the 4th Sunday of the month for 100 club members & guests. Investigation needed of licensing requirements & application.

The 100 club needs to increase membership as there has been a reduction in numbers. Encouragement to join could be attached to the forthcoming survey. It was also agreed to produce a gift card for people wishing to purchase membership for family and friends. It was suggested that members of the 100 club should automatically become members of the village hall social club, which could help with achieving a bar licence .

Noticeboard for exclusive use of the Bale Village Hall Social Club on the Field Dalling Road. Jim Peppitt agreed to acquire or make the new board.

Next meeting: 11 August 2013.

100 CLUB MEMBERSHIPS Memberships are now overdue, please send your cheques (payable to Bale Village Hall) or cash for £12 per membership to Alastair Macorkindale at Forge Cottage, Sharrington Road, Bale, NR21 0QY.

FLOWER FESTIVAL & BOOK SALE The weather was kind and over 500 visitors came to see

the Flower Festival at the Priory Church and visit the Book Sale at the Village Hall. “Once upon a Time” was cleverly portrayed in over 20 beautiful and unusual flower displays. Children had fun in making “fairy and goblin gardens” that were then displayed on the steps in the church. Books were in abundance at the book sale and there were many bargains to be had. The festival raised £1400 of which £1000 was spent in replacing a church window that had recently been vandalised. Many thanks to all who gave their talents and time to make this such a successful and enjoyable festival.

Brenda Wilde

DUGG THE PARTRIDGE Sad news to all that remember Dugg the red legged

partridge; he was known to many through the Binham archaeological dig in 2010. He sadly passed away in June following a short illness. Dugg had a female partridge partner who was grief stricken by Dugg’s death and so was unable to incubate her fertile eggs, so thanks to a broody hen, Dugg’s legacy lives on as 3 new partridge chicks have successfully hatched out. Wendy Marsh

BINHAM PARISH COUNCIL The main topic at the May meeting was arriving at a

decision on the “Trees on the Green”. The Council adopted a compromise proposal that two of the largest flowering cherry trees be removed and the other four pruned. This solution seemed to reasonably equate to balancing the views expressed in the parish survey and those present at the last two parish council meetings.

An important aspect of removing any trees is that replacement planting takes place. We are fortunate that both the Memorial Hall Trustees and William Wales, as the landowner, have agreed to the planting of an oak in the south-east corner of the Playing Field, near the recycle bins, and a white beam or acer, to give some

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shade, in the north-west corner of the Play Area. The Parish Council made an application to NNDC to

allow this work to be carried out, and tender documents sent to suitably qualified contractors.

Progress on the above was to be discussed at the Parish Council meeting on 15th July.

The next meeting will be Monday 16th September, 7.00pm tea or coffee available for start at 7.30pm. All parishioners are very welcome. David Frost, Chairman

ALL ABOARD! Time to book your tickets now. An evening awash

with memory-stirring, swashbuckling and touching words, music and images celebrating the sea will be held at 6.30pm on Saturday, 19 October at Binham Memorial Hall.

All Aboard! is a multi-media entertainment, with music and song, prose and poetry, richly illustrated and recalling Britain’s – and Norfolk’s – long history of seafaring and our love of living by the sea.

The evening will celebrate the beauty and awful power of great waters; the joy and sometimes the tragic cost of sea-going; the simple pleasures of the seaside; the courage of those who go down to the sea in ships and the bravery of others who, from time to time, go to their rescue. The event will also celebrate some dramatic moments in East Anglia’s life on a shifting shore where the sea does not always keep its appointed limits.

Tickets are £10 and will include a supper of fish pie with salad, lemon mousse with biscuits and wine or fruit juice. Proceeds from the evening will go to the Friends of Binham Priory and from the raffle to the RNLI. To book tickets, please phone either Maureen Frost on 01328 830362 or Ann Prockter on 01328 830770.

FRIENDS OF BINHAM PRIORY The Parochial Church Council requested that the

Friends investigate stage equipment for use at concerts and other events that would be easier to erect and more adaptable in layout than the present design based on scaffolding planks.

Several proprietary systems were reviewed and cast aluminium modular units offered by Mainstage Ltd. were considered the most suitable, meeting all requirements including, when disassembled, neatly

fitting in the limited storage space available in the Priory.

The cost will be met from a legacy given to the Friends and the balance from general funds. It is hoped to have the new stage in use by August for this summer’s concerts. This stage should be a significant asset for the future, supporting imaginative activities enhancing the public appeal of the Priory. David Frost

SPRING IS SPRUNG One dictionary defines spring as “The first season of

the year, or that between winter and summer.” In Britain we expect the days to lengthen gradually and the sun to slowly warm the wild plants into growth and flowering. Each in their due time would bloom and the migrant birds would return, renewing our trust in life and its seasons. We welcome spring eagerly after the cold, wet hardships of winter.

What happened to our spring in 2013? Just when we were expecting April showers, we had a month with scarcely a drop of rain and our rain barrels were soon empty. As we moved into May, the bitter east winds chilled us to the bone and seared any first leaves of tender shrubs. Cherry, apple and pear trees were all in bloom in the same week, just like when we lived for a year in Upper New York State, where you can miss spring if you blink.

“Spring is sprung, the grass is ris. I wonders where the birdies is.” So much for poetry! Chiffchaff, willow warbler and blackcap duly arrived on time but were unusually silent, busy just finding enough insects to stay alive. The arrival of the first pair of swallows is always a special event, but this year there were so few and no house martins came back to our village. In some years migrants fail to survive the risks of migration and changes in their winter quarters, so it was a relief when the first swifts arrived, but fewer this year to scream round the pantile roofs.

We know that our wildlife is under threat from changes in our environment. Even the house sparrow is on the long list of vanishing birds and the lovely turtle dove is down to only a tenth of its past British population. No wonder when we have seen them being shot passing through holiday islands in the Mediterranean. We had one again in our garden this spring, before it was quickly chased away by one of our

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collared doves. Those foreign invaders first bred in Britain only in 1955 and that was at Cromer, so you lose some and you gain some!

It is good to report that some birds are doing well, sometimes after years of absence. The Norfolk list includes bittern, little egret, spoonbill, crane, marsh harrier and buzzard, but 2013 has been unusual in the numbers of red kites being seen. Some must be young or migrant birds, but we now seem to have a resident and breeding population, though not publicised. It is not long since it was treated as vermin by “sports men” who shot anything that they considered a “Red in tooth and claw” predator. It was once a common sight in Breckland, but had vanished by 1830.

The story of the red kite in Britain is remarkable. It was once so common, even in London that Shakespeare even mentioned its habit of stealing clothes from washing lines for their nests. Persecuted in the 19th century, it was reduced to a very few pairs in mid-Wales, protected by local landowners. Breeding success was very poor, for these red kites seemed to originate from a single female. To widen the gene pool, a remarkably successful reintroduction scheme used young birds from Sweden and Spain, I believe. Now red kites breed from the Chilterns through the Midlands to Scotland, with close to 2,000 pairs!

No longer do keen birdwatchers have to travel to valleys near Llandovery, beautiful though they are. We were delighted to have three red kites circling over our garden in April. Keep your fingers crossed for these remarkable and lovely birds, for Norfolk gamekeepers are very protective of their carefully-reared pheasant chicks, but red kites are mainly carrion eaters and there is no shortage of pheasant corpses on our roads. So that is one more reason to drive carefully. Ian Johnson

BINHAM PLAY AREA After the successful installation of the first half of

the play area, which has been thoroughly enjoyed by the community, we are eager to install the second half. We have currently managed to raise half of the total needed, but we are still in need of the remaining £15,000 to complete.

Our next fund raising event is the Binham Fete which we are holding on Sunday 4th August from 1pm - 4pm at Binham Village Hall. There will be the

usual fete fun and games - Guess the weight of the pig, Stocks, Beat the goalie, Wellie throwing and much more. We will also have a delicious cake stall, book stall, bric a brac, raffle and tombola, BBQ, face painting, refreshments and a dog show. So please come along and support us. Any donations of homemade cakes would be much appreciated. These can either be delivered to the hall on the morning of the fete or left at 45 Priory Crescent, Binham (the day before). For further details please call Rebecca on 830 505.

We are also holding our popular Quiz Night again with supper on Friday 25th October, so please keep this date free and more details will follow in the next Local Lynx. Rebecca Bunting

BINHAM HARVEST CELEBRATIONS Harvest Supper

Saturday, 5th October Binham Memorial Hall

Please contact Liz Brown for details and tickets Harvest Festival Service Sunday, 6th October, 11.00 am

Binham Priory Everyone welcome

BINHAM & HINDRINGHAM OPEN CIRCLE

We don't meet in August but we'll look forward to our 19 September meeting when our speaker, David Watts, will recount to us his tales as a second generation chimney sweep.

The Open Circle Women's Club meets at 7.15pm on the third Thursday of each month at Hindringham Village Hall. New members are always welcome - just come along on the night or ring secretary Fiona Thompson on 01328 830639.

DIARY OF A FARMER’S BOY The farmer and Ems have been on holiday. Back

with you next Lynx. Richard & Norah Lewis

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

Dogs have owners Cats have staff

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BINHAM PRIORY CONCERTS Saturday, 10 August, 7.30 pm

XUEFEI YANG classical guitar

Scarlatti, Walton, Villa-Lobos, Albenitz, Takemitsu-Beatles

Saturday, 17 August, 7.30 pm FONTANELLA

“an array of recorders” Byrd, Vivaldi, Shearing, Tomi Räisänen

Saturday, 24 August, 7.30 pm TREVOR PINNOCK

harpsichord Bach, Bach/Vivaldi

Saturday, 7 September, 7.30 pm PENTATONIC string quintet

Mozart, Britten, Mendelssohn

Tickets (£15 per concert) from Maureen Frost, 01328 830362. Details at www.binhampriory.org.

BINHAM YOUTH GROUP Binham Youth Group is held at Binham Village Hall

on Wednesdays 6 to 8pm (term time only) age 5-16 years, £1 entry fee, tuck shop, staff CRB checked.

We have Art‘n’craft, board games, table tennis, pool table, karaoke, books and 10-pin bowling.

The group is held indoors during winter and in the summer we use the large playing field. It is a great place to chill out and meet new friends.

BINHAM VILLAGE FOOTBALL CLUB Firstly we are pleased to announce we are now fully

registered with the Norwich and District Sunday League and are looking forward to the start of our first official season. It has been a hard, rough road to get us to this point and we would like to thank everyone for all their support; Mr William Wales for helping us raise the goal posts, the Binham Village Memorial Hall and Parish Council for all their support and help we have received and of course a huge thank you to our team for their continued hard work and dedication. Let’s hope we can make this club the best club it can be!

We are also happy to announce our first ever sponsor, Stiffkey Solutions.

We also have a new Chairman, Mr David Boyce as well as a new Treasurer, Miss Bernedett Berry. Our full fixture list will be displayed in the Village Hall as well as local locations. You can also request a full list at binhamvillagefc@hotmail.co.uk or call Sammy on 07778 560484.

We look forward to seeing you all at our next game. Our new season will kick off on 1 September away at GAGA F.C. David Boyce (Chairman), Adam Peden (Manager), Graham Kennie (Assistant Manager), Sammy Peden (Secretary)

BINHAM HISTORY GROUP Matthew Rice - The Parish Church: the

least peaceful place in the village Binham Local History Group and the Friends of

Binham Priory are delighted to be jointly arranging an evening’s talk at Binham Priory on Tuesday 20th August 2013 at 7.30pm.

Matthew Rice is a painter/designer and is the acclaimed author and illustrator of several publications including Building Norfolk and his most recent title Rice's Church Primer. He also designs for his wife, the potter Emma Bridgewater, with whom he works.

Matthew will sign his books on the evening and proceeds raised from the event will go equally between Norfolk Churches Trust, Binham Local History Group and the Friends of Binham Priory. Admission: £5 for members and £7 for non members. Refreshments will be available. For information and ticket enquiries please contact Pennie Alford on 01328 830700 or David Frost on 01328 830362 or email blhg@btintenet.com

Binham History Group season 2013/14 Binham Local History Group 2013/14 season will

start with its first talk on the Paston Family to be given by Lucy Care of the Paston Society on Thursday 26th September 2013 7.30pm at Binham Village Memorial Hall. Admission £2 members, £4 non-member. Refreshments available.

Membership for the 2013/4 year is due in September 2013. Single £3 and Couples £5. Enquiries to Pennie Alford on 01328 830700 or email blhg@btintenet.com

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BINHAM’S FIRST VILLAGE SHOW We are holding a Binham Village Show at Binham

Memorial Hall on Sunday 15 September. The day will be a great day out for the family and will be a chance for you to demonstrate your talents. So please consider entering!

The categories are as follows: Children – 1) cress in an unusual container, 2) seed tray

garden, 3) mosaic picture made out of leaves, 4) decorated wellington boot, 5) 6 jam tarts. Classes will be judged in two groups; under 6 years old and 7-15 years old.

Fruit – 6) 5 plums, one variety, 7) 10 raspberries, complete with stalks, arranged on a plate, 8) 10 blackberries, complete with stalks, arranged on a plate, 9) 10 gooseberries, complete with stalks, arranged on a plate, 10) 5 apples, one variety, 11) basket of assorted fruit, 12) plate of any other fruit, one kind.

Vegetables – 13) 3 red tomatoes, 14) 5 pods of peas, one variety, 15) 5 pods of broad beans, one variety, 16) 3 onions, one variety with tops, 17) 3 carrots, one variety with tops, 18) 3 beetroot, one variety with tops, 19) 3 potatoes, 20) 5 mange tout, one variety, 21) plate of other vegetable, one kind, 22) a box of mixed veg, size no bigger than 45cms x 60cms.

Flowers - 23) red arrangement, 24) foliage arrangement, 25) alternative arrangement, 26) arrangement in a kitchen utensil, 27) 6 flower heads, one variety.

Pot Plants – 28) 1 flowering plant, 30cm max pot size, 29) 1 foliage plant, 30cm max pot size, 30) 1 cactus/succulent plant, 30cm max pot size.

Cookery – 31) Victoria sponge, 32) fruit pie, any flavour, 33) 5 cheese scones, 34) fruit tea loaf, 35) 6 ginger biscuits.

Preserves – 36) 1 jar of jam, any flavour, 37) 1 jar of marmalade, 38) 1 jar of lemon curd/cheese, 39) 1 jar of chutney or pickle.

Needlecraft – 40) embroidery bookmark, 41) piece of cross stitch, no bigger than A4, 42) hand knitted booties (if you do not wish for them back, they will be donated to the local hospital), 43) handmade stuffed toy.

Any entries not collected at the end of the show will be auctioned. Entries to be in hall between 9-11am on the day. Judging will take place between 11am-1pm. Hall will reopen at 1.30pm, show closes at 4pm. For further details, please contact Liz Brown on 01328 830519.

100+ CLUB WINNERS May: £25 Mr Pepper, £10 Andy Marsh, Amy

Walduck, £5 Rory Bartram, K. Brown, D. Tann. June: £25 Mr and Mrs Small, £10 David Frost, Mrs

Johnson, £5 Mr Pepper, Jennie Hewitt Prynn, S. Savory. If anyone would like to join the 100+ club, there are

still numbers left. Please call at 8 Priory Crescent or ring June Read on 01328 830106.

BINHAM GUILD OF ARTISTS ANNUAL ART EXHIBITION

Binham Memorial Hall 10th August - 13th August 10am - 5pm We meet every Tuesday morning from 10 to 12 in

the Village Hall. A fee of £2 per morning includes coffee and biscuits. A demonstration of painting or craftwork normally takes place on the first Tuesday of every month except in January, February and the week in which the annual exhibition takes place.

In June, Gill Baguley gave a very lively talk and demonstration using brightly coloured acrylic inks. In July, Toby Morison talked about his work as an illustrator and as a water colour artist who favoured working out-of-doors to paint landscapes. Examples of his designs and of his paintings helped to make a very interesting morning. For further information contact James Bucknill on 01328 830651.

PAROCHIAL CHARITIES LUNCH On Friday 3 May, 40 people attended the Parochial

Charities lunch for the retired in the villages of Binham & Cockthorpe. A roast dinner and all the trimmings were enjoyed in a relaxed atmosphere and it is hoped that even more will be able to attend the next one on Friday 27 September. Invitations will be sent out nearer the time. Alex Wales

WHAT A PICNIC A balmy and sunny Saturday afternoon, an outdoor

picnic venue suitable for royalty, musicial entertainment by our favourite jazz band Dixiemix and a wedding in the Priory itself. This is how it was for all those that attended Picnic2Jazz 2013 at Binham Priory.

The overall success of the evening is achievable only by team working and as organiser I acknowledge contributions

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made by individuals well before, during and after the Event. In no particular order I thank David Frost and Geoff Scott for liaising with Local Authorities, English Heritage and others to obtain the necessary licences and consents, the ticket sales team of Sue and Mick Jeffery working tirelessly until the day of the Event and Hilary Brown for banking the money. The excellent marquee was provided by Peter Markwell and assembled and taken down by a skilled crew; Tim Walduck, David Frost, Paul Frost and Alan Small.

On the evening our car parking team were faced by the arrival of vehicles for both the Jazz Concert and the Wedding. Our high visibility vested car park stewards Lionel Wilde, Roger Muncey and Alan Small dealt with all vehicles in an admirable way ensuring that everybody arrived and departed safely. Our gregarious gate stewards and ticket punchers Caroline Muncey, Anna Small and Jean Calvert controlled entry and presented each group of visitors with a gift of a biodegradable refuse sack and throughout the evening our bar stewards, Rosemary Bryden and David Frost provided much needed Pimm’s, wines and soft drinks.

Finally I admit that as organiser of the Event I am held responsible for dealing with complaints and grievance procedures. After only 5 minutes of the start of music I received a complaint of excessive noise raised by a member of the Wedding Party wishing to hear the address of the Rector in the Priory. Ever accommodating and with respect to Ian Whittle I gave the band a few minutes rest and time to consume a beer before recommencing the concert. Adopting a low profile thereafter I received few complaints.

Hopefully all those attending thoroughly enjoyed themselves, thank you for your support.

Michael Calvert, Chair of Friends of Binham Priory

HONEY BEES IN COCKTHORPE In the gardens of Cockthorpe bees are in evidence to

the point that people are asking what the media fuss has been about bee decline. We have bumble bees of different types and honey bees on the soft fruit, in the flower and vegetable gardens and taking advantage of the nectar and pollen available on the wild flowers. It’s lovely to witness this activity but amongst the honey bee population at least it really is proving increasingly difficult to keep colony numbers up and bee populations healthy. I’m an often rather puzzled beekeeper, but friends with far more experience than myself say they are now spending far more time supervising and treating their bees than they used to. Additionally, they have not only lost colonies over winter but also been surprised by the loss of early summer colonies which showed no signs of overpopulation or other indications of potential swarming.

I was lucky this winter. With late summer treatment of varroa mite and feeding of sugar solution to stimulate the queen into a late laying the population of my weaker hive increased sufficiently to both keep warm during the winter and bring in enough food during the first part of the flying year. With feeding of candy during the winter that colony, along with my other one, survived. A great relief as over a third of all colonies in England and nearly half of those in Scotland, died out during the winter of 2012/13. Now though, perhaps as a result of my ineptitude, I’m having to face the fact that, despite following all the rules (ensuring there were no queen cells, giving the bees enough space in the brood chamber etc) my lovely big and prolific queen from last year’s strongest hive -- along with most of her supporters -- has gone. My efforts to raise another queen in her old hive have also failed. One of my two colonies is not going to make it through the summer without the introduction of a new queen. The honey yield for that hive is going to be negligible and I may not even

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manage to build up sufficient numbers of bees in the colony to ensure its survival through the winter. Depressing as this is, I can’t really place the blame on any particular source.

Beekeeping at the best of times is a complex business but the extraordinary decline in honey bee populations over the last decade or so suggests that something unusual has been going on. For starters, weather patterns affect availability of food sources and the time bees can be active outside of the hive and we all know how weather patterns are currently changing. In addition, new bugs and diseases are appearing and smaller, stressed populations of bees are more likely to succumb to these as well as to those that have been around in the UK for many years. Pesticides and herbicides are also cited as causes for concern – a recent study in the USA indicated found 132 different pesticides present in honey and comb, with only 9 percent of the 1300 samples free of any residues. The jury is still out on the overall effect of pesticides. It is clear that exposure to the dust of neonicotinoid treated corn seed is responsible for some colony deaths, but many beekeepers and scientists tend to agree that a combination of factors – poor nutrition, pesticides, varroa mite, diseases and stress -- is likely to be causing the loss of our honey bees.

So, despite what you may be seeing in your gardens, bee populations are fragile and need all the help you can give them. The now familiar message is worth repeating – plant and encourage growth of plants that supply long season availability of pollen and nectar and reduce your use of chemicals. It is not just honey harvests that are at stake, but a whole ecosystem that is dependent on these key pollinators. Ruth Alsop

CHARITY Just received this email from Cockthorpe resident

Tony Vernon on completion of his latest charity venture. Congratulations to Tony on this fantastic achievement. “Dear all,

My 1000 mile ride in support of Home-Start Uttlesford is over. By travelling mainly on minor roads and cycle paths, our group of 25 riders completed our 1012 mile journey from Lands End to John O'Groats at 4.30pm on Saturday 6th July. All but one rider completed the course.

The ride was, on the whole, very enjoyable - great scenery, favourable winds and only two days with extensive rain. The final 82 mile ride to John o'Groats was helped by a strong wind from the South West. At 73 I was the oldest person on the ride, though there was one other celebrating his 70th birthday and several riders in their 60s.

So far I have raised in excess of £4,000. Many thanks for the many generous donations. If you would still like to support Home Start Uttlesford, the Virgin Money Giving page is still open. Go to http://uk.virgin moneygiving.com/giving and type in Tony Vernon. Alternatively please make out a cheque to Home-Start Uttlesford and send it to me at Monks Farm, Debden Green, Saffron Walden, Essex CB11 3LX. A Gift Aid form is available if you are a taxpayer, but I can't attach it to this email as I am still away from home!

Many thanks and best wishes, Tony

“On the bright side, you can’t see the wind turbines when it’s raining.”

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WALKING TO FITNESS Have you ever thought about Nordic walking or power

walking to get fit, lose weight or tone and trim up? Four years ago my youngest son had just turned one and

I hated the way I looked and felt. I was carrying an extra 24 pounds in weight and I felt very unfit. We had recently moved to Field Dalling and I was keen to find out about local activities and stumbled upon Blakeney Fitness, an outdoor fitness training facility offering classes in power walking, Nordic walking and wellness walking run by Annie Briggs.

I remember the first morning vividly. I left the house 8:20 and as I jumped into the car I noticed the temperature was minus two degrees! “I must be mad”, I thought, but I was well wrapped up and eager to get out and experience an exercise class in the great outdoors. What I discovered was a welcoming group of people of all ages, shapes and sizes in a beautiful, peaceful setting, ready and waiting to make their way to ‘the bench’ for the warm-up. The bench is a little wooden seat situated within the 40 acres of grass training tracks at Blakeney Fitness. This is where all classes begin and you couldn’t wish for a better spot as the view is simply stunning. There before you is the sea on the horizon as you look down onto Blakeney, Wiveton and Cley. I have seen this view in all weathers throughout my four years of coming and I never tire of it. Within four months I lost 24 pounds and completely turned around my level of fitness.

We all know eating healthily is the most sensible way of losing weight and by keeping track of this combined with exercising helped me to get back in shape. I loved this way of exercising so much that three years ago I trained to be an instructor and now run some of the classes alongside Sally King, who is a fantastic teacher and encourages everyone to work within their own pace and abilities.

Becoming a trainer has been an incredibly satisfying experience as you are able to watch people develop over time, seeing first-hand their vast improvements in stamina, flexibility and strength.

Joining Blakeney fitness became a sanctuary to me; a place I could unwind, clear my head, exercise and leave feeling completely invigorated. Walking is a fantastic way to increase health and fitness and the tracks we use adjoins the Blakeney Esker and Wiveton Downs which feature the ‘Hill from Hell’, which we often stride up!

Annie, who originally set these classes 15 years ago, was a complete inspiration to all she met. Sadly I never got to know her as she passed away very soon after I joined. People often talk about Annie and describe her as having been a wise counsellor, an inspired teacher and a loving friend. She has left a legacy of embracing life by being active and taking care of your mind, body and soul. It has certainly changed my general wellbeing for the better and I am so grateful for that. For more information, email

sallyking18@gmail.com or call Sally on 01263 740215 or 07825 773368. Dawn Finnerty

OUR PARISH CHURCH St Andrew’s Church is a striking feature of Field

Dalling. It anchors life’s milestones: baptisms, weddings and funerals. It is an open church holding regular Sunday services conducted by our local Rector, the Rev Ian Whittle. Its physical presence and spiritual life are important to our sense of community, and we expect – perhaps assume – that it will continue to be so.

But what if this were no longer possible? We receive no external funding from either Church or Government and we struggle to meet our contribution to the Rector’s stipend and expenses. Last year we fell short by £2,100. We, along with every other parish in the Benefice, must pay our contribution in full. To do this, we need regular donations from both full-time and part-time residents.

If every household in Field Dalling were to contribute £80 per year -- £1.50 a week – then we, the PCC, would be able to pay our share. So if you are able to make a regular contribution by a monthly standing order, it would help greatly; but of course single donations by cheque, sent to me or paid direct into the PCC bank account, would be as welcome. If you will call or email me I will give you our bank account details.

For information, the PCC’s income for last year was £7,800. Our essential running costs amounted to £4,000 (insurance, heat and light, supplies, some clergy costs, cleaning, etc) and we contributed £3,900 to the Diocese. There is a full set of accounts at the back of the church.

Margaret Smith, Churchwarden, on behalf of St Andrew’s Parochial Church Council margaret.smith@pobox.com 01328 830546

VILLAGE HALL NEWS Refurbishment continues

In the previous issue, we announced the grant of funding for the new insulated roof with solar photovoltaic panels and inside, a new ceiling with improved lighting, and more effective heating.

Builders have now been appointed and briefed. They will start work on the 12 August, after the annual fete on the 10 August and will hopefully finish by 25 November.

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During that time the hall will, of course, be closed with no public access. We hope the builders will create the minimum disturbance for those living nearby.

The next phase is to explore options for reconstructing the committee room and storage area. At present these are timber structures, and in poor condition. No decisions have been made yet as to size and shape but your committee are considering various views.

Inside, the main hall has been painted a lighter colour, giving it a fresh and bright appearance. The remainder of the hall will be repainted later in the year. New Roman blinds in a contrasting colour instead of curtains have given the hall a lift.

Once the improved heating and insulation has been incorporated, we hope to present a welcoming and friendly environment for both existing and new users of your village hall.

Should you have suggestions or wish to help, please contact the chairman Mark Gardner on 01328 830775 or mark@markgardnerltd.plus.com.

200 CLUB PRIZE WINNERS The lucky winners in the June draw were;

£50 – Liz Hulley £25 – John Marlton £15 – June Bowen-Woods.

VILLAGE WEBSITE Now up and running

Visit www.fielddallingsaxlingham.org.uk to catch up with local news and information. To contribute to the site, please call or email me. Steve Collins 01328 830365

Steveandsusie100@gmail.com

DATES AND ACTIVITIES in the Village Hall

Sat 10th Aug, 2 – 4 pm: Field Dalling & Saxlingham Fete. The major village event of the year Mon 12th Aug to 25th November: The village hall will be CLOSED for the major refurbishment, as described in the Village Hall News article.

FOGPC 50/50 Club Draw Results

May June Alex Worall £20.00 Marie Denholm £20.00 PJ Cutterham £15.00 Jack Cutterham £10.00 John Rush £15.00 Daniel Worsley £ 5.00 John Lemberger £10.00 Barbara Burton £ 5.00 Lisa Rush £5.00 Paul Tacon £ 5.00 Daniel Good £5.00 Deborah O’Driscoll £ 5.00 Brian Churchill £5.00 John Arthurson £ 5.00 Fred Morley £5.00

The May Coffee Morning and Draw saw additional draw prizes and an enhanced raffle. The detailed accounts for the year to May 2013 are on the Institute Notice Board, but in summary the total income including coffee mornings was £1884.90 of which £1538.00 represented subscriptions from the 131 members that we had at year’s end. Overall the prize fund was £769.94 (including wine purchased to support the raffles) giving a return of 50.01% of subscription income. Total benefit for the “Friends” including income from the coffee mornings, and after deducting the cost of Institute hire, was £1030.96.

As can be seen from these figures the 50:50 Club and coffee mornings remain some of the main sources of income for the “Friends” as well as offering a most enjoyable monthly gathering. If you are new to the village or would like to join us please do so as soon as possible – to “borrow” from another place “you have to be in it to win it”! If you would like more information on 50:50 Club membership please contact John Blakeley on 01263 861008. Cheques should be made out to “FOGPC”. The new membership year started with the June 2013 draw and with 138 members by the AGM - a record.

Thanks to Michelle Morris we are starting the new club year with a properly manufactured set of draw tiles, which have been very generously donated by cabinet maker Mark Last who lives in Hartest in Suffolk, and who had provided the tiles for a similar club which Michelle has set up in her home village - having seen the success of the Gunthorpe

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club. Mark’s only requested reward has been a “free” number in our draw, and in an even more generous gesture he has asked that if he wins the prize should be given back as a donation to the “Friends”. A big thank you goes to both Mark and Michelle.

ST MARY’S CHURCH NEWS On May 17th, the funeral of John Smith took place. The church was full with John's family and friends. It was a moving but happy service, with a lovely eulogy, given by Jonathan Smith. The bottle bank is a huge success. It was installed in the middle of April and already has been emptied twice. It is a small but helpful addition to Church finances. Thank you for supporting us and keep drinking (in moderation of course!) The sponsored bike ride in aid of the Norfolk Church's trust will take place on September 14th. Please keep the date free and enjoy cycling in our beautiful countryside as your sponsorship will help this important charity. Any volunteers to man our church during the day would be most appreciated as well. Please contact Penny or David Brough on 01263 861477 or Dan & Ginny Worsley on 01263 860085 if you are able to help. Thank you in anticipation. Penny Brough

AGM FOR FOGPC The 20th AGM of the Friends of Gunthorpe Parish

Church took place on Friday, 5th July at 6:30pm in the Village Institute with 21 Friends new and old present. Many thanks to all who attended and also to those who sent their apologies and best wishes. Particular thanks to Rob Cutterham who donated the red wine as well as the main draw prize in memory of Peter Everett. Although he is not with us as often as we would like Rob remains a key and very generous supporter of our work.

The Committee were praised for their loyalty and efforts. 20 years is a decent running, and a lot has been accomplished in that time. John & Mary Smith and Martin & Peggy Swindells were mentioned lovingly with thanks and appreciation for their key parts in taking the initial steps to form the Friends, and to Martin for forging ahead with such spirit and strength as the Secretary and real leader for so many years. As the present chair it is worth you knowing, Martin, that I still fall to pieces without you, and we are the most unorthodox AGM ever. It was suggested by a ‘Friend’, who shall remain nameless, that the best way

to make money would be to run a live-camera during the meeting and the footage, uncut, would rival Fawlty Towers. Watch out Monty Python – here come The Friends!

John Blakeley has done a superb job collecting all the subs for the Friends and the 50/50 Club and Joy Luscombe, Myfi Everett and Lynn Marr gallantly took on running the 50/50 Club Coffee mornings which, together with the subs bring in the largest sum to the Friends’ revenue. Thank you all so much for your hard work. The Tower Repair Project is complete, and the smaller repairs to the flints and roof finished, with the painting of the downpipes, fascia and gutters taking place in the next few weeks. The next project planned is the decoration of the Church interior, so please continue your support over the next year’s events to help us maintain the fabric of St. Mary’s Church Gunthorpe into the Friends 21st year. As always many thanks to all the Friends’ supporters. Marie Denholm Friends Chair

PARISH COUNCIL NEWS This item covers the major topics of discussion at the Annual Parish Meeting and the meeting of the Gunthorpe and Bale Parish Council which followed it - held on 29th May at Gunthorpe Village Institute.

Parish Meeting There was only one parishioner from Gunthorpe and

Bale present, along with the Parish Council and Clerk and the NNDC Councillor, at the Parish Meeting. No issues were raised and the meeting was immediately closed.

Parish Council Meeting The Parish Council’s accounts were approved. Our

NNDC Councillor Ann Green gave a briefing on the new planning rules (available on the NNDC web site), and the continuance of the Big Society funding of community projects. She also confirmed that at present the NNDC was not planning any increase in local rates for the year 2014-2015 - this was not guaranteed!

East of England Ambulance Service Parishioners will be aware of recently announced further developments for the future operation of the EEAST, and along with other local parish councils we have been very active in drawing the attention of our MPs, the NNDC and

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the new Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), who are now responsible for the ambulance service contract, to what until now we have seen as major shortcomings in the performance of the ambulance service for this area. Given that this problem now appears to be even more widely recognised, and with the major criticism from the region’s MPs finally leading to action, we welcome the management changes which are now being proposed. We also welcome the decision to increase rather than decrease the cover available to this area from Cromer, but we will have to wait and see if these changes bring the essential improvements which are needed. Meantime we remind you that the CCG Chair and GP Principal is Dr Anoop Dhesi, and the Chief Officer is Mark Taylor, and more information on the CCG and how to contact them can be found at www.northnorfolkgp.co.uk. We strongly encourage parishioners to contact the CCG directly to express any concerns or comments that they may have. The Parish Council will continue to monitor the EEAS, and we also welcome any views that you may have.

Energy Box Details of the Energy Box scheme were given in Lynx issue 89. We now have one box for each village. For Gunthorpe it is held in the Village Institute from where it can be borrowed by contacting Sandra Warner on 01263 862899. For Bale the box is held by John Church and you can contact him on 01328 878377.

Gritting The Grit Bins should be in place before next winter once

their locations by Bale Village Hall and Gunthorpe Green have been approved by the Highways Dept. We are still waiting for a full response to our request to include the school bus route through Gunthorpe from the A148 to the B1354 to be part of the priority gritting schedule, but our request has been supported by our new County Councillor.

Gunthorpe Green The Council’s request for road repairs to be carried out

around the Green has met with success and one major and several minor repairs have been carried out. We have also been told that our request for a 75% grant for the

construction of parking spaces on the east side of the Green has been successful, but the final commitment is still awaited. These will be unreserved public spaces which can be used on a “first come, first served” basis by both residents and visitors, and we hope that particularly in winter the availability of this parking will significantly reduce damage to the Green. We were very grateful for the support of our previous County Councillor, Russell Wright for this work to be approved.

B1354 Junction We are continuing to raise our concerns about the reduced visibility of the junction with the B1354 caused by the (incorrect) Gunthorpe Lane sign placed there by the NNDC with the approval of the NCC Highway’s Dept. We understand that Briningham PC, in whose Parish the sign is located, also has concerns, but we do not have further details of any action they may have taken. The Clerk was asked to again follow this up with the NNDC and our new County Councillor.

Mobile Library The NCC mobile library still visits Gunthorpe on a

monthly basis and provides an essential service for some residents. Bale is not presently on the schedule, but the Council would seek to change this if there is any support from Bale residents.

Parish Council Meeting The next Parish Council meeting will be held in Bale Village hall at 7.30 pm on Thursday 29th August. At the time of going to print both our local MP, Keith Simpson, and our newly elected County Councillor, David Ramsbotham, were expected to attend. The meeting is open to the public and if you have any questions or topics you

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wish to have raised at the meeting please notify the Parish Council Clerk, Anthony Hayward: arhayward@btopen world.com .John Church Chair Gunthorpe & Bale PC

A DOG OWNER’S PLEA I just love this time of year. Walking my dogs early in the morning and again in the evenings. The countryside is looking its best and the weather near perfect (well sometimes anyway!). The green lanes and quiet roads around the village of Gunthorpe (when maintained) are ideal for these walks. Then I get home, walk into the house and oh boy what do I find - a shoe full of dog poo. If I am not quick it’s all over the floor and it stinks. There are many dog owners who live in this village and all the ones I walk with do clean up after their dogs. But some dog owners do not seem to realise it is an offence if they fail to clean up after their dogs. By law it is the responsibility of the dog owner or the person in charge of the dog to clear up any dog foul left by their dog. If you fail to clean up after your dog you can be issued with a Fixed Penalty Notice, or if the case goes to court a fine of up to £1,000. The fine is not cheap - poo bags are! Thanks. Diana Arthurson

GUNTHORPE INSTITUTE It seems no time at all since the last issue of the

Lynx, but we are well into summer now with thoughts in mind perhaps of visits to or from family and friends, BBQ’s and holidays to come.

It is also the summer recess for events at the Village Institute, but not before mentioning the Pie & Pud night on 15th June and passing on some special thanks. Approximately thirty Gunthorpians, friends etc spent a very enjoyable evening tucking in to some rather tasty locally sourced pies. A choice of two lovely puddings which had travelled rather fewer miles followed and a big thank you to Julie for all her time and effort in making these. Of course no Institute evening would be

complete without a raffle or a quiz and this was no exception, with Sandra Warner providing a challenging quiz to round off the night and very many thanks for this and to all helpers and supporters who turned out making it so worthwhile.

There are no details of forthcoming events at this time for later in the summer or early autumn, but we continue to look for inspiration, variety and new ideas so please don’t hesitate to let us have your thoughts.

The Institute has been used on several occasions in the last few months for family gatherings and a birthday party. It is very adaptable and could be a very useful alternative in inclement weather and avoid spoiling any outdoor entertaining plans. If anyone is interested in hiring a venue please contact Sandra Warner the Hall Manager (01263 862899) who will be pleased to hear from you.

At the time of going to print we are all hoping for good weather for the annual Fete on 28th July and not the cloud burst of last year. By the time you read this you will know if our prayers have been answered!

WELCOME A warm, if somewhat belated (for which many

apologies), welcome goes to Libby Norton and Sharon Lloyd who, along with their terriers Ellie and “Barking” Barley, moved into 1 Keys Cottage in 2012. Their main home is in Bourne in Lincolnshire, but they have a long association with Norfolk having had a caravan in Barney for some 30 years. They also know Gunthorpe well, and have been frequent visitors to the village even before buying their house here. Libby has retired from her profession as a primary school teacher, whilst Sharon is still working part-time as a member of the fostering duty team for Lincolnshire County Council. They are very keen to get further involved in village activities, and we wish them a long and happy “retirement” in their home in our very eclectic and friendly village.

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WELCOME We would like to extend a warm welcome to Barbara

North, Bob and Pat Harnett and Neil and Sarah, who have come to live in Langham and we hope you will be very happy living here.

BANK HOLIDAY BRING AND BUY We were very grateful for the large amounts of bric-a-

brac donated which, together with a late sale of pottery, boosted our funds to an amazing £427.

The name of the doll was Miranda and was won by Carol Parsons. Mr. & Mrs. William Morton of Langham won the whisky raffle and the plant raffle was won by Mr. John Hughes.

Grateful thanks go to all those who helped, beforehand, on the day and with the clearing up. None of this would have been possible without your valuable contribution.

TICKETS FOR THURSFORD 8 December, 2013

Tickets are still available for Thursford 2pm performance. This may be your last chance! Maureen 01328 830731

ART AND CRAFTS EXHIBITION 2013 This spring-time exhibition is becoming a fixture on the

Langham calendar, thanks to the persistence of its organiser, Pauline Bartlett. This year there were entries from 4 potters, a jeweller, a glass-maker, a maker of perfumes and toiletries, and a maker of bags and hats, as well as 2 photographers and 22 painters. Given that paintings are hung as submitted, with no selection, the standard was remarkably high and the whole exhibition most pleasing to the eye.

When visitors became exhausted after considering the works on show they could find refreshment in the form of delicious cakes, rolls and drinks in the lobby area, organised and frequently presided over by Jan Hope, ably assisted by Sue Hughes, Sue Page and a rota of ‘assisting ladies’.

The chaps were not left out; they were needed for

transporting and setting up the display panels and taking them away again after the event.

I had the pleasure of splodging away at a painting or two while keeping half an ear open to catch words of wisdom from Ken Bartlett as he explained the intricacies of modern calligraphy to interested visitors. Though demonstration is tiring work, it does seem to attract a lot of interest.

As well as being an all-round happy village event, this year’s exhibition produced a shattering profit for Parish Room funds of over a thousand pounds. Very well done, everyone, and especially Pauline. Bob Brandt

THE CHURCHYARD PROJECT It all started with the recognition that maintaining the

churchyard by mowing and strimming almost every square inch of it was imposing an impossible burden on the small team of volunteers (two of them) who were trying to keep everything ‘under control’. Seeing what was being done in a number of other churchyards locally and nationally, it was thought sensible to get some expert advice and in June 2012 Dr Robert Leaney - the voluntary advisor to the Norfolk Wildlife Trust Churchyard Conservation Scheme - came to the churchyard, was pleased to find a number of both common and relatively rare plants, and prepared a report setting out his recommendations.

Based on that report, and with the full support of the Rector and the PCC, the Churchyard Conservation Scheme was started, with the backing of a designated fund.

Full details of the Scheme will be found on a display panel in the south aisle of the church and you are warmly invited to look at this when you can.

In setting aside quite large sections of the churchyard as conservation areas, we are following a growing trend for allowing the development of the wild flowers and grasses upon which bees and other pollinating insects entirely depend. Such areas are to be found in the grounds at Holkham and Houghton Halls as well as many parks and domestic gardens, as well as many churchyards. Interesting wild flowers are already showing themselves and we are hoping for orchids to reappear in the central area of the Memorial Garden which is now being developed as a butterfly meadow.

Of course, even conservation areas require some maintenance and at the end of the summer (maybe even by the time you read this) the churchyard will be visited by the Community Payback Norfolk Churchyard Team who will

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cut back those areas and remove the harvest to prepare for next year’s growth. Their cost and the cost of other necessary work, such as heavy pruning, will be met out of the fund.

The Rector is hoping to have some of the older and neglected grave areas planted up with herbs, and in time we may be able to buy more seats for visitors to use and enjoy the plants. Oh, and the scheme has already cut the time for mowing the churchyard by a half!

If you would like to help with the scheme please contact Ian on 830246. Bob Brandt

PARISH ROOM NEWS Some time early in September a sigh of relief will echo

through the village as the second phase of the refurbishment of the Parish Room is completed! Visitors to the hall will (hopefully) be delighted by the changes which have been introduced over the last couple of years and largely made possible by the generosity of those who have donated to the Refurbishment Fund.

Grants did come from the Norfolk Rural Community Council, The Norfolk Community Foundation and the Geoffrey Watling Foundation, and for those we are very grateful, but the majority of the funding came from the residents and friends of the village themselves, both directly and through the Langham Street Fayre.

Over the same two years, additional funds have been raised through a series of events organised by or on behalf of the Parish Room Committee. These are too numerous to list here but special mention must be made of the Art and Craft Exhibition this May which is reported upon elsewhere in this issue.

Sadly, because of family illness, Kelvin Boot’s talk which was due to be held on 3rd August, advertised in issue 89, has had to be cancelled. We will hope to re-fix this.

The improvements which have been introduced include the re-flooring and carpeting of the entrance porch and lobby area, the fitting of acoustic ceiling tiles and new lighting in the lobby/kitchen and a new suspended ceiling with new lighting in the main hall and stage area.

Less obvious will be the new emergency lighting and smoke detection systems and the overhauled wiring.

We are hoping to formally ‘launch’ the refurbished Parish Room at an event yet to be organised this autumn.

The Wednesday morning Coffee Mornings have been abandoned during the summer but we are hoping to

reintroduce them, or possibly more Saturday Coffee Mornings instead, in the autumn. If you have any views, or would like to help, please ring Maureen on 01328 830731.

We are also looking for more help with administration, particularly for secretarial help both general and to take minutes at committee meetings. We do need your support here as some of us older work-horses need more time in the pasture. If you are interested please ring Edward Allen on 01328 830276.

Finally, to enquire about booking our fabulous ‘new’ hall for your regular or one-off event, please ring Jan Hope on 01328 830847. Thank you all. Bob Brandt

WRVS LANGHAM CAR SERVICE Schedule to October 6th 2013

Weekly driving duties beginning on a Monday July 29th Tel: 830 847 Sept. 2nd Tel: 830 606* Aug. 5th Tel: 830 056 Sept. 9th Tel: 830 696* Aug.12th Tel: 830 731 Sept. 16th Tel: 830 624 Aug.19th Tel: 830 537* Sept. 23rd Tel: 830 348 Aug.26th Tel: 830 605 Sept. 30th Tel: 830 821*

Rate: 25p per mile. *These drivers do not go to Norwich If the driver for the week is unable to do the trip,

contact the next person on the list. If your appointment is cancelled, please also cancel your car service booking.

Please give three days notice wherever possible, except in an emergency. It would be very helpful if a car booking is made as soon as an appointment is arranged or journey planned so that drivers can arrange their schedule. When booking please advise of any walking aids to be transported. Please bring change.

In the infrequent event that no driver is available – contact the Holt Caring Society Tel: 01263 711243 giving as much notice as possible.

This roster is also sited in the Bluebell and on the church porch and village notice boards with dates beyond the above schedule, after September 9th.

NB These lists will show any changes which may occur due to holidays. Ann Sherriff Tel: 830 605

LEUKAEMIA RESEARCH Our May Sale was very successful and we sold all

the plants and many other things too. The result was a fantastic £1100. Thank you all for your support.

Maureen Dennis

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MAUREEN’S EVENTS Recently I advertised a day trip to Ely cathedral Flower

Festival. Nobody from the Lynx area wanted to join us – what a pity as it was a super day and the Cathedral looked wonderful. I have more plans so perhaps I can tempt you to come along:

October 6th/7th – By coach from Langham. We shall leave at 8.30am. and travel to Warwickshire stopping at places of interest before arriving at Brandon Hall Hotel. Old Tyme Musical and dinner, bed and full breakfast at this 4* hotel, coach back to Langham– cost-£89.50 p.p. (£25 single supplement) – a bargain.

November 30th – By coach to Bury St. Edmunds Christmas Market, leaves Langham 8.30am. £12 p.p. Everyone welcome. If you are interested please contact me on Tel: 01328 830731. Maureen Dennis

MOBILE LIBRARY This will now visit on a four weekly basis, on Thursdays: August 8th, Sept. 5th, Oct.3rd The van will call, each of these, days for 20 minutes at: St. Mary’s - 10.00am. Old Post Office - 10.25am. Swan’s Close - 10.50am The Cornfield - 11.15am. Enquiries : Wells Library Tel: 01328 710467.

STALL ON THE GREEN Saturdays: August 3rd, 10th, 17th & 24th

9.30am – 11am This cake and produce stall can be found on the Green

opposite the Bluebell. If anyone would like to help or even organise it, please do give me a call. Offers of cake and produce will be most welcome on the day. We look forward to seeing you. Proceeds for Langham Church General Fund.

Ann Sherriff 01328 830605

THANK YOU FRIENDS OF LANGHAM Those who signed up for the Norwich trip on Saturday

had a wonderful day out. We had the choice of leisure time in the city or a walking tour with a Blue Badge Guide, which was very enlightening. We were then whisked off to Wroxham before the Lord Mayor’s procession got under way and after one and a half hours of free time we all enjoyed a carvery meal at the King’s Head before our return to Langham.

All very well organised. How lucky we are to have a

hard working committee that provides very enjoyable occasions such as this. Many thanks to all the committee.

VILLAGE STRAWBERRY TEA The weather was fine for the above event so we had the

choice of sitting inside the lovely conservatory or outside in the sunlit garden at Sue and John’s home. Grateful thanks go to them both for hosting the occasion, to Jan for organising it, to Barbara and Sheila for their invaluable help and also to those who made the wonderful array of delicious cakes. A very enjoyable occasion which raised £87.50 for the Parish Room.

THE PARISH ROOM COMMITTEE ...regret that the ‘Pudding Evening’, planned for July

12th did not take place. There were simply not enough tickets sold to make it worthwhile. Jan Hope

NORFOLK CHURCHES BIKE RIDE Supported by Eastern Daily Press

Saturday 14 September 2013 9am – 5.00pm

Help to keep fit! Come and cycle for us or if that sounds too much join me and other Langham residents in a gentle walk around as many churches as we can manage.

Last year Langham raised £556.26, of which half was returned to our PCC, for the church general fund. Together with reclaimed tax from Gift Aid donations our church received a total of £344.16. We are so lucky in Norfolk to have such a variety of beautiful church buildings, 800 of which are medieval. Maintenance is a huge burden on the community but these churches are worth saving, as they contribute so much to our unique town and village scenery.

Hundreds of churches and chapels are open on the day and most offer encouragement and a cold drink and a snack, if you are lucky.

Call John Plummer on 01328 830420 (or Ken Bartlett on 01328 830696) for sponsor forms and a list of Churches and Chapels Open.

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FRIENDS OF LANGHAM EVENTS Saturday 10th August

We are planning to have an evening meal out at the Ferry Inn Horning on Sat 10th August. There is a carvery or meals from the menu starting at around £8.00. All FOL members are cordially invited to join us and transport will be provided but not food and drink. To get an idea of interest please contact John Hughes 01328 830595 or Peter Barlow 01328 830606 ASAP or by the 1st August, latest. Not already a member of the FOL 200 club ? It's not too late to join.

Senior Citizens Mystery Tour The Friends Of Langham are again organising a

mystery trip on Tuesday September 3rd and all Langham senior citizens (over 60's) are welcome to join us. Wondering where we are going this time? Why not come along and find out. You might be pleasantly surprised. Unfortunately due to ever increasing costs we are having to request a cover charge of £10. This will include a lunchtime meal. Departing Langham approximately 10.00am and returning by 5.30pm.

Rounders and BBQ Evening On Thursday 8th August the Friends Of Langham

will be holding the annual rounders and BBQ evening on the playing field starting at 6.00pm. Everyone is welcome to either play or just enjoy the BBQ and the evening. John Hughes Chairman

BOOKS & BRIC-A-BRAC Parish Room, Saturday 21st September

10am - 12 noon Come and have a browse and enjoy coffee and cake!Proceeds for Langham Church General Fund.

FRIENDS OF LANGHAM 200 Club Prize Draw Winners

June £20 winners July £10 winners Mr P Hill Mrs A Curtis Mrs R Fairhead Mrs V Espin Mr G Dorricott Mrs B Newman Mr R Jenkinson Mr P Levy

Mr R Pannier

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY Fri 16th Aug: Practice Oyster and Gypsy Day. Sat 17th Aug. Norfolk Oyster and Gypsy World Championship. Sat 24th Aug. Morston Regatta. Sat 14th Sep. NNDC Sponsored Bike Ride. Sat 19th Oct. Shovell Dinner 2013 at the Anchor. [Shovell biographer Dr Simon Harris on “Admiral Narborough of Cockthorpe”.]

FROM THE GARDEN My lavender is in bloom and the bees are loving it. Soon,

I will have to decide how I shall use the flowers this year. If for dried flower arrangements I pick early, but to incur the best perfume, as is required for lavender bags and cushions, it is best to wait till full bloom. However, it is the oil of lavender that is most prized and has been used through the centuries.

The Greeks and Romans recognised its healing and antiseptic qualities and, according to Luke’s gospel, Mary used Spikenard (spike lavender) when washing the feet of Jesus.

Hanging bunches of lavender on doors was believed to ward off evil spirits and gave protection from cholera and the plague. More recently, the public was asked to collect lavender from which the oil was used with sphagnum moss to dress wounds in the 1st World War.

Today, it is still widely used for infusions, inhalations, massage, etc., but I think I will do what I know how to do best, and make lavender bags again! Green Pinkie

CRAB SUPPER 2013 The PCC Crab Supper was a great success and made

£1,344:50 for the PCC General Fund. Mary Athill and the PCC would like to thank everybody who helped with ferrying to and from the point, with the catering and not least those who attended the supper itself.

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PEOPLE & LIVELIHOODS 36 acres of tidal water and 418 acres of

foreshore Morston was an agricultural community (even farming

on the marsh: see the 1586 picture on the church millennium board) until this century, made up of families who arrived here and often within 1-3 generations moved on, the exceptions being the families of Powditch, Buck/Turner, Butter/Wrench, Starman, Wood and Temple.

Morston's Hearth Tax of 1664 showed 40 hearths or families (say 100 souls perhaps), the largest household, that of the parson, William Armistead, gent - being six souls. By 1851 and 1891 there were only 22 houses with a population of 100-110 in the village, the 1664 figure not being reached again until around 1908 - when the population was 108. The population now is about 100.

In assessing Morston's economic role it is useful to look at its history in the context of that of Blakeney, Cley, Stiffkey and Wiveton. In the early to mid-1800's the populations of Blakeney and Cley was each around 1000, and Stiffkey and Wiveton each had 200. Winter 1830-31 saw farm labourers' wages at an all time low - literally at starvation level, especially in east central Norfolk - and there were food riots, storming of corn mills and breaking of farm machinery, and poor house riots took place to the east and south of Morston.

The economy of Morston at that time appears to have been modest and not typical of a small coastal village community, since most of the inhabitants were employed on three tenant-farms (the biggest being that of George Wood - grandfather of the famous sprinter - in 1851 being of 1,500 acres and employing 25 agricultural labourers). And there were 6-8 Coastguards stationed in the village at any time (it was long the biggest Coastguard Station on the north Norfolk coast, reporting initially to Cley and later to Cromer District). By 1851 Lieutenant Thomas's Coastguards were the second biggest employer in Morston (but not of locals). The coastguards here then numbered 7, plus their 26 dependants. There were then too Edward Woodenham and James Roman, the publicans running the Townshend Arms and the Anchor Inn and Mr. Osborne running a general stores opposite, and a schoolmistress - with her school - and three fishermen and two paupers. (The Beerhouse Act of 1830 had been passed to encourage beer-drinking in order to reduce gin consumption - and naturally resulted in a general increase in pubs).

By 1861 Morston had added a baker, a carrier, 3 dressmakers, a shipwright, a shepherd, a straw-bonnet maker, a surveyor and a vermin destroyer. By 1891 George Thomas, Jr. was a gamekeeper and Master Mariner Robert Temple and his wife Sarah were running the Townshend Arms with a coachman available and a blacksmith's shop (run by Robert's brother Henry with two staff); and the village also had a brickyard with 3 bricklayers, a carpenter, a fisherman, a mariner, a seaman, and Harriot the shepherd; and, apparently, for a short while, a smock mill south of the church.

By 1908 Morston's baker, William Russell, had added on a grocery business, there was a village cobbler and Henry Temple - as well as the smithy - was running the Anchor Inn, but our school had gone and children now went to school in Langham. The village post office, opposite the two pubs, had two collections a day. (It sadly closed in 2000). Morston's acreage in that year was shown as 1,694 acres "exclusive of a tract of low marshes", with the vicar's "glebe" (land) being 56 acres.

Although by the 1930's populations in North Norfolk had generally started to decline, Morston remained static. From the beginning of the twentieth century the gradual contraction of the marine coastal economy could be seen clearly. Today the age profile in these villages is higher than the average, since they are popular locations for retirement homes.

From 1898 to 1935 a Lifeboat Service operated from the Point, the old Lifeboat House now being a National Trust Information Centre. After 1945 Morston's tourist industry involved ferryboats to and from the Point (where 260 species of bird – especially migrants - have been recorded) and the ferrying of individual anglers to the Pit or offshore.

Footnote: Since the Village Design Statement Committee wrote this in 2004 (and then abridged it for the final version dated 2005), two businesses have appeared: Norfolk etc, and the Bluejacket Workshop.

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BOOK ON SAXLINGHAM ‘Dandelion Days’ a memoir in prose and poetry by Pam

Noyes has just been published. Pam, a well-known Norfolk artist, was brought up at The Old Rectory, Saxlingham where her father was Rector of Field Dalling and Saxlingham. Her book reflects on her childhood and life in the village leading up to the Second World War and shows her close affinity with the landscape around her. Kevin Crossley-Holland writes,”This is a memorable and beautifully produced book, and its presiding spirit – the Hunter’s Moon, the half-moon, the sickle moon, the saffron moon, sharp-edged and ethereal – is the embodiment of time passing.” Poetry lovers and social historians alike will find much to enjoy in this book which is available from The Big Blue Sky in Wells and from Burnham Market Bookshop priced at £6.99.

JAZZ CONCERT ON 14 JUNE We are once again very grateful to Gresham’s for

providing high quality performances from its boys and girls who clearly enjoyed the setting and the very appreciative audience who filled the pews. From the start they clapped breaks by individual players. In the fine weather the audience enjoyed their wine and canapés during the interval spent in the churchyard. The event including a raffle and donations raised £927 for the church’s funds.

FIELD DALLING & SAXLINGHAM FETE The joint fete organized by our two villages is due to

take place at our shared village hall in Field Dalling on Saturday 10th August from 2.00-4.00pm. All sorts of delights and stalls await you! Come along to enjoy the music of the Lumiere Rouge Jazz Band.

BROADBAND LATEST Cllr. Dr Marie Strong, has indicated that Saxlingham has

been chosen to become the first village in our group to be provided with the much-heralded super-fast BT broadband service. There is some justice in this as, being situated at the end of the line from the Binham exchange, we have had to endure many problems. The new technology should be up and running before the end of August.

GROUP SERVICE On Sunday 29th September at 10.30am Holy

Communion for all ten parishes in the Benifice will take place in our church. During the service the Rector will dedicate the recently repaired nave windows. There will be an opportunity for the families of Robert Beeson (1942-2011) and Patsy Cubitt-Smith (1917-2011), who contributed generously to the cost of the repairs, to see the names of their loved ones inscribed by hand on panels in two of the four windows.

See WHAT’S ON page2 for Police Street Meetings.

NATURE NOTES At last the rain came and three weeks late the

countryside has burst into life. The fruit harvest will be light this year (although the late strawberries and raspberries have been delicious).

Reports continue of the dreadful massacres of migrating birds in southern Europe. Over 700 Turtle Doves shot in Spain as they migrate north. The EU bird directives are flouted withy apparent impunity. British farmers often get the blame for not helping our small birds but I suggest that the wholesale slaughter in Mediterranean countries is the real evil. Most farmers are in environmental schemes.

We are fortunate in Stiffkey to have wonderful habitat – river valley, salt marshes, woodland and footpaths. I read somewhere that the most important nature reserves in the UK are people’s gardens. In area there must be millions of acres. But keep your cats in at night! And feeding in winter and spring.

My specimen Ash tree, which appeared to have the fungus last summer, has been ‘injected’ by me with a fungicide I don’t want to lose it. I have bored five holes at 45degrees around the bottom of the trunk – and filled each with 3cc of dilute fungicide used on roses (roses are arboreal plants). The idea is for the fungicide to be carried up to the growing points. If successful look out for my (PhD peer reviewed) paper submitted to the John Innes Institute! So far so good! Pightle

BUMBLEBEE COFFEE MORNING A very belated thank you to everyone who helped to

make our Coffee Morning in April so successful. An amazing £340 was raised and sent to the Bumblebee Conservation Trust at Sterling University.

The following letter has been received from the Trust, but arrived too late to appear in the previous Lynx.

“Thank you very much for your generous support of our work through the recent Coffee Morning in Stiffkey. It sounds like you had a lovely morning enthusing attendees about bees.

Thank you all for volunteering your time to help raise awareness of these vital pollinators. Your funds will certainly help us continue our work to protect Britain's rare and common bumblebees by adding wild flowers to our landscape. Lee Deane, Development Manager". Jill Watson

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CHURCH NOTES Whilst we celebrated our patronal date (for St John the

Baptist) on June 23rd with evensong and rousing hymns followed by refreshments – led by our Rector, we must also record the sad deaths of Derek Gibson whose funeral on June 20th saw a full church as friends and family gathered in summer sunshine to lay him to rest followed by a gathering in Wells. Our condolences to his devoted family.

The Revd. Betty Humphries died in May and her wish was to be laid to rest in Stiffkey Churchyard. Her funeral on 29th May again saw a large congregation from all over the area, led by the bishop of Lynn. Betty often took services for us, especially in the inter-regnum period, and regular worshippers appreciated her homely addresses. Betty lived in Walsingham but was very supportive of parishes in our benefice. She also served as a prison chaplain/visitor when younger and no doubt, brought much comfort to individuals in testing situations.

Our harvest festival service is Sunday 22nd September at 11a.m.

On a serious note there is much concern (and talk) about the way Norfolk parishes continue to meet their share of diocesan expenses – like everything these days, the ‘economy’ and its problems loom large. The diocese is losing $2.0 million a year, as their subsidy from central church funds is not enough to cover the costs of priests, their expenses and pensions. On top of a possible funding problem in this direction (where parishes may be asked to dig deeper in their annual ‘share’), we have to continue repairing and maintaining our beautiful church, and churchyard – and our fabric fund is becoming depleted.

We do have generous and regular donors, but it is only right that the PCC makes everyone aware of its growing problems.

Meanwhile, the visitors book in the church is testimony to the dedicated work by mowers, flower arrangers and cleaners that keep everything looking bright and beautiful, virtually all write wonderful tributes. Keith McDougall

STIFFKEY WI Monthly meetings: No meeting in August. 16 September - Beetle Drive and Quiz.

Meetings are held at The Village Hall Stiffkey on the 3rd Monday of the month at 7.30pm. Visitors are always welcome and refreshments are provided. Further information can be obtained from Secretary Helen Leach, Tel 01328 830349.

STIFFKEY SCHOOL An exhibition about the history of Stiffkey School will

be held in the Church from Saturday 24th—Monday 26th August 10am - 4pm each day.

STALLS ON THE KNOLL The Annual ‘Stalls on the Knoll’ will also take place

over the August Bank Holiday. Books & ‘bric-a-brac’ will be on sale to raise funds for Stiffkey Church and refreshments will be available in the church. For times and further details contact Eva Gambrill. Tel 01328 830709.

ANNUAL BIKE RIDE The Norfolk Churches Trust Annual Fundraising Bike

Ride takes place on Saturday 14th September. Our benefice contains a group of wonderful medieval

churches which have been centres of Christian worship and witness for hundreds of years. The Church at Stiffkey is a beautiful building with a calm, peaceful atmosphere. The buildings have also been at the centre of village life through the ages with church detail reflecting the stories of our village.

The upkeep of church buildings is becoming more difficult. Small congregations have to meet large financial commitments to cover the Parish Share. Only through the efforts of the wider community can the ancient buildings be kept in good repair and preserved for future generations.

The Norfolk Churches Trust does an excellent job in raising funds and allocating them where most needed. Stiffkey was in receipt of a grant a few years ago, Cockthorpe is benefitting now. Funds raised by the bike ride are shared equally between the Norfolk Churches Trust and the local church.

Most parishes will be taking part. Please help if you can. Steven Bashforth

STIFFKEY LOCAL HISTORY GROUP We gratefully thank to all who responded so generously

and with encouragement to our appeal for funds to support the book production. We are now confident that a high quality professional production including colour illustrations will result. We hope to have a book launch in November.

Recent activities have been: the exhibitions about the History of Warborough house held on the Open Gardens days, we thank Mr & Mrs Morgan for the allowing us the opportunity to exhibit. A visit to Binham Priory and picnic was very much enjoyed by our members. They would like to thank David for his informative and lively tour. It was really worth while and our knowledge of the Priory and the wider culture of England at that time was much enhanced. Also, we are assembling a new exhibition on the history of Stiffkey School to be shown at the Church over the August Bank Holiday period.

On September 28th we will be visiting Burnham Thorpe to follow the ‘Nelson Walk’. Details of this are yet to be finalised – look out for posters.

Steven Bashforth S.L.H.G

27

SCHOOL NEWS The sun is shining on Langham Village School at

long last and the children are making the most of it in the action-packed few weeks before the school breaks up for the summer holidays on Thursday 25 July.

Out and about In June, 26 children from years 4,5 and 6 (aged 8 –

11) enjoyed a week in the Brecon Beacons in Wales for this year’s residential trip. Following an evening trip to set humane mammal traps (the lure being peanut butter sandwiches and apple chunks), the next morning the children found animals including a yellow-necked wood mouse, a dormouse and short-tailed water voles. The children gently examined and weighed the animals and then let them go back into the wild. Other adventures included damming a river, evening games of handball and crab football, a nature quiz and a spot of safe-cracking, the lock being released by finding the solution to a series of puzzles and problems. Mr Green, Mr Earp, Miss Hunt and Helen Ward were the chaperones on the trip which, for several of the children, was a first taste of independence away from home.

Also in June, children from classes 2 and 3 (ages 6-11) visited the Sainsbury Centre for the Visual Arts in Norwich, sketching artefacts from the centre and taking part in workshops to make a mobile using colours to represent concepts like freedom and energy.

Not to be left out, Class 1 children (ages 4 – 6) had their annual trip to France – without leaving the school grounds. This is a lovely adventure where the children make passports and make a wallet with cardboard ‘euros’, board the Eurostar train (made of the class chairs arranged like a train) and use their euros to buy croissants and fruit, speaking French of course to the market stall holders.

Finally, all the children will be visiting the Holkham Estate on 22 July for the annual whole school trip, always an enjoyable day out.

There’s no business like show business Well done to the enterprising Teigan Percy and Ellie

Bushell in Year 5 who organised a school talent show on Tuesday 2 July in aid of Cancer Research, raising money for a good cause and giving all the children the chance to show what they can do.

The children also take a leading role at the school summer fair, which takes place on Friday 12 July. At the time of writing they are busy designing and organising stalls to attract the visitors alongside the buffet and bouncy castle.

Class 3 will also be taking to the stage all together at

the Alderman Peel High School musical evening on 17 July, performing a street dance medley they have learned with visiting dance teacher Jenna Woods. They will repeat the performance at the school leavers assembly on 24 July.

Sporting highlights The school has maintained its proud sporting record

this year, reaching the county finals in seven sports: cross country, indoor athletics, tennis, netball, swimming, football and golf. In addition the children have taken part in many more sporting events within the Wells cluster, including fencing, tennis and archery. Langham Village School won the Small Schools North Norfolk Tournaments for Netball High 5 and Tri Golf , and the Wells Cluster Mini Tennis Tournament. The children will benefit from extra government money for sports next year, which will fund the services of Darren Gill who will work with each class on a Monday morning in addition to the existing activities with Ricky from Gill Sports on a Friday.

Farewell to old friends Everyone at Langham Village School will be bidding

a very fond farewell to Mr Earp, who teaches across all age groups in the school and retires at the end of this term. Mr Earp’s link with Langham Village School goes back 20 years when, as head of another North Norfolk School, the two schools shared residential visits. Langham Village School Head Teacher Mike Green says: “Over the years hundreds of children at Langham have benefitted enormously from Mr Earp’s superb talents in Drama, Literacy and Music. His enthusiasm and eagerness to help anyone at any time will be sorely missed.”

We also say goodbye to Finance Secretary Karen Pickels who has moved on to a new role outside the school. Karen has done a sterling job over the past few years and takes with her everyone’s best wishes. A warm welcome to Clair Price who has joined as Karen’s successor.

We wish all the children, staff and volunteers a pleasant time during their well-deserved summer break. As always, you can keep up to speed with all the school’s activities on the school website at www.langhamvillageschool.com. Anne-Marie Coe

28

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