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Painting Plants and Flowers through the Eyes of a Botanical Artist
After an absence of six years, Iceni Botanical Artists are pleased to be back in Wymondham at Becket’s Chapel from the 9th-21st July with their Annual Exhibition entitled “IBA in Bloom”.
The paintings are represented in each artist’s individual style, ranging from loose and free techniques, landscapes and plant portraits which display scientifically accepted attention to detail and accuracy, all captured in oils, acrylic, coloured pencil, watercolour and graphite.
Francesca Cowie, an IBA member who lives in Wymondham, describes below her journey in becoming a Botanical Illustrator and what inspires her.
“The seed of my artistic pursuits was planted by my determination as an infant to feel a sense of connection with my non-verbal autistic brother. He spent the majority of his time drawing, engrossed in his mind, in a world I was eager to be a part of. By simply sitting with him with my own pen and paper I discovered a way we could play together harmoniously. This was the true beginning to my journey as a Botanical Artist.
Despite enjoying art classes the most, as I approached higher education I prioritised my other passion, science. I graduated from university with a Bachelor of Science degree however, I felt a career in science wasn't going to truly fulfil me and instead tantalised the idea of becoming a scientific illustrator to combine both passions.
This pursuit began when I started Botanical Illustration classes. My ability to draw and paint plants was raw and unrefined yet my teacher (a fellow ICENI member) could see my potential and taught me how to observe, draw and paint botanical subjects in watercolour.
In 2020 I graduated with a diploma in Botanical Illustration with the Society of Botanical Artists.
I became a fellow member of the IBA shortly after meeting them at their annual exhibition in Bury St. Edmunds in 2022. I feel incredibly fortunate to be a part of such a lovely group and tap into a wealth of inspiration through their talent.
I particularly enjoy illustrating plants with imperfections as I feel these are the most inspiring subjects, imperfect yet beautiful and scientifically accurate to represent the true nature of life.
I value how meditative Botanical Illustration is and I wish to share the beauty of the natural world through my illustrations and to inspire others to take time for themselves to escape into the world of art.”
Hannah shares her D of E story with Duke of Edinburgh at Buckingham Palace
His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh was taken aback with surprise as Hannah from Wymondham told him about the thousands of hours she’s given in volunteering through her DofE, at a Buckingham Palace celebration recognising her Gold Duke of Edinburgh’s (DofE) Award achievement.
Hosted by The Duke as Patron of the DofE charity, Hannah, 19, joined thousands of young people and their loved ones from across the UK for a festival-style celebration at Buckingham Palace Garden on Friday 10 May.
The celebration was one of four taking place over two days at the Palace, recognising over 8,000 young people who have shown extraordinary perseverance, creativity and resilience to complete their Gold DofE in schools, community organisations, youth groups and workplaces, all over the UK.
The celebration saw HRH The Duke of Edinburgh – who received his own Gold Award from his father Prince Philip at nearby St James’s Palace in 1986 – congratulate attendees in a speech from the Palace’s West Terrace.
Hannah, who did her DofE at Wymondham High Academy, was one of just a handful of young people to personally speak to The Duke following his speech.
During the exchange, Hannah told The Duke that she finished her DofE about a year ago and since then, has been helping with the Bronze, Silver and Gold Awards in four schools in her area. She said: “I’ve done 4,500 hours of volunteering since I left, helping on expeditions.” To which he replied, “Crikey, that’s impressive. Well done.”
Starting secondary school as a shy year seven who was reluctant to speak to anyone, Hannah has excelled and has since gone onto become a dedicated and talented young leader for her school and a DofE UK Youth Ambassador. As a young leader, she has volunteered so much of her time to support others and spoken about her DofE journey in front of hundreds of other people in school. She is now representing DofE at national events as a Youth Ambassador, and says that through DofE, she has found somewhere she “belongs”.
Buckingham Palace Garden had been transformed into a festival-style celebration for young people and their loved ones, with giant deckchairs, bunting and garden games and activities. Attendees had the chance to hear from famous DofE Award holders and other inspiring speakers, with actor Jason Watkins, Olympian and Rugby World Cup winner Heather Fisher, Heartstopper star Tobie Donovan, racing driver Billy Monger and his sister Bonny, and broadcaster and travel writer Ash Bhardwaj, speaking at stages throughout the garden.
Sharing her experience of meeting The Duke after the event, Hannah said: “It was such a privilege to meet with HRH The Duke of Edinburgh and to share my DofE adventures with him. He took an interest in everything anyone had to tell him, and it was lovely to hear about his own memories of completing the Award and for everyone at the event to have that shared connection, despite such varied backgrounds and experiences of the Award.
“The atmosphere at the event was so special, a truly magical day - made even better by the beautiful weather and amazing surroundings. I don't think I stopped smiling all day and still haven't! To see so many familiar faces at the event, from the girls I'd been on expeditions and residential with, to the DofE Youth Ambassadors and staff team, it really reinforced what I've said about the Award to everyone - that DofE helped me find a sense of belonging and has made me so happy.”
Community Centre Welcomes Chocoholics
Sunday 7 July
North Wymondham Community Centre has chosen World Chocolate Day to host a Chocolate Fest, in the latest in a series of events to mark the 50th anniversary of the building in Lime Tree Avenue, Wymondham.
It will be a celebration of all things Chocolate and will take place in the Hall on Sunday 7 July 2024 from 10.00am – 1.00pm.
In addition to cakes and confectionery stalls, there will be a variety of games and competitions, with Chocolate as the theme. It will also be when the judging will take place for the recently launched Junior Bake Off competition for 9 – 11 year olds.
An information pack for the competition can be obtained via belindagallagher@hotmail.com Tel: 07801 370213.
To find out what is on offer by way of activities and what it costs to hire the venue, visit nwca.org.uk
US 389th Bomb Group Gala Opening Day
Sunday 9th June
The United States 389th Bomb Group Memorial Museum at Hethel will hold its annual Gala Opening Day on Sunday 9 June (10am-4pm) – and it promises to be better than ever. The buildings which house the museum, including the chapel, formed part of the base from which B24 Liberators of the 389th Bomb Group of the Second Air Division of the US 8th Army Air Force flew many missions in World War Two over Nazi Germany and occupied France.
With much work undertaken in the Winter, there will be some new fascinating exhibits, particularly some on permanent loan. All the displays have been beautifully arranged. Photos, uniforms, even the likes of cigarette packets, cutlery and much more tell the story of the Yanks’ years at Hethel. On the day too there will be a variety of stalls ranging from vintage clothing to militaria, as well as those of various aviation groups, a model aeroplane group and the Royal British Legion. Classic cars and vintage military vehicles will be on view outside in addition to a falconry display. The popular City of Norwich Pipe Band will entertain.
Refreshments, including the usual delicious home-made cakes and snacks, can be enjoyed in the tearoom, while a burger van will be in attendance. Admission for the day will be £5 (cash please) a car.
HOW TO GET THERE: From the A11 Wymondham bypass take the exit signposted Mulbarton and Lotus Cars. Follow the signs for Lotus. Turn into Potash Lane and continue past the entrance to Lotus Cars and after 200 yards turn right into the woods and follow the old airfield road through the woods, then at the end of the road turn right to the museum.
For any queries please go to the museum's website or ring Fred Squires on 07814 098970 or 01953 798774.
Acorns and Conkers Supported by District Councillor’s Grant
South Norfolk District Council has a fantastic initiative allocating each of their District Councillors a £1,000 ward grant to support projects in their local community. South Wymondham Liberal Democrat District Councillor, Carmina McConnell, used hers this year to support the volunteer work at our wonderful local nature spot, The Lizard at Wymondham, and to enhance resources for children at Acorns and Conkers.
Nestled within the grounds of Spooner Row Primary School, Acorns and Conkers occupies a central role in the community. By providing pre-school and out-of-school care for children from ages to 2 to 11, this charity offers vital support to working parents and carers,and extends their children’s social opportunities.
The grant for Acorns and Conkers was specifically aimed at promoting a healthy lifestyle during the Holiday Club sessions, enabling Acorns and Conkers to purchase much-needed outdoor play equipment to cater for the diverse age range of their children.
The equipment was greeted with excitement during the Easter holiday club. As you can see from the photo the children are already happily engaging in the new forms of outdoor play.
Acorns and Conkers Trustee and Setting Manager Sue Knivett commented: “The new resources inspire the children to want to be outside. We have been able to provide equipment for all our children so that they can use it all as one group, or age specific groups, or individually.”
Cllr McConnell added: “I am happy to be able to support Acorn and Conkers. Although only a relatively small sum, this £400 investment in outdoor play will encourage physical activity in the fresh air and help foster the children’s creativity and social skills.”
She continued: “South Norfolk and Broadland’s investment in these District Councillor ward grants reflects a commitment to community enhancement, and a recognition of the essential role these organisations play in shaping vibrant and inclusive communities. I am always pleased to learn about new initiatives in South Wymondham and if you have a specific small community project requiring funding, then please contact me and I will do my best to help.”
Cllr McConnell at carmina.mcconnell@southnorfolkandbroadlandcouncil.gov.uk
Acorn and Conkers at acorns@spoonerrow.norfolk.sch.uk
Novelist Victoria MacKenzie wins Kett’s Books’ Trevor Ellingworth Award
Wymondham’s community bookshop Kett’s Books has awarded Victoria MacKenzie their Trevor Ellingworth Award for her debut novel ‘For Thy Great Pain Have Mercy On My Little Pain’.
Set in the 14th Century, Ms Mackenzie’s novel explores the lives of two mediaeval mystics from Norfolk, Julian of Norwich and Margery Kempe, from Kings Lynn (known as Bishop's Lynn at the time) who wrote the first known books in English by women.
Ms MacKenzie was presented with the award on Friday 26 April at a talk given by the author hosted by Kett’s Books at Becketts Chapel in Wymondham.
Trevor Ellingworth was instrumental in the setting up of Kett’s Books as a volunteer-run bookshop and the award was established in 2022 in recognition and celebration of his long standing support and loyalty to the book shop. The prize is awarded annually to recognise new writing about East Anglia, which adds to our enjoyment and understanding of the region.
Tracy Kenny, manager of Kett’s Books said: “Trevor, who sadly passed away in 2023, championed and celebrated writing about East Anglia and its residents. ‘For Thy Great Pain Have Mercy On My Little Pain’ brings to life two of Norfolk’s most remarkable women and gives a real insight into 14th Century Norfolk and is a very worthy winner of this year’s Trevor Ellingworth Award.”
Victoria MacKenzie said: “It's an absolute privilege to receive the Ellingworth Award, in honour of someone who valued books and bookshops so highly and who gave so much of his own time to their cause. I thank Kett's Books, and its volunteers, from the bottom of my heart, for recognising my novel, which celebrates the life of two of Norfolk's most important women writers.”
Warm Welcome at Becket’s Chapel
Becket’s Chapel in Wymondham can now offer visitors a warm welcome thanks to a £15,000 grant from South Norfolk Council.
The mediaeval building owned by Historic Norfolk has recently undergone a £750k restoration and the Council has provided funding for three new infrared heating chandeliers from their Pride in Place Grant.
Judith Harwood, Chair of Historic Norfolk, said: “The underfloor heating can take up to two days to reach a comfortable temperature, which is not at all economical when people just want to hire the chapel for a couple of hours. The new infrared heaters warm up immediately, meaning we can now heat the chapel efficiently and effectively for short periods in the winter months.
“Also, in very cold periods when sustained use is required, the underfloor heating alone is not enough, the infrared heaters will provide top up heating.”
To ensure the 1.46 metre heated glass chandeliers did not detract from the grade I listed building, each one includes motifs significant to Wymondham. Mouldings representing Kett's Oak, Saint Thomas-a-Becket’s shield and Wymondham Old Grammar School Fleur-de-Lys emblem, help the chandeliers fit within their surroundings.
Judith said: “It’s important that we generate a healthy income from community use to cover ongoing running costs and build up a maintenance reserve to ensure the building does not fall into disrepair again.”
Bloomers Thank White Hart & Green Dragon for Support
Wymondham will Bloom again, thanks to the hard work of volunteers and the generosity of this year’s sponsors, The White Hart and The Green Dragon. Landlord and lady Kieran and Kayleigh have very kindly offered to sponsor the campaign this year, so we can bring back the bright colours and lively displays to delight residents and visitors in our town.
In honour of Britain in Bloom’s 60th Anniversary, we are celebrating with a swinging 60s Flower Power theme. Volunteers are out every week weeding, tidying, planting and pruning. If you’d like to get involved email wymbloom@gmail.com or phone 07941514766.
Robert Kett Primary Featured on Climate Podcast
Robert Kett Primary School is the only school in Norfolk with a “School Street” initiative.
A pioneering road safety initiative at a Wymondham primary school is the focus of the latest episode of an emerging podcast from UK climate charity Carbon Copy. Robert Kett, the largest primary school in the South Norfolk market town, is also the only school in the county to operate a “School Street.”
The pod tells the story of James Lucas, a concerned father with children at the school, who teamed up with other parents and the school’s Headteacher Cara Fahy to implement daily road closures at drop-off and pick-up times.
The initiative, supported by charity Sustrans alongside Norfolk County Council, has seen enormous improvements both in terms of road safety and air pollution around the school gates.
James said: “Whilst as you might imagine, there was some initial concern from local people about the inconvenience of closing the road every day, the response has been overwhelmingly positive, and the impact on the safety of the children and parents at the school is something I’m really proud of.”
Podcast host Isabelle Sparrow, who also lives in Wymondham added: “Meeting James, Cara and others responsible for implementing this project has been so inspiring. I remember how congested the road outside the school was before this was put in place, and the change is incredible to see. Schools across the UK experience the same issues with traffic, air pollution and road danger, so I hope that by hearing this episode and learning about the success of Robert Kett’s School Street, other people may feel inspired to put something similar in place where they live.”
Volunteers needed for Big C Cancer Charity Shops
Do you have a passion to share? Are you ready to turn over a new leaf? Big C is looking for enthusiastic volunteers to join its retail team, with opportunities locally at the Wymondham shop on Allenbrooks Way.
Whether you can offer a day a week or a few hours a month, if you like the idea of meeting new people, being part of a close community and helping raise funds to support people affected by cancer, the charity would love to hear from you.
Suzanne Comaskey, retail operations manager said “It doesn’t matter how much time you have to give, every little counts. We have a wide range of opportunities for all interests, including helping in the ebay team, sorting donations in the distribution centre, working in the boutique with high-end labels, or on the shop floor in the Furniture & Craft Emporium. There really is something for everyone so get in touch with us to find out how you could make a difference.”
No experience is necessary, just a can-do attitude and a willingness to get involved. Volunteering can be a rewarding way to spend some free time. You’ll learn new skills, be part of a friendly team, feel valued, and have fun!
Volunteer Marina said “I love all aspects of retail, from filling the shelves to helping customers, by finding them a good outfit, a good book or a special ornament. I also enjoy chatting to regulars, listening to their stories of life, love and sadly cancer, and how Big C helped, by being there.”
Big C’s retail outlets are the largest source of income to enable the charity to support anyone affected by cancer in Norfolk and surrounding counties. The team offers this support wherever it’s needed through support centres and community hubs, available on a drop in and appointment basis, a support line and online support hub, ensuring people can access support in whichever way suits them best, whether that’s for 1:1 sessions, counselling, exercise and nutrition classes or support groups.
Sign up today by visiting big-c.co.uk and search ‘volunteer’ or pop into the Wymondham shop.
Food & Drink Festival Returns
23 June 2024
Wymondham Food and Drink Festival 2024 sponsored by CSN Autos, returns for its 3rd year and promises to be even bigger and better.
The event, which has free entry, takes place on Sunday 23rd June 2024, between 10am and 4pm with more than 60 stalls showcasing the finest produce in East Anglia.
New for 2024, is the stationary smoothie bike sponsored by Jimmy Burt Plastering Services: pedal your way to refreshing delight as you power the attached fruit blender to craft delicious smoothies on demand.
Also for the first time, the festival will showcase food demonstrations by Mark Ahier of Baking for Wellbeing, at That Little Norfolk Studio, opposite Wymondham Abbey.
The festival offers everything from curry to cakes to gin, a makers' market with local crafts, and entertainment for the children by Dave Doughnut, One Voice Glee Choir, Spangle (steel pan band) and a range of children’s activity stalls.
The festival is organised by the Rotary Club of Wymondham Satellite with support from the Wymondham Town Team and made possible by the kind donations of CPS Fuels, Norfolk Storage and Fosters Solicitors. The money raised benefits local causes and last year enabled support for, amongst others, Home-Start Norfolk, West-Norfolk Riding for the Disabled, Norfolk Blood Bikes, and St Martins Housing in Norwich.
Jazz Picnic Returns
Saturday 13th July 6pm-9pm
The annual Rotary Jazz Picnic will be held on Becketswell Meadow on Saturday 13th July this year. As usual, traditional jazz will be provided by the DixieMix jazz band between 6pm and 9pm. And, as always, entry to the event will be FREE, but the Rotary Club of Wymondham will be collecting for local charities throughout the evening. The club is grateful to sponsors for covering most of the costs of the evening.
There will be coffee, ice cream and hot dog stalls, and a tombola run by the Satellite group of the Rotary club. All will be raising money for their charities.
This is an ideal event for all the family. Bring along a picnic, sit on the grass and enjoy a wonderful evening of traditional jazz. But please - no BBQs!
Parking near Becketswell is very limited, so please walk to the event if you can. A small number of disabled parking spaces can be made available on request to 07715 699211.
For those attending for the first time, Becketswell Meadow is across the river Tiffey down the hill from Wymondham Abbey, and opposite the Abbey station on the Dereham to Wymondham heritage railway line.
There are two entrances for pedestrians - from Becketswell Road or Whitehorse Street. Gates will open at 5.30pm. We would love to see you there!
Town Council Watch: Bank Holiday Special
Local Democracy Sketch
May. The month of choice for bank holiday lovers. And with a full council meeting lasting just 36 minutes on the 7th of last month, Wymondham Town Council rewarded their favourite local democracy columnist (TCW) with a nice short meeting to cover, to thank him for all his hard work over the years. So put your feet up, light the barbie and crack open something cold, it’s a Town Council Watch: Bank Holiday Special.
But can TCW really get a full page of A4 out of a meeting that saw no new ideas discussed? Oh ye of little faith.
A Well Earned Break
The threadbare agenda for May gave everyone involved a much needed pause to gather breath, after 12 months of wall to wall excitement:
Last month saw our Town Council make the headlines in national newspapers for introducing a new system of ‘red cards’ for councillors to hold up if they were feeling too anxious and needed to excuse themselves from meetings.
The global issue of climate change was given a damn good talking to in November, when the Town Council declared a ‘climate emergency’.
Months and months of deliberating over whether to co-invest in town centre improvements finally ended in March with a ‘Yes, go on then.’
And a gate was removed at Rothbury park in April.
Phew. Pass me a sausage.
TCW’s being ungenerous of course. Sometimes the most serene swan appears to be doing nothing on the surface but unseen below the waterline, it’s kick, kick, kicking away.
Sometimes it’s doing naff all underneath too though, is the worry…
Some Formalities to get out of the way
What we did get in this meeting was sorting out the various roles and committees on the council for the year ahead.
Cllr Suzanne Nuri Nixon (Lib Dem) continues as Mayor. The tie-wearing Cllr Dave Roberts (Lib Dem), was installed as Deputy Mayor. Some various other uneventful musical chairs happened on committees.
The only faint source of amusement was the Mayor using her casting vote to appoint new(ish) councillor, Peter Broome (Con), to the town centre improvement project, only to see him replaced by Alex Perry (Lab) when Cllr Michael Rosen (Lab) pointed out the council had previously voted that a Labour representative must be included.
Hardly a comedy goldmine for the local democracy sketchwriter this month.
And that was about it. TCW’s not one for predictions but we can be confident of one thing: it'll be a quiet few months for democracy this summer. We can all enjoy some time off with no politics.
HE'S DONE WHAT? OH FFS.
Broome’s Clean Sweep
My fellow pollsters were left scratching our collective noodles on Friday 3rd May, as North Wymondham returned Conservative Peter Broome to the Town Council, in stark contrast to his party’s drubbing nationwide.
The by-election had been a chance for Liberal Democrats on the council to secure an overall majority. But with their candidate finishing last place in the contest, it looks like voters decided to reward the controlling group’s performance with something of a red card.
Never mind. When things are a mess, it might be handy having a Broome around.
Adios Amigos
TCW notes the second councillor in barely as many months has resigned from the Town Council, with Labour's Todd Baker opting to give himself a permanent red card.
The thoughtful Central Wymondham man had cut a forlorn figure in recent meetings, finding his small and simple ideas to improve things in town constantly knocked down under the weight of tedious majority partisan politics.
TCW's personal highlight was when Mr Baker's idea to allow groups like Wymondham In Bloom to use Town Council resources such as their tap was quashed on the grounds of it being ‘elitist’. Brilliant.
The 34 year old father of two now joins an elite club himself: of people who realise you can often do more for your community by not being on the council than on it.
The Value of Patience and Dialogue
A home mover's worst nightmare… to be left in the dark.
If we had to underline one aspect of the house-moving journey of utmost importance, it would be good communication. Fundamentally, each party in the chain needs to know and understand each other's positions. A process handled collectively by agents, solicitors, and in many cases, mortgage or financial advisors.
Effective communication equals promptness and transparency, as well as consideration and trust. A balance between matter-of-fact and human elements will ensure the working relationships will last the course and the best result achieved.
Circumstances within property sales can change when you least expect them and at any time. Much of the anguish during uninvited situations is the lack of control they present. However, where there is an open line of communication, solid rapport and a proactive attitude, this anguish and uncertainty can be softened, and a pathway forward brought to light.
So, whether it’s a quick message confirming an appointment, a 30-minute call to discuss a survey report, an out-of-hours property visit to measure up and a thousand points of contact along the way, each and every one is important.
Unlock the power of connection – let's start the conversation today!
If you are seeking advice and support regarding your property goals, call us ANYTIME on 01953 665 785 or send a text or WhatsApp on 07923 236 076. For interesting news and tips, follow us on Instagram and Facebook. Visit: ewemove.com/instant-valuation.
“I purchased a property that was marketed by EweMove in Wymondham and hadn't fully appreciated just how important it is to the buyer, that the vendor has chosen a good estate agent. Rebecca was excellent; she was a really effective conduit for information, so I knew first-hand, and quickly where I was in each stage of the process. My experience of this transaction was such that I would not hesitate to engage Rebecca at EweMove to be the vendor of my flat when the time comes to sell.” - Keith via Google Reviews
What's in a Photo?
Dad's Army Star Visits Heritage Museum
It was a red-letter day for Wymondham’s Heritage Museum in April 1997 when Ian Lavender, famous for his role as Private Pike in the popular BBC sitcom Dad’s Army, paid a visit. He is seen with historian Adrian Hoare, whose book “Standing Up To Hitler” was being launched.
The launch coincided with the opening of an exhibition at the museum about the Norfolk Home Guard. Adrian was renewing an old acquaintance for he had once taught history to Ian, who sadly passed away in February, in Birmingham at Bournville Grammar Technical School for boys.
Adrian moved to Norfolk in 1974 and taught history at Wymondham College. He has written numerous books and pamphlets about aspects of the Wymondham’s history, particularly Robert Kett and the town’s historic streets, all beautifully illustrated by Anne, his wife, who sadly passed away last December. He has supported the Heritage Museum for many years, taking on different duties, and was Chairman of the Museum Committee from 2000 to 2011 inclusive.
25th Anniversary of Middletons
Sponsored Content
Middletons is a family run, independent fashion clothing and footwear retailer, catering for both men and women. This year we will be celebrating our 25th anniversary!
The clothing store was established in 1999, by my father-in-law Roger and husband Guy Hare, a few years later I joined the team. Our daughter Eloise worked in the business whilst studying and continues to help with modelling for social media posts when she is between acting roles.
We aim to offer high-quality products and great customer service. Because we both do all the buying for the shop, we aim to listen to what our customers are asking for, then we try to find brands that can deliver those products. We also know the fit, sizing and details about the garments so we can advise you based on your needs. It is good to know that so many people value this personal service from a local business.
Since we started in 1999, Middletons has seen many changes. We had a shop refit in the early 2000s, we tried to choose a design and fittings that would stand the test of time. We have seen some clothing brands come and go and others that still remain popular today, for example Barbour, Olymp shirts, Bruhl trousers, Seasalt, Robell and Rieker footwear.
We are always looking out for new brands that we think our customers will love and eagerly await their reaction. It is an ever-changing industry so you have to be able to adapt and try new things as well as sticking to what works.
We have a lot of well-known brands that you might find online or in the bigger towns and cities, therefore customers have the convenience of shopping for their favourite brands closer to home, without the hassle of traffic and parking or returning unwanted items in the post. They can try things on in a calm, relaxed environment, with the bonus of receiving personal service.
For Spring/Summer 24 we have introduced a few new brands. For men we have Marshall Artist and Religion, both of them are fairly new British brands. And for ladies One Summer and Dress Addict who make cotton dresses, skirts and tops perfect for summer days and holidays!
Our footwear collection consists of brands that value the importance of comfort in their designs but also are stylish and fashion focused too. Price is key for most people right now and we try to deliver good value with prices starting at £30 and rarely above £150 for a pair of high quality leather boots. We also offer a range of Vegan footwear for our customers who choose not to wear leather. Synthetic footwear has moved on a lot in the last few years and is now breathable and can actually be more practical in wet weather!
We enjoy being based in such a friendly and supportive community. Many of our customers have become our friends and often just pop in for a chat. We have been lucky to be invited to hold our seasonal fashion shows at the beautiful Wymondham Abbey, these have been really fun evenings with all of our models being volunteers from the local community.
We still have people come into Middletons who may have lived in Wymondham for a while and have never been into the shop before, or those who have preconceived ideas about what we do. I would say please come and give us a look. You may be surprised and you will get a warm welcome and can enjoy just browsing. There are some great independent shops in Wymondham so explore your local town and see what it has to offer!
Ted Talks: Magnificent Threshing Machines
The threshing machine was a must have tool for the farmer; threshers were used to separate the edible grain from the rest of the crop, i.e. to separate grains of wheat from straw. The first threshers were horse-drawn; and the first threshing machine that Ted used in 1948, at the age of 16, was powered by steam.
Ted hired this thresher from Mr. Sheldrake in Cock Street, who owned three of these for contract work, and then he would use it all day (5:30 am till at least 6:30 pm) at local farms such as at the one owned by Mr. Gibbs in Little Melton. Some farmers such as Jock Alsten had their own threshers, and they preferred Ted to use them.
He recalled, “Those threshing machines moved at about 10 miles per hour. You had to shovel coal into a fire to keep the steam engine working, and you got very dirty.” Indeed, Ted had to change his soot-covered shirts twice a day, and find time to clean his soot-covered goggles; he was the original steam-punk!
Threshing was performed by a team of farmworkers in a coordinated manner, with a major responsibility assigned to each member (loading crops into the thresher, collecting the stalks, collecting the grain, shovelling coal into the steam-engine and driving the steam-engine).
The threshing apparatus was quite complex, “You had to understand the engine, the drum, the pitcher and the water container,” said Ted. There were specialists in this technology, such as Mr. Squires who worked for the local Co-op and who was twenty-four years older than Ted.
Over the years, farmers learned to perform threshing in a cleaner, less labour-intensive, and more mechanised way. “Billy Flint used to connect his thresher to his tractor,” said Ted. And ultimately, the thresher was replaced by the combine harvester, which gives you an inkling about what The Wurzels were so excited about – ooh aah!
Though there are certain countries and cultures which continue to use these magnificent threshing machines. Furthermore, the thresher drivers found other outlets for lugging heavy stuff. “Billy pulled airplanes across fields with his David Brown ‘Thresherman’ tractor,” remembered Ted.
Delays and Knowledge Gap Hit Hard for Splitting Couples
Divorce rates are on the decline according to the latest official statistics, with just over 80,000 completed in 2022, down by almost 30% from 113,505 in 2021, but delays in the family courts mean couples are waiting longer than ever to finalise the parting of their ways.
While the figures show the lowest rate of divorce since 1971, the introduction in April 2022 of new legislation that set out minimum waiting periods at key stages of the process may have slowed down the numbers reaching the stage of final order.
The Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Act also introduced a major change with ‘no fault divorce’, allowing couples to act by joint agreement, rather than having to attribute blame to one party, or go through a period of separation.
In overhauling the divorce and the family court process, the government also proposed that couples be required to enter mediation before making a court application. Backed by a mediation voucher scheme, the aim was to reduce the number of cases going to court, but following consultation, which highlighted the potential for domestic abusers to intimidate, the government has withdrawn plans to make it obligatory. Instead, they will encourage mediation where it is safe, but will run a pilot to look at ways to fund the provision of early legal advice for parents to ease the process.
This looks to be increasingly important, with research by Bristol University for the Nuffield Foundation suggesting that many couples are simply figuring out money matters themselves, without any legal guidance or process, and this is often leaving women worse off.
The report says most divorcing couples are not accessing any support when making key arrangements including housing, pensions and ongoing maintenance. And unlike the news headlines of rich spouses dividing the spoils, the researchers found that the median value of assets owned by divorcing couples was just £135,000.
Family law expert Amanda Maruca explained: “Lack of advice means a fair outcome isn’t being achieved in many divorces, and better access to legal advice is an important way to overcome this so the government’s latest announcement is welcome.
“For those going through the stress of separation, and perhaps already trying to run two homes, getting professional guidance may feel like an expense to be avoided, but knowing your rights and having someone in your corner to support you is often a game-changer, both for financial equity but also in terms of wellbeing through the process.”
Official statistics show that divorce proceedings are taking up to a year to complete, and where the court needs to decide arrangements over children or over financial arrangements, it can take up to two years. The data from the courts supports the Nuffield research, with official figures showing 40% of divorcing couples went to court without legal representation during the period January to March 2023.
In the latest reporting from the Official for National Statistics, the highest number of divorces for opposite-sex couples in 2022 was in those who had been married for more than 30 years, involving 6,683 couples. Outside that group, the highest number of divorces were recorded by those who had been married for seven years, with 4,143 divorces, and the median duration for all same-sex couples was just under 13 years. For same-sex divorces in the period, the median duration of marriage was 7.5 years for male same-sex couples and 6.3 years for female same-sex couples.
She added: “With high numbers of long marriages ending, combined with the long delays in the family courts, it’s important that couples review their wills at the point of separation to be sure they reflect their wishes from that point on. And if they haven’t made a will, then this is the time to think about making one.
“An existing will leaving everything to your spouse remains valid until the final order for divorce is confirmed, even if you have separated or received your conditional order, as the marriage has not yet ended officially. It is only after the final order that an existing will, or the part referencing your ex-spouse, will become invalid. The same principle applies if you don’t have a will; until you have the final order, your yet-to-be ex-spouse is treated as if you were in an ongoing relationship.”
Before the new legislation was introduced in 2022, the two stages of conditional and final order were known as decree nisi and decree absolute.
If you would like to discuss anything in this article or are looking to begin the process of a divorce, contact our Family team on 01953 606351 or email info@spiresolicitors.co.uk.
Cul-de-Sac Chaos
Short Story
We have all known the kind of people who seem to think it’s a good idea to put things on their head, to entertain or for a laugh. Intoxicated youngsters walking home at night with a weighty traffic cone on their head. I have a vague school memory of a discussion in a geography lesson as to how in some countries, people carry baskets on their heads as a method of transporting goods. The class enjoyed an experiment of carrying Mrs Hunt’s basket filled with our textbooks; needless to say, we were not proficient at this task and Mary Pulford had to be taken to the sick bay with a wrenched neck.
My daughter Olive has been pushing her head into things for as long as I can remember. She was often to be found with a paper basket on her head, one of my old stockings, a bucket and then there was the fateful day she decided to try out my husband’s precious gilded fruit bowl, a present from his aunty Irene. She wasn’t the kind of child to find her free time boring, in fact quite the opposite. Her days were filled with playing ‘teachers’ and making registers on the home PC, followed by lining up her dolls and bears on the floor and giving them a good talking to whilst munching on chocolate digestives, that I thought were hidden in the depths of the larder.
But some things never change. Now at the grand old age of 25 and home for the weekend, she is tucking into her fourth slice of chocolate chip panettone. I’ve grown used to quiet Sunday mornings, with an early bird cyclist for a husband and grown-up children living their own lives, I relish a large cup of Earl Grey tea and a snuggle with Fig the cat. Her brother died recently; at the hands of a fox, we believe. Whilst Fergus was a loving and joyous cat, his loose bowel movements had tested my patience when coming into the kitchen first thing in the morning. Olive had returned for his burial in the garden, they were particularly close.
“Hey Mum, look at me.” Olive is standing with the panettone tin over her head, she has pulled it down low, and I can’t see her face.
“Mum, are you there, I can’t see a thing, it’s better than a face mask … but a bit hot and sweaty.
“Olive, take it off your head at once, you’ve dropped crumbs everywhere, and I was considering using it for Fergus’ burial.”
“Mum … I can’t … it’s stuck and … Mum … I can’t breathe.”
I consider myself calm when faced with adversity, but I find myself pulling frantically on the tin, whilst Olive sobs uncontrollably. Her pale pink tee shirt is damp around the neckline, and she is staggering around the kitchen like a drunk.
Spotting my neighbour’s son, Joe in his driveway, working on a car, I imagine some useful tool will be found and lead my wailing daughter to the back door.
“We can’t go round there Mum, we haven’t spoken since last year, it would be weird.”
“Never mind that, we need to get you out of this thing, and quickly.”
I’d completely forgotten that I was still in my nightwear, with floral dressing gown and slippers finishing off the outfit nicely.
“Joe … Joe … please can you help me, have you got some bolt cutters or other to get this tin off Olive’s head?”
He emerged from under the bonnet of his car with a smirk on his oily face. Joe bent down to pick up a tool from his box; Olive has broken away from my grasp and spinning around breathing heavily, knocks Joe full in the face with the brown cake tin. He falls to the gravel drive swearing under his breath.
“Hold still Ollie, I’ll have you out of this in no time,” he says with a quiet reassuring voice.
“Can I help?” My neighbour Linda, a doctor, has arrived on the scene. She’s heard the commotion and is offering medical assistance. “I’ve got some morphine in the house if we need to sedate you.”
“Thank you, but that won’t be necessary.” Joe says as he deftly cuts through the side of the tin as if opening a can of tuna for lunch. I hope Olive doesn’t notice the strands of blonde hair falling to her feet.
She emerges red and moist, apologising and thanking Joe she almost runs home.
“Something to put in a wedding speech I suppose” I say, rolling my eyes.
Later, I suggest to Olive that she gives Joe a pack of beers by way of thanks. Reluctantly she slopes off dragging her heels, but with a full face of make-up I notice.
As the late afternoon stretches into the evening, she seems to have been gone for some time. I’m not a nosy neighbour you understand, but I can stand at my bedroom window and see directly into the car strewn driveway next door. In the glow of the light on the front porch, I can see them, sitting drinking beer together.
Someone’s Favourite Spot
WPS Photo of the Month
The judge commented that by including the couple sitting on the beach, this simple composition sparked the viewer's imagination and produced a much more powerful image.
Wymondham Photographic Society meets on Tuesday evenings at the Dell Bowls Club. The last meeting of the season will be 18th June, resuming after the summer holidays on 3rd September. They are also hosting a summer exhibition on 15 & 16 June, 10am - 4pm in Central Hall. Visit the website wymondham-ps.org.uk for more information.
Baptist Church Expansion Project Making Progress
The building project at Wymondham Baptist Church is moving forward. We are pleased to announce that we have received a grant from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, via the Pride in Place Community Grant Fund run by South Norfolk Council. This has enabled us to move on to the next stage of the project to develop the planning permission that has been granted into a fully designed and costed project.
This feasibility work should be complete by the autumn, when we anticipate that we will be able to go out to tender. Obviously, we need to secure the funding before we can start to build and our External Fund-Raising team is hard at work with many grant applications. We are excited about what the future holds for us as God leads us forward. Our vision is to be ‘an authentic church with a place for everyone’ as we look to extend our building and bring it into the 21st century - we want to reach more people and support our community in many more ways. If you are able to help us raise the funds we need, please get in touch – office@wymondhambaptist.org - 01953606520 or visit https://donate.mydona.com/wymondham-baptist-church or our Just Giving page - justgiving.com/campaign/building-project-wbc to make a donation. You can also follow Wymondham Baptist Church on Facebook
Earlier in April we were pleased to be able to take part in the Wymondham Arts Festival as we celebrated our Silver ECO award and later in April when we held our Craft and Crumpets event, showcasing so many crafts and skills of the WBC fellowship – this event raised over £600 for our Building Project.
We have continued our work in our rear church garden and are pleased to be able to invite members of the community to come in and enjoy the garden as we continue to develop the area. We have bird boxes and a bird feeder installed as well as a designated wild flower area. Come in and have a look and take a rest and watch the wonder of God’s world.
We look forward to the end of May when we will be having a film show afternoon on Thursday 30th May at 2pm in the church hall. We will be showing the latest version of Pilgrim's Progress – ice creams will be served during the interval and tea and coffee at the end when we will have time to talk about the film.
As part of the Great Big Green Week we will be having our Uniform Bank open on 12th and 14th June as well as 10th and 12th July and 12th and 14th August. If you need school uniform come and see if we can help.
The highlight of June for us is a visit from the Happy Day Gospel Choir on Saturday 15th June. The concert will start at 7pm and tickets are available from WBC church office – office@wymondhambaptist.org – 01953 606520. Get your ticket before they are all sold - don’t miss out.
There is always a welcome at Wymondham Baptist Church services each Sunday at 10.30a.m. and at Roots Community Café each Wednesday and Friday from 10am. – 1pm – come and meet us.
Ginormous Great Big Green Week
Roll up! Roll up! All the fun of the circus that is Great Big Wymondham Green Week starts on Saturday June 8th and hurtles towards the following Saturday with dozens of things to see and do. The theme is "Swapping" - a green and sustainable way to go as well as loads of fun - interspersed with plenty of green events to keep you and your family entertained and busy throughout the week.
First up, our launch in the Market Square on the 8th with stalls – Greening Wymondham and others including Wymondham Nature Group (WyNG) and the fabulous Toad Watch. Or pootle down to Browick Community Orchard volunteer day with added seed-swap, or book your children on to a sow and pot-on class at MyHills in the afternoon – parents essential!
Clear Company are offering a Father’s Day present making afternoon on Sunday 9th, Swishing (sort of a super clothes swap) on the Friday evening, and the Sound Café Open Mic with Anto Morra’s music sale with music art on the Saturday, all at the Abbey School Rooms. And a cookery workshop – check out the times on the events page of our Greening Wymondham website (link below).
There’s a Megaswap at the Ayton House Meeting Rooms on the Tuesday morning, a craft skills swap at Poppy’s Pantry and a Uniform Bank swap at Roots Cafe on the Wednesday, and the popular Bat and Swift walk on the Friday organised by WyNG. The finale is a great family-friendly event at North Wymondham Community Centre on the afternoon of Saturday 15th with junk-modelling, origami, lots of upcycling including T-shirts, more swapping and loads of creative activities.
For a more tranquil time, our own Gabi Sciannimanico will be showing older children how kick-sampling works (me neither) to reveal what minibeasts lie beneath the Tiffey. Parents, again, essential and welcome - and book!
Enchanted Willow and StART will be putting on special events, too. So please check out our Great Big Wymondham Green Week section at greeningwymondham.org/great-big-green-week-2024 - or follow our daily notifications on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
And if there’s something you want to go to that needs booking, email us at greening.wymondham@gmail.com and put "GBGW booking" in the subject header of the email to make sure we see your request.
Talking Newspaper Marks 1300 Editions at AGM
The annual general meeting of the Wymondham & Attleborough Talking Newspaper will highlight their latest milestone of having reached 1300 editions of the audio news and information service they provide for visually impaired people.
The meeting will take place at 7.30pm on Monday 3 June, in the Francis Room of the Connaught Hall, Station Road, Attleborough, NR17 2AS and is open to listeners, volunteers, supporters and members of the general public.
After a short business meeting, a selection of recordings from the group’s extensive sound archive will be presented to the audience.
For more details, contact the W A T N secretary, Georgette Vale, on 01953 605434.
Orchestra Prepares for Summer Concert
29 June 2024
It’s all hands on deck during our 40th birthday year! Wymondham Symphony Orchestra has just started rehearsing for our special Summer Concert on 29 June 2024.
We’ve been getting to grips with the epic Symphony 4 (The Romantic) by Anton Bruckner, which is a test of stamina for many of us! One of the composer's most popular works, it was written in 1874 and dedicated to Prince Konstantin of Hohenlohe-Schillingsfürst. It is an ambitious and expansive symphony, featuring dramatic brass themes and folk-like string melodies. The programme will also feature Little Suite no.2 by Arnold and Violin Concerto in E minor by Mendelssohn, for which we are delighted to welcome local soloist Catherine McCardel. Catherine is 20 years old and is studying at the Royal Academy of Music with Jack Liebeck. Prior to this, she attended the Purcell School for Young Musicians from 2020 to 2022 where she studied with Alda Dizdari. Catherine has been playing in ensembles such as the Fidelio orchestra, Alba Sinfonia and St Paul's Sinfonia recently. We welcome her back to her home county for this concert: she was a member of the Norfolk County Youth Orchestra from 2020-2022, performing twice at the BBC Proms at the Royal Albert Hall! In 2023, she was fortunate enough to have played with the Opera de Baugé company for their Summer season in France, and has performed Mozart's 5th Violin Concerto with the Waveney Sinfonia.
Looking forward to (hopefully) our next 40 years, WSO is delighted to welcome a new Patron! You may recall the fantastic playing of Juan Gonzales, when he performed Brahms’ Violin Concerto with us back in 2023. He was so taken by the experience of playing with us (and the feeling was certainly mutual) that we have agreed to form a formal partnership and we look forward to making more music together in the coming years.
Join us for our 40th Anniversary concert on 29 June 2024 at 7pm! Tickets are available online at trybooking.com/uk/eventlist/wso. There will also be some availability on the door, but we encourage attendees to purchase tickets in advance to beat the queues. Prices are £15, Friends of the WSO £13 and under 18s are free. More details about the orchestra can be found at wymondhamsymphonyorchestra.org.uk or on our Facebook page.
Busy Summer for SN Radio
There’s a busy summer looming for the volunteers at South Norfolk Radio, who are supporting the Wymondham Rugby Club’s May Fun Day at the Club’s Ground on the 26th of May, and also helping out at the Wymondham Food & Drink Festival in the Town Centre on Sunday the 23rd of June.
“We’ll be providing music and broadcasting live from these events” says South Norfolk Radio’s Chair and Station Manager Anthony Woods. “As a not-for-profit Community Radio Station, attending outside events like these is an integral part of what we do, giving as much support as possible to other local groups and organisations - and of course getting our own name more widely known too. We recently celebrated the fifth anniversary of the station taking to the airwaves for the first time, but there are still many local people who are completely unaware of our existence and don't know that we actually have our own Community Radio Station here in South Norfolk” he says.
“Getting out and about helps spread the word about South Norfolk Radio” says SNR’s #BreakfastBriefing host David Mann “and we provide help and support in return through our ‘Whats On’ local events guide on the website at snradio.uk/whatson. Local Clubs, charities and organisations are encouraged to submit details of their events to the guide, and in return, as well as the free listing, we can often provide further support through an on-air mention in our daily SNR #Breakfast Briefing (08.00-09.00am).”
The station recently collaborated with Tony Vale, the organiser of the Wymondham Spring Arts Festival together with colleagues at the Wymondham and Attleborough Talking Newspaper by airing interviews about some of the events that took place as part of the Festival, including chatting with two of the local writers who featured in the ‘Meet the Local Authors’ event, and the director of Noel Coward’s ‘Waiting in the Wings’, the latest production from the Wymondham Players. Interviews were also aired with representatives from local charities, including Wymondham-based cancer support charity Star Throwers.
“We want to do much more of this” says SNR Station Manager Anthony Woods “but to achieve it we need more members who can help us to get out and about doing interviews or attending events, as well as those who’d like to try their hand at radio presenting with their own show”. Anthony explains that “it’s not even necessary to actually come to our studio to present a show as we now have remote technology that, with the addition of a reasonably priced microphone, can turn your home pc or laptop into a radio studio. So you can prepare and present a show from the comfort of your own home! We’ll provide the necessary training and support to get you up and running and on the air as soon as possible!”
If you’d like to find out more about joining the team at South Norfolk Radio, check the website at snradio.uk or email aj@snradio.uk. You’ll find a full SNR programme guide on the website of course, background details on the shows and presenters, and of course the ‘Whats On’ events listings too.
You can listen to internet-only South Norfolk Radio directly on the station’s website at snradio.uk, on your phone, tablet or laptop through various major radio streaming sites and the station is also available through your smart speakers. “Come and have a listen to sample some of our programmes” says Anthony. “Or even better, come and join us and make your own!”
Get creative with the Library’s Summer Reading Challenge
Children can get creative with this year’s Summer Reading Challenge, Marvellous Makers, which launches in Norfolk libraries on Saturday 6 July.
The Summer Reading Challenge is a FREE holiday activity for children aged 4-11. It’s all about reading for fun, aiming to improve children’s reading skills and confidence. Children can read anything they like (really – anything!) and collect free rewards for their reading. For under 5s there is a mini challenge, so they don’t miss out.
Just pop into your local library or visit www.norfolk.gov.uk/summerreadingchallenge to sign up. Children will need to be a library member - you can do this in a library or online. It’s free of charge and children will receive their own library card for which there are no overdue fees.
This year’s Challenge is all about creativity. From dance to drawing, junk modelling to music, there’s something for everyone! Children will be able to find new reads linked to their favourite creative arts and join in with free activities at their local library.
The Summer Reading Challenge is developed by The Reading Agency and delivered in partnership with public libraries. This year’s theme has been developed in partnership with Create, a leading charity bringing the creative arts to those who need it most.
Find out more at www.norfolk.gov.uk/summerreadingchallenge. Also you can contact us at Wymondham Library for more information: Phone 01953 603319 or email wymondham.lib@libraries.norfolk.gov.uk or check out our Facebook page @WymondhamLibraryNorfolk
Bridewell Tearoom Increases Opening Hours
In the words of manager Helen Munday, The Bridewell Tearoom at Wymondham Heritage Museum “is buzzing”. It’s more than a coat of paint that’s seen the Tearoom make a booming start to the season. Helen and her team have worked hard to make this cosy café even more inviting.
Opening hours have been increased. Sunday to Wednesday it’s 1pm-4pm but Thursday and Friday refreshments are served from 9am-4pm. Ideal for parents dropping children off at the nearby Browick Road School. And, with takeaway coffee and cake now available, workers, whether working from home or in the office, can pop in and grab a hot drink and snack to sustain them until lunchtime. Saturday opening hours have also been increased and run from 10am-4pm.
There are now two coffee machines dispensing cappuccinos, Americanos and Lattes. Also available is a range of speciality teas plus hot chocolate and the usual selection of soft drinks.
Homemade cakes such as the mouthwatering lemon drizzle sponge are difficult to resist. And the Tearoom has always been renowned for its fresh cheese and fruit scones. Added to the menu this year are toast with butter and jam, toasted teacakes and crumpets.
Most of the chairs have been replaced and new tablecloths have been introduced. Customers can enjoy their refreshments while admiring the artwork by local artists on display. These paintings are for sale, ask at the counter.
Check out the display cabinet with its display of cookbooks your mother had in her kitchen. Do you remember Bero Home Recipes or The Dairy Book of Cooking?
There’s the wishing well and that’s no ordinary piano in the corner. It dates from the 1870s and used to be in The Picture House in the 1930s which stood on Town Green. It accompanied the silent films starring the likes of Charlie Chaplin and Buster Keaton.
If the weather is fine you can relax with your snack in the Courtyard Garden. This was once where the prison laundry was hung out to dry. Today it is a delightful area away from the daily hustle and bustle. It features the original Wymondham Town Sign and some agricultural implements from yesteryear.
Enter The Bridewell Tearoom from Browick Road or for disabled access, through the museum. Entry is free but it’s the perfect opportunity to explore the museum and discover the history of the town and its people. Normal museum admission prices apply.
The Tearoom is run entirely by volunteers. If you’d like to join the team email thetearoom@whm.org.uk. For other volunteer roles it’s volunteers@t.hewhm.org.uk.
For more information of what to do and see at the museum go to wymondhamheritagemuseum.co.uk.
RSPCA 60th Anniversary Call for Stories
The RSPCA Mid Norfolk and North Suffolk Branch is a small local charity that rehomes animals in need, provides local financial support and advice to pet owners and supports its local communities through its education programme. It is a separate charity to the National RSPCA and is responsible for its own services and fundraising. 2024 marks the Branch's 60th anniversary which also coincides with the 200th anniversary of the National RSPCA. To celebrate, they are partnering with the Forum as part of Heritage Open Days and will be running an exhibition between the 10th and 15th September on all things RSPCA including their history, impact and the stories of their work over the last 60 years. As part of their celebrations, they are researching the RSPCA's history and are asking for people to reach out with any memories or stories they have of their local RSPCA throughout the years. Maybe you adopted one of your beloved pets from their Norfolk Branch or used to volunteer as a dog walker, fosterer or fundraiser. Perhaps you remember visiting some of their previous animal centres on Drayton Road, Dove Street or East Tuddenham or remember the local auxiliaries who volunteered in your village or town.
If you have any memories, insights or photos you’d like to share, send them an email at woof@rspcanorwich.org.
Vic’s Picks: Best Places to Buy Gifts in Wymondham
Sometimes it feels like gift-giving occasions are always around the corner – birthdays, graduations, housewarming celebrations. Often it can leave you feeling caught out; however, I hope to alleviate your worries by providing some of my top places to find gifts from small local businesses right on your doorstep.
For the food lovers in your life, a tempting charcuterie board might be the way to go. Kemball & Franklyn on Fairland Street offers some well-arranged grazing boards and hampers filled with various yummy treats. Their seating area outside the front of the shop provides an enticing spot to sit and have a coffee to spur you on in your shopping endeavours. Speaking of beverages, Reno Refills has a great range of alcoholic drinks, including vegan, organic, and biodynamic wines. They also have some attractive hamper options and a great cashew nut cheese which I particularly enjoy.
If something with more longevity is your style, Elementals Magickal Emporium supplies a wide variety of spiritual-themed gifts at a range of price points. Jewellery, candles, clothing, crockery, and crystals are just a selection of the items on offer in their very welcoming shop. I find their horoscope bracelets a particularly great birthday gift. On the topic of homeware, Ebony on Damgate Street provides a range of giftable items including handbags, picture frames, and unique trinkets.
Keen readers would be pleased to receive a book and East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices charity shop has a large room upstairs dedicated to second-hand books with an assortment of genres on offer. Kett’s Books, across from the Market Cross, has a great collection of both children’s and adult fiction and is even able to order specific titles. To accompany your gift, they also have a selection of illustrated cards. A great alternative to a typical card is a vintage postcard; you can find some at Wymondham Antiques Centre alongside numerous other alluring artefacts.
Flowers can be a nice accompaniment to a card, and The Enchanted Willow has lots of stunning bouquets for purchase. If your loved one would be grateful for an experience-based gift, The Enchanted Willow also offers workshops in flower arranging which can be a fun way to gain a new skill and create happy memories. If the idea of a workshop resonates with you, stART Studio delivers classes in painting, clothes making, and poetry to experience with a friend, perhaps even exchanging your creations with one another as a lovely handmade gift.
With luck, my picks have helped to lessen any gift-related concerns you may have had, or in the least reminded you of an upcoming gift-giving celebration that slipped your mind. Whatever, or whoever you are buying a gift for, rest assured that you can find that perfect item in Wymondham.
London Marathon Diaries
The Lowe Down
When you are in London as a Marathon spectator, the app allows you to track people. It is done via the chips they wear when they run. It is brilliant. It means you can nosily browse the list of names and see if there’s anyone worth tracking.
I’m sure I wasn’t the only one following the progress of actress Ruth Wilson, who played Jane Eyre on screen in 2006. (She had a fantastic time: 4:53:26.) Other names I thought I recognised proved less reliable. I got very excited about a GB runner on the list whose name was the same as a journalist I admired. That was until said journalist posted something on Twitter (on a completely unrelated topic) when she was supposed to be still very much running and approaching the 13-mile mark. I begrudgingly admitted that it was not her. Another runner shared the name of one of my former teachers’ siblings – who I had met and knew was a runner. Embarrassingly, I couldn’t tell if it was her from the fundraising photo.
Regardless, the most important person I was tracking was my sister. It was the family’s second trip to the London Marathon (the first person to run it was my mum in 2020). Her A-goal in doing it was just to finish and enjoy the thing, rather than any time target.
It is funny going to see the London Marathon for the second time. When recalling the first time, only the good bits had stuck in my head: the cheering people on, seeing family and friends in the spectator crowds, the constant excitement that you might see a famous person, etc.
You don’t remember the rather more unromantic parts. Chiefly, if there are cold breezes (this year there were), while that is fantastic for cooling down the runners, it is less nice if you have been standing at Mile 9 for two hours waiting for the blink-and-you’ll-miss-it moment when your family member/loved one goes by in five seconds.
You also forget the times after that five-second moment when you leave Mile 9 and take the tube to Mile 21 for the next cheering-on point. Or rather, you intend to take the tube – before your heart sinks at the huge crowds and barrier-induced standstill queues. I am sure, in reality, that the yellow-high-vis-jacket guards are doing a public service in erecting barriers and only letting people go onto the platform a few at a time. (It is presumably to prevent stampedes?) Yet one’s rational and sympathetic awareness of this necessity is somewhat challenged when one has been standing underground at a total standstill for over twenty minutes, and stirring their stumps doesn’t appear anywhere near the guards’ agenda. Just when the existential (and wholly unreasonable) “what has happened to this country” rants begin to enter your head, you finally make it through onto the platform, take the train out of that station (swearing never to go through it again), only to discover that the usual London Marathon map is inaccurate because they have changed the routes for Marathon Day. (Because why wouldn’t they?)
Cue more trains, by which time you have also faced the challenge of eating a Pret-à-Manger on-the-go snack while standing upright in a moving Tube vehicle trying not to make a messy spectacle of yourself. But then – and despite my melodramatic summary – you are back on the ground and realise just how amazing the day is, and that it is a monumentally privileged position to complain about trains when other poor souls are in the middle of running twenty-six miles.
Especially the moments when you are with family friends and can cheer people on together (as we did) – those parts are glorious. In no other context than marathon spectating does one express so much effusive praise that “you are doing brilliantly!” towards total strangers. (Maybe we should have more of that mentality in the usual world? Discuss.)
Ultimately, my sister finished the race and was ecstatic to have enjoyed it. Ruth Wilson, Mrs not-the-journalist-I-thought and Miss who-knows-if-you-were-who-I-thought all finished too. And most importantly, Runners’ World reports that over £67 million was raised for charitable courses. Bravo to them all.
New Clubhouse Suits Growing Tennis Club
Wymondham Tennis Club is looking forward to a busy summer on the courts at Ketts Park. A new coach, Katie Brooks, arrived in January and there are now over 80 juniors attending weekly coaching sessions. Club membership is growing and there is good engagement in club sessions, Tuesday club nights have had up to 26 members attending, other sessions are on Friday evenings and Monday mornings.
In May, the Norwich City League started and the club has three men's teams and a ladies team entered; the Men’s A are in the very competitive Division 1 while the newbie C team are in Division 7.
In February, a new clubhouse was craned into place; it is now operational with full club members able to purchase electronic fobs for access. It is light and airy with much more space to the front for sitting and watching some tennis. The club hopes to run some Open Days and taster sessions during the summer. Keep an eye on the Facebook page and our website wymondhamtennis.club for details along with information on joining the club and coaching. Contact the club at enquires@wymondhamtennis.club.
Saturday 1st June
Open Gardens
12pm-5pm, Heritage Museum
Twenty four gardens, in a variety of styles and sizes, will be on view for visitors both experienced and new to gardening to enjoy and exchange ideas. Funds raised will go to the Wymondham Heritage Museum which is run entirely by volunteers. Programmes £5 per adult, available at the Garden Centre, Museum, Abbey Shop, Tourist Info, Marmalade Tree, Reeves.
www.wymondhamheritagemuseum.co.uk/?p=open.gardens
Sunday 2nd June
Open Gardens
12pm-5pm, Heritage Museum
Twenty four gardens, in a variety of styles and sizes, will be on view for visitors both experienced and new to gardening to enjoy and exchange ideas. Funds raised will go to the Wymondham Heritage Museum which is run entirely by volunteers. Programmes £5 per adult, available at the Garden Centre, Museum, Abbey Shop, Tourist Info, Marmalade Tree, Reeves.
www.wymondhamheritagemuseum.co.uk/?p=open.gardens
Tuesday 4th June
Full Town Council
7pm, WTC Kett’s Park Office
Public welcome
www.wymondhamtowncouncil.org
Wymondham Photographic Society
8pm-10pm, Dell Bowls Club
Annual Print competition Tier 1
www.wymondham-ps.org.uk
Wednesday 5th June
Art Society Demo with Graham Webber
7:15pm, Catholic Church Hall
Graham is a professional artist from Essex. His landscape oil paintings are influenced by changing atmospheres and nature at home and further afield. He writes regularly for The Artist magazine and his first instructional film was
produced in 2022. Graham will offer a masterclass in oils, 'Summer Landscape'.
www.wymondhamart.org
Friday 7th June
Photographic Society Coffee Morning
10am-12pm, Dell Bowls Club
www.wymondham-ps.org.uk
Saturday 8th June
Community Orchard Volunteer Workday
10am-12pm, Browick Road Orchard
Refreshments and tools provided but bring your own gloves. Entrance opposite Gunton Road NR18 0QN or Ayton Road Car Park. *Seed Swap for Great Big Green Week*
www.greeningwymondham.org/
Community Orchard Volunteer Workday
10am-12pm, Browick Road Orchard
Refreshments and tools provided but bring your own gloves. Entrance opposite Gunton Road NR18 0QN or Ayton Road Car Park.
www.greeningwymondham.org/
Great Big Green Week Launch
10am-4pm, Market Place
Visit stalls by local organisations hosted by Greening Wymondham. More information on events throughout the week online:
www.greeningwymondham.org/great-big-green-week-2024
Learn to Sow and Pot On for GBGW
2pm-4:30pm, Myhills, Fairland St
A GBGW chance for children aged 7-12 to learn a skill and perhaps prepare a Father’s Day present! Book by emailing greening.wymondham@gmail.com, GBGW in subject line. Parents expected and welcome!
www.greeningwymondham.org/
Sunday 9th June
Make a Crafty Present for Father's Day
1pm-4pm, Abbey Schoolrooms
Get crafting with ClearCompany's Slow Down Sundays at That Little Norfolk Shop and Studios
clearcompany.org.uk/tlns/
Tuesday 11th June
MegaSwap
9:30am-11am, Ayton House Meeting Rooms
Wild Tribe have organized a swap of clothes, books and toys for GBGW! And have a coffee and bun in the café afterwards. NR18 0QQ
Free Recycling Talk
7pm-8pm, Rugby Club Lacons Bar
Confused about what you can or cannot put in your recycling bin? Join us for a fun, interactive evening learning the do's and don'ts from the South Norfolk Council recycling team.
Hosted by Sustainable Wymondham, together with Wymondham RFC and Wymondham Town Council.
For more information, email info@sustainablewymondham.org.uk
www.sustainablewymondham.org.uk
Wymondham Photographic Society
8pm-10pm, Dell Bowls Club
Annual Print competition Tier 2
www.wymondham-ps.org.uk
Wednesday 12th June
School Uniform Swap
10am-1pm, Roots Cafe Baptist Church, Queen St
Not only can you swap your good condition uniform for the next size up or down in GBGW, but enjoy plant-based options at the café. Also Friday 14th. NR18 0AY
Swap a Skill
2:30pm, Poppy's Pantry, Middleton St
Alongside the popular Zentangle Art, loom knitting, origami, crocheting and more. Come and try a new skill out and if you have one yourself, bring it along to swap for GBGW! NR18 0AD
www.facebook.com/PoppysPantryNorfolk
Friday 14th June
Ladies' Swishing Evening
7pm, Abbey Schoolrooms
Bring as many items of clothing to swap as you like. Each item wins an exchange voucher or you can buy vouchers for £1. Bar open and snacks available! Entry fee £5. NR18 0PH
Bats and Swifts Talk
7pm, Wymondham Abbey
Join WyNG for an event taking place as part of Wymondham’s ‘Big Green Week.
Free admission, donations to Norfolk Wildlife Trust welcome. Contact: John Beckett, 01953 602876
01603 812309
www.facebook.com/WymondhamNatureGroup/
Saturday 15th June
Photographic Society Summer Exhibition
10am-4pm, Dell Bowls Club
An exhibition of prints and digital images from WPS members, demonstrating a wide variety of styles and subjects. Come along and vote for your favourite.
www.wymondham-ps.org.uk
Recycle – Reuse – Rethink
2pm, North Wymondham Community Centre
Great Big Green Week family-friendly event finale: junk modelling for kids, T-shirt remodelling, origami – and more swapping of books and clothes. And loads and more fun creative stuff to do. NR18 0HH
www.greeningwymondham.org/great-big-green-week-2024
River Creepers
2pm-4:30pm, Becketswell Meadow
For kids aged 8-12 who want to find out what lurks in the bed of the Tiffey. Parents expected and welcomed. Book by emailing greening.wymondham@gmail.com – put GBGW booking in the email subject line.
www.greeningwymondham.org/great-big-green-week-2024
Sound Cafe Open Mic
3pm-11pm, Abbey Schoolrooms
Plug in and play, grab the mic, perform your music, poetry or comedy. Session one for under 25s is from 3pm to 6pm.
Session two kicks off at 7pm when Craftily Bar joins us with a range of spirits, wines and beers. Anto Morra’s music sale with music art made from upcycled material and preloved clothes give a new look with his music-related artwork.
Sunday 16th June
Photographic Society Summer Exhibition Day 2
10am-4pm, Dell Bowls Club
An exhibition of prints and digital images from WPS members, demonstrating a wide variety of styles and subjects. Come along and vote for your favourite.
www.wymondham-ps.org.uk
Monday 17th June
Garden Club Quiz Night & Beetle Drive
7:30pm, Town Green Centre
Questions and Conundrums for Green Fingered Folks who don’t take life too seriously. A Beetle drive which promises to be fun. An opportunity to chat, converse and socialise. Show Table – Roses – 3 stems of Rose, One Fragrant Rose. One Delphinium Stem; Cookery competition – 3 Fresh Strawberry Muffins; Photography – Sunlight & Shadow in Norfolk. Club Table – A favourite from my Garden – Plant or Flower, Fruit or Vegetable. Members Free, guests £3. Further info email wymondhamgardenclub@gmail.com
www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100077254060337
Tuesday 18th June
Wymondham Photographic Society
8pm-10pm, Dells Bowls Club
Member Speaker: Andrew Artherton
www.wymondham-ps.org.uk
Sunday 23rd June
Dragonflies and other Insects
2pm-4pm, Toll's Meadow
Come and discover some of the dragonflies and other insects at Toll’s Meadow. This event will also feature willow crafting, including making willow dragonflies. Car Park on Cemetery Lane (free on Sundays). All welcome, no charge (donations to NWT welcome). Email: wymondham@norfolkwildlifetrust.org.uk Contact: John Beckett, 01953 602876
01953 602 876
www.facebook.com/WymondhamNatureGroup/
Tuesday 25th June
Volunteer Workday
9:30am-12:30pm, Friarscroft Wood
Meet by Windmill Surgery. Refreshments at 11:00am. Bring yourself, a pair of gloves & sturdy boots.
www.greeningwymondham.org/
Thursday 27th June
Heritage Society Meeting
7:30pm, Fairland Hall
Talk by Rosie Wilkin: Medieval Medicine. Meetings are free to members, non-members are always welcome (£2 entry fee).
01953 600 205
www.wymondhamheritagemuseum.co.uk/?p=heritage.society
Saturday 29th June
Galaxy Twirlers Show
6:30pm, Wymondham Central Hall
Organised by Wymondham Music Events Group in aid of Star Throwers.
Tickets £10 (under 16 £5) available at Reeve's and on Star Throwers website
01953 600563
www.starthrowers.org.uk/news-events/events/2376-2/
Wednesday 3rd July
Art Society Demo with Margaret Glass
7:15pm, Catholic Church Hall
Margaret Glass is recognised as one of the leading Pastellists of today. She tends to choose a subject because of the drama of light on and within it and will paint 'Sky and River Scene' in pastels for us.
www.wymondhamart.org
Tuesday 9th July
Iceni Botanical Artists Exhibition
11am-4pm, Becket's Chapel
Free entry to the exhibition, all paintings for sale. Runs 9-21 July, open daily (closed Monday 15th)
www.wymondhamart.org
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