Working together for a brighter future - Breckland Council

Christmas message from the
Breckland senior police team
“My hope this
Christmas is that it is a
peaceful time for
people who live and
work in Breckland. My
policing teams and our
partners in Breckland
have worked tirelessly
this year with our
communities to tackle
anti-social behaviour in
its many forms.
This has included antisocial
use of car parks,
rowdy behaviour by
groups of people
disturbing the neighbourhood and
drink related incidents as people
leave town centres after
a night out.
Police will be patrolling
our neighbourhoods
and Pubwatch schemes
will be making sure that
individuals who cause
problems are not
allowed to return. I hope
that you, the community
will work with us in the
places where you live to
make this a very
enjoyable Christmas.”
Breckland Superintendent
Katie Elliott
What will you be eating
at Christmas?
Many people in Breckland will be
tucking into turkey and all the
trimmings for lunch on 25 December.
But for many ethnic communities,
turkey is not the traditional
Christmas meal. Here are a few of
the traditional foods some of these
different nationalities will be serving
this festive season.
Many Russians celebrate the Feast of
St. Nicholas. This Christmas Eve meal
consists of a porridge called ‘kutya’.
Made from honey, grains and berries
it symbolises hope and immortality.
Some families throw spoonfuls of the
kutya at the ceiling which, if it sticks,
should ensure a plentiful honey
harvest for the following year.
Portuguese families feast on the
national holiday dish of dried codfish,
called bacalhau this is typically
followed by a dessert of rabanadas
consisting of slices of white bread
soaked in eggs and wine, drenched in
sugar, and fried until crisp. The
Christmas Eve supper in Poland
begins with a beetroot, mushroom or
almond soup, carp is often served too.
Other dishes include a variety of
cakes and, in particular, the holy
poppy seed cake.
In the Ukraine, there is an old custom
of fasting for 39 days before the
Nativity. Families wait until they see
the first star to begin a 12-course
supper, one course in honour of each
of the 12 apostles. The courses include
fish, borscht and cabbage stuffed with
millet and cooked dried fruits. A
special Latvian Christmas meal would
usually be cooked brown peas with
bacon sauce, small pies, cabbage and
sausage. It’s traditional for Father
Christmas to bring presents on each
of the 12 days of Christmas starting on
Christmas Eve.
Whatever you choose to eat this
holiday season, Breckland Council
wishes you a Merry Christmas and a
Happy and Prosperous New Year.
Intergalactic
fairytales
The Memorial Hall in Dereham
played host to a truly magical
experience on the 25 October with
the presentation of the Sun Dragon
by Gomito productions.
Five action loving story tellers totally
enthral the audience narrating the
adventures of Jacob, a boy who
dreams of flying and his quest to save
a distant planet from darkness. It’s a
truly magical hour of storytelling,
Gomito use real creative flair to
captivate every audience member.
This is a play that should be seen by
every child and every adult whose
imagination needs re-sparking.
The show was organised by Dereham
Town Council and partly funded by
Breckland Council. The Town Council
is developing a programme of live
events at the Hall in order to
understand the role a theatre could
play in the town and surrounding area.
The Sun Dragon is the first of a
number of live events; others planned
include A Pirate Workshop and show
(4-9 year olds) on 18 February, A
Comedy Night on 18 February and
Songs from the Shows (Popular songs
from West End shows) on 28 February.
Further live events for all ages are
being planned for later in the year.
The above events are in addition to
many others taking place in the
Memorial Hall. Dereham Operatic will
be holding their ever popular and
successful annual pantomime helping
to make the Memorial Hall a well
used and much loved venue.
Join in Swaffham’s singing for well-being
The Sing for Well-Being course is
aimed at encouraging people to sing
their worries away. The classes are
being held at Swaffham’s Assembly
Rooms and are aimed at people who
love to sing, as well as for those who
doubt their singing abilities.
The ten two hour sessions will take
place every Thursday at 7pm from 15
January 2009 with a break at school
half-term. The workshops will include
group singing as well as gentle
exercise and breathing techniques to
warm up the body and voice.
“Singing is proven to be good for the
health because of the release
of endorphins otherwise known
as ‘happy hormones’. Research
also shows that singing boosts the
immune system and is a creative
13, 14, 20, 21, 23 and 24 December
SANTA SPECiALS ON THE
MiD-NORFOLK RAiLWAY
Dereham Station, Station Road,
Dereham. Visit Santa in his grotto
for a special Christmas present.
Seasonal refreshments will be
available. Tickets: £9.00. Children
under 1 sitting with an adult £3.50.
Booking at station (Weds, Sat or Sun)
or visit www.mnr.org.uk
Tel: 01362 851723
14 and 15 December 2pm - 10pm
16 December 12noon - 6pm and
6pm - 8pm. Youth Party (age 11 – 17)
6pm to 8pm.
SWAFFHAM iCE RiNK.
£2 per session for 20 minutes.
Tel: 01760 722800
Bollywood by bike
Thetford’s former Tourism Officer,
Claire Treadwell, will be taking part in
the 2009 Rajasthan Tiger Challenge,
cycling 500km in India to fundraise for
St Nicholas Hospice. Following her
mother’s stay at the hospice, Claire
feels it’s time to give something back.
Claire said:”I cannot say thank you
enough to the wonderful staff at the
hospice, they made my mum’s last
couple of weeks comfortable, peaceful
and fulfilling experience,“ said Carol
O’Neill, a natural voice practitioner.
“I hear so many people tell me
that they can’t sing but I always
urge them to give it a go. Everyone
has the right to sing and you’d be
amazed at how easy it is to achieve
a wonderful sound. If you’ve never
had any experience before it really
doesn’t matter.”
The course is designed to be fun and
accessible to people of all ages and
abilities. People who are keen to take
part should telephone 01328 838316
to book a place.
What’s on over Christmas
and special. Without them, I really don’t
know how my Dad and I would have
coped. The nurses and volunteers are
the closest thing you can get to angels,
they were amazing.”
Money raised will help them to continue
to provide care for progressively and
terminally ill people, and offer support
to family and friends. All this is given
without charge so fundraising activities
are vital. To support her on this
27 December to 3 January
SLEEPiNG BEAUTY
Dereham Operatic Society’s
pantomime. Dereham Memorial
Hall, Norwich Street, Dereham.
Tickets available from Hallmark,
12 Nelson Place, Dereham.
Tel: 01362 851919. Or visit
www.dosoc.co.uk for more details.
28 December and 1 January 2009
MiD-NORFOLK RAiLWAY MiNCE
PiE SPECiALS
Departing Dereham Station 11am and
2pm. Mince pies and sherry
will be served with biscuits and soft
drinks for children. Tickets: £7.50
adults – Children: £4.50. Booking
advisable. Tel: 01362 851723 or
call at station (Weds, Sat or Sun).
challenge, you can sponsor by visiting
www.justgiving.com/tigerchallenge.
Donating through Justgiving is quick,
easy and totally secure. St Nicholas
Hospice gets your money faster and,
if you’re a UK taxpayer, Justgiving
makes sure 25% in Gift Aid, plus a
3% supplement, are added to your
donation. Why not help organise an
event to raise funds for the hospice? It
could be a quiz night to a head shave
– anything can help. Claire can offer
her services as an experienced PR
professional in exchange for financial
sponsorship. Email tigerchallenge@
hotmail.co.uk for further information.
Breckland Voice 8 Working together for a brighter future
Working together for a brighter future Breckland Voice 9