SNL Nov 16 web

November 2016 

SWAFFHAM 

newslet ter 

Swaffham Mayor 

Helping To 

Raise Sight Loss 

Awareness 

published by

Advertising Rate Card 

Circulation of 5,500 to Swaffham and 

surrounding villages. Rates per issue: 

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sixth issue advertisement is free of charge 

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Please telephone Iceni Partnership on 

01760 722 800 to discuss your requirements 

or email swaffhamnewsletter@gmail.com 

Your monthly magazine is published by: 

Contact the editor: 

01760 722 800 

swaffhamnewsletter@gmail.com 

Swaffham Newsletter 

Iceni Partnership 

Swaffham Community Centre 

The Campingland 

Swaffham 

PE37 7RB 

Registered in England Company Number 4257830 Charity Number 1101814 VAT Number UK800057775 

Monthly deadline for editorial and advertising is 

the 12 th day of the month prior to the next issue. 

January edition deadline is December 7th. 

Swaffham newsletter is always looking for 

volunteers to deliver around Swaffham, regular 

and relief people. We especially need deliverers 

on the new estatesnew estates off Brandon Road, 

please contact Kerry at the Town Hall if you can 

help on 01760 722 922. 

1

Contents 

4 Upcoming Events / Regular Events 

6 School Speak 

7 Swaffham Twinning / Rainbow Choir 

11 Swaffham History Group / Merle Boddy 

12 Church News 

17 Women’s Institute 

18 Swaffham & District Lions 

19 Swaffham Museum 

20 Rotary Club of Swaffham 

21 Wissey U3A 

24 Age Concern 

25 AHH Garden Club 

27 FOSM / FOSCH 

29 Home Hospice 

31 Mayor’s Parlour 

32 Swaffham Town Council 

34 Mind, Body & Spirit 

Town Team Open Meeting 

In earlier editions of the Newsletter I have tried to 

set out information on the Town Team’s Vision and 

Objectives whilst highlighting some of our current 

initiatives where residents of the Town can join with 

us to make Swaffham a better, cleaner, brighter, 

more viable place to live, visit and do business. 

The Team would now like to invite you all to an Open 

Evening to meet and talk to the members of the 

Town Team with your own concerns and ideas, to 

see and hear of our past endeavours and our future 

plans and to discover how you can become involved 

in helping us reach these goals. 

The event will be held at the Community Centre on 

Wednesday December 7th from 6.00pm onwards 

where light refreshments will be available. 

We look forward seeing you all then but should you 

have any immediate thoughts/questions please 

do not hesitate to get in touch with the Chair – 

David Wickerson – either via email at davidwick@ 

btinternet.com or by phone on 01760 725741. 

Happy Christmas 

Just for You! 

You are invited to a Christmas Day Celebraon 

where you will be fed and entertained. 

There will be no charge, all you need to do is make 

your way to the Assembly Rooms on Christmas Day. 

The fun starts at noon, we will sit down to a 

tradional Christmas meal at 1pm 

and entertained unl around 3:30pm. 

We believe no-one should be alone at Christmas 

if they don’t want to be. Just let us know you are 

coming before Monday December 19th by talking to 

Jonathan or Don on 01760 722 800 

or pop into Swaam Community Centre. 

AED Locations 

Swaffham is about to get four new defibrillators but 

we have no idea how many are already in the town. 

Please let us know if your company or organisation 

has one even if it can’t be used by the general public. 

Call Don or Jonathan on 01760 722 800. 

Patisserie Iceni 

Have a coffee and cake pre or post Icenima, or pre 

book a lovely lunch. Phone Zoltan on 07771 670 547 

for further details. 

3

Upcoming Events 

North Pickenham Pop-Up-Pub & Cafe 

28th, 29th, 30th October at Johnsons Playing Field Midday - Midnight Everyday. 

Friday 28th Hallowen Spooktacular, Childrens Fancy Dress. Dits Fish & Chips 

7.30pm - Till Late Saturday 29th 7.30 Quiz. Sunday 30th 3pm Bingo 

Swaffham Players ‘Player’s Angels’ by Amanda Whittington 

The Barn Theatre, Sacred Heart School, Swaffham on Friday 28th & Saturday 29th 

October at 7:30pm. Tickets - Brian Hubbard on 01760 721899 or from the Green Parrot 

Swaffham Jazz Club 

Tuesday 8th November, 7.30pm. Colin Mason Quartet - Eleanora on vocals and keyboard. 

Swaffham Conservative Social Club, 23 London Rd. £5. bargeoff@yahoo.com /01760 722384 

Festival Of Remembrance 

Swaffham Royal British Legion will be holding their annual Festival of Remembrance on 

Thursday 10th November 2016 in the Parish Church of St Peter & St Paul at 7-30pm 

Home-Start Swaffham & District AGM 

16th Annual General Meeting at the Swaffham Community Centre on 

Thursday 17th November 10-12 noon. All members of the public are welcome 

to attend, please call the office on 01760 721271 for more information 

West Acre Bonfire and Halloween Party 

Saturday 29th October. BBQ, bar, soup & raffle . Bonfire lit at 6.30pm, fancy 

dress competition at 7.00pm & fireworks at 7.30pm. Adults £4, Children £1 

Swaffham Rugby Club Fireworks Night 

Sunday 6th November. Gates 5pm, fireworks 7pm. £5, 5-16 years £3, under 5s free, 2+2 £10 

The Desert Rats Annual Remembrance Day Service 

CROMWELL memorial at High Ash IP26 5BZ. Sunday 13th November 2016, 1030 hours 

and the Last Post being sounded at 1100 hours. Limited chairs so bring your our if needed 

Campingland Patients Group Swaffham 

Thursday 17th November, 7:15 pm at Campingland Surgery. Talk by a diabetes 

nurse on all types of Diabetes, Q&A. light refreshments, raffle Everyone is welcome 

Christmas Wreath Workshop 

Barton Bendish Village Hall, Thursday 17th November at 7.30pm & Saturday 19th 

at 10am and 7.30pm. No experience necessary. All basic materials provided, BYO if 

you wish. Just bring a pair of secateurs and dress for mess! This fun workshop is £15 

p.p including festive refreshments. Mhari - 01366 347 849, Linda - 01366 347 563 

Swaffham Evening WI Coach Trip To Springfields Shopping Outlet 

Thursday 24th November. Coach will depart Swaffham at 9.15am & return at 

approximately 5.30 - 6pm. There will be plenty of time for shopping and lunch at 

Springfields plus a visit to the Baytree Garden Centre return journey. £10. 01760 725956 

Christmas Lights event with Victorian Christmas Market 

Friday 25th November 2pm-8pm On the Market Place car park. Come and see 

Santa, real reindeer, Fakenham Town Band, Thursford Steam Organ, Oasis Church 

singers, craft, gift and catering stalls and bright new stunning Christmas Lights 

Swaffham Parish Church Christmas Bazaar 

Saturday 26th November 9.00am till 12 noon. Christmas Prize Draw first prize 

£100. There refreshments and many stalls 

Beachamwell WI’s Christmas Fair 

Saturday 26 November. Open from 12 noon until 3pm in the village hall 

Swaffham Arts 

Saturday 26th November 2016, 7.30pm. Swaffham Assembly Rooms. ‘Close 

Harmony’ £9 members, £12 non members, Children free. 01366 328648 

Nar Valley Ornithological Society (NarVOS) 

Tuesday 29th November 2016, 7.30pm at the Barn Theatre, Sacred Heart Convent 

School. Mark Avery “A Message from Martha – The extinction of the Passenger 

Pigeon and its relevance today” £2 non member. Ian Black on 01760 724092 

Necton Primary School Christmas Party 

Wednesday 30th November, 4:30-6:30pm. Stalls, games Santa’s grotto. All welcome 

Swaffham Twinning Association Christmas Celebration 

December 3rd, 7:30pm at the Swaffham Assembly Rooms. http:// 

swaffhamtwinningassociation.weebly.com/ or tel: 01760 723397 to find out more 

Christingle Service by Candlelight 

St Andrew’s Church Barton Bendish. Sunday 4th December At 3pm. Come and join us 

for this very special Christmas. Service for all ages. Everyone is very welcome. Please 

remember to dress warmly! Details:- Mhari- 01366347849, Linda-01366347563 

Swaffham Arts 

Sunday 11th December 2016, 3pm. Swaffham Community Centre. ‘Seasonal 

Miscellany’. Seasonal refreshments available. Enquiries: 01366 328648 


Tuesday 13th December at 7.30pm ‘Four 4 Jazz’ - plus 2! Trad & Swing. See Nov 8th 

4 

Westacre Theatre 

Lunches and Suppers may be pre-booked for every performance 

On Stage from The Westacre Theatre Company with SHAKESPEARE DONE 

DIFFERENT! Fri 4, Sat 5, Fri 18, and Sat 19 Nov at 7:30pm £16. On Stage 

from Fol Espoir on tour with INSTRUCTIONS FOR AMERICAN SERVICEMEN 

IN BRITAIN Sat 12 Nov at 7:30pm £16. On Stage SHAKESPEARE’S GARDENS 

by author Jackie Bennett Wed 30 Nov all-inclusive ticket £16 includes 

lunch at 12:30pm. Screening from The Globe TWELFTH NIGHT starring 

Stephen Fry, Roger Lloyd Pack and Mark Rylance Thu 10 Nov at 7pm £10. 

Wednesday Flicks present FLORENCE FOSTER JENKINS Wed 2 Nov at 2pm 

£7; and LOVE AND FRIENDSHIP Wed 16 Nov at 2pm £7. online. www. 

westacretheatre.com 01760 755800 

Regular Meetings & Events 

MONDAY 

1st Swaffham Scouts 7-9 at Cockley Cley, Iceni Village, Scout Hut. 

For ages 10 1/2 -14. New recruits welcome. Boys or girls. Contact Paul 

07711761364. Paul@1stswaffhamscouts.org.uk 

Art Class at The Old Art Room 93 Market Place. Techniques, 

Tips, Inspiration in a modern equipped Art Studio. 10am until 12.15 £10 

Tel.01760 337181 je.clark176@btinternet.com 

CACELS Coffee and Cake Enjoying Life Supportively. Working age and unable to 

work through health or disability? 1st Monday 2-3.30pm. Green Britain Centre 

Central Norfolk Dog Training Club Upstairs in Church Rooms, 

Campingland. 4 classes available, from puppies to intermediate.Tel: Chris 07745892417 

Citizens Advice Swaffham Community Centre, 10am until 12:30pm 

Dance Classes 7-8pm Ballroom, 8-9pm Latin and 9-10pm Argentine Tango 

@ Sacred Heart Convent. Any one class £8, any two classes £12 or all three for 

£15 (fees are per person) 01760 336410 Teachers Joanna & Xavier Navarre IDTA 

Kickboxing Club Juniors 5+ 5pm – 6pm, Inters 6-7pm, Adults 7pm – 

8.30pm Plowright Place. Call Trevor on 07585707196 

Monday evenings of Mosaic Making at Henchmans 

Ash Close, Swaffham 6.30-8.30pm £8-make your own project or I can set one 

for you! https://www.facebook.com/mosaicpaintedmemories 07810 895480 

Playdayz – Parent/toddler group Sacred Heart School 9.30- 

11.30am term time only. £1 per session/per family (includes a snack) 

Contact: Nina Matthews 07799 460923 

Rotary Club of Swaffham Meets at The George Hotel - 1st Monday of 

the month, 12:45 for 1pm, other Mondays 7 for 7:30pm. Tel Claire Dunne 722504 

Seniors Keep Fit 6.15pm at Stanley’s, Lynn Road Tel Gemma on 07702 

197994/07425 607667 

Swaffham 1894 Squadron Air Training Corps 7.00 - 9.30pm. 

TA Centre, Sporle Road, Swaffham. Ages 13 to 18 years. Tel: 01760724617 

Swaffham History Group 2nd Monday, 2 – 4pm, Swaffham Museum. 

New members always welcome – no charge. Tel 01760 724470 

Swaffham Lions Meet on the 2nd Monday of the month at Swaffham 

Assembly Rooms,7:30pm. All welcome. Contact Peter Young 01760 724120 

Swaffham Players every Monday and Wednesday, 7:30pm Baptist 

Church, Swaffham. If you are interested in joining a fabulous team please 

come along but call Marcie on 07867943102 to ensure we are in rehearsal 

Junior Snooker & Billiards 4-7pm @ The Norfolk Snooker Academy, 

West Acre Facebook - THE NORFOLK SNOOKER ACADEMY / 01760 755337 

for details and to book, no experience needed 9 -16 years 

Youthie 5:30 – 7pm, Swaffham Community Centre. For ages 8 to 11. 

Free entry. Contact sally@iceni.info 07772 852284 / 01760 722800 

TUESDAY 

1st Swaffham Cubs 1st Swaffham Cubs 6.30-8pm at Cockley Cley, 

Iceni Village, Scout Hut. For ages 8-10 1/2. New recruits welcome. Boys 

or Girls. Contact Hayley 07516095019. Akela@1stswaffhamscouts.org.uk 

Swaffham Army Cadets TA Centre, Sporle Rd 7.30-9.30pm. Ages 12 – 18. 

www.norfolkacf.org 2907pea@armymail.mod.uk 07899 189 973 The 

Art Studio Modern Art Evening Classes By Peter Henry PGCE, BA. 

Tuesdays 7-9pm Church Rooms, Campingland. Refreshments. Adults/all 

abilitiesEmail: salsum06@aol.com/01760 720540 

Swaffham Bridge Club The Church Rooms,Church of Our Lady of Pity 

31, Station Street. Swaffham PE37 7HP 6.30pm for 6.45pm. Sue 01328 701545 

Swaffham Carpet Bowls Community Centre. 2 hours from 1.30 for £2. 

Tea & biscuits inc. 01760 627 038

Child Health Clinic at Swaffham Children Centre. 01760 721101 1st Tuesday 

monthly 1.15 - 2.45pm run by local Health Visiting Team 

Civil Service Retirement Fellowship Coffee Morning, third Tuesday 

at 10:15am. Methodist Hall, London Street. Tel: David Moore 01760 723740 

CAMEO Coffee 9.30am - 11.30am The Oasis Centre, Cley Road, 

Swaffham Come And Meet Each Other for free hot drinks 

Crafts, Textiles and Dressmaking at The Old Art Room 

93 Market Place. Techniques, Tips, Inspiration in a modern equipped Art 

&Textile Studio. 10am until 12.15 and 12.30 until 2.45 £9 Tel.01760 337181 

Jump, Jive & Swing Swaffham Community Centre, 7.45pm. Classes 

8pm until 9.45pm with social dancing until 10.30pm. www.jumpjiveswing.com 

Little Treasures and Breastfeeding Support 1.15 - 2.45pm Drop in 

for parents and babies aged 0-1year at Swaffham Children Centre. 01760 721101 

Mamma Munay (Mother Love) - antenatal classes on alternate Tuesday 

afternoons at The Green Parrot. Come and enjoy a different way of preparing 

for motherhood…all welcome at all stages of your pregnancy. Booking essential 

on 01760 724704 or for more information call Anne on 07469243052 

The Phoenix Singers rehearse each week in the Methodist Church 

Hall at 7:30pm. New members welcome. Contact Marion 01760 724 473. 

PROBUS Club of Swaffham Meet second Tues of the month for lunch at the 

George Hotel, 12.30 for 1pm. Terry Lloyd 01760 721297 or email tlknapton@gmail.com 

Rainbow Community Choir 7.30-9.30pm. Swaffham Community 

Centre. Interested in joining us? Contact Anthea 01760 336 313 for more 

details. www.rainbowcommunitychoir.org.uk 

The Royal Elizabethan Lodge No. 8654 RAOB GLE 

Meets alternate Tuesdays, 8pm in the Conservative Club. 

Tel: W Rogers 01760 720632 or S Trattle 01760 721760 

The Royal Naval Association 8pm on the 4th Tuesday Swaffham 

Conservative Club. Telephone Robbie Burns on 01760 720353 

Swaffham Rugby Football Club Tuesday Seniors Training 7:30 - 9 

Seniors Keep Fit 3pm See Monday’s Senior’s Keep Fit 

Stitch, Mardle and Mend A group of keen crafters covering Patchwork, 

Knitting, Crochet, Cross Stitch etc 7-9pm, £1. Tel Adrienne 01760 336268 

Slimming World Conservative Club, 10am. Swaffham Asssembly 

Rooms 7pm. Clare Hughes 07535237618 

Sporle WI 3rd Tuesday, 1.45pm ready for our speaker at 2pm. For any further 

information please ring Celia on 01362 687316 

Swaffham St John Ambulance Cadets 7.15pm until 8.45pm,10 to 

17 year olds. Natalie Rudd on 07771620634/natalie.rudd@btinternet.com 

Taekwondo 6:30 - 7:30pm Swaffham Community Centre 01760336044 

Table Top Skirmish @Henchmans 1st&3rd/month 7-11pm 

Tea Dance Tea Dance. First Tuesday of the month. Swaffham Assembly 

Rooms 2 to 4 pm. £3.00. Let’s Dance with Christine & Peter. 01362 820 405. 

Swaffham Wellbeing Group Are you feeling low, or recovering from ill 

health? Just want to meet other people? Make new friends at Community Centre, 

every Tuesday 10.30 – 1.00. Contact Family Action. Tel: 01760 725801 

Swaffham Market (Morning) WI Second Tuesday of every Month, 10.30am 

Assembly Rooms. Ladies over 18 welcome. Deb Forrest 01760725669 quilter856@gmail.com 

West Acre Carpet Bowls Club West Acre Village Hall, 2 - 4pm. £2 per 

session. Equipment and refreshments provided – all welcome. Tel: Belinda 

01760 755184 or Betty 01760 755235 Email: belindabush@hotmail.com 

Women’s Section Royal British Legion At Valentine Barker Court, 

2nd Tues at 2.30pm. Tel: Frances 01760 724445 or Iris 01760 721430 

Weight Watchers 5:30 Swaffham Community Centre. 01760721882 

Yoga Gt Dunham Village Hall, 10 -11:30am, £6.50 Tel: 01603 478456 

Yoga 10.30-12.00 Green Britain Centre, Swaffham. £7 per class. Contact 

Jayne on: 07544974342 or email: greenwillowyoga@outlook.com 

Zumba With Becks Swaffham Assembly Rooms 7pm bectuff@hotmail.co.uk £4.50 

WEDNESDAY 

1st Swaffham RainbowsTerm time only, 17:00-18:00 Swaffham 

Infant School. Girls aged 5 to 7 yrs. Tracey Clements 07770236689 

2nd Swaffham Brownies Term time only, 18:00-19:30. Meeting at 

Swaffham First School. Girls aged 7 to 10 yrs invited to join. Contact Clare 

Smith 07917468057 or Chrissie Brown 07970104771. 

Swaffham 1894 Squadron Air Training Corps 7:00-9:30pm. 

TA Centre, Sporle Road, Swaffham. Ages 12 (yr8) to 18 years. Tel: 01760724617 

Alzheimer`s Society Dementia Café first Wednesday every month 

from 10am-12noon. Swaffham Assembly Rooms, Market Place, Swaffham. 

Support, information and social activity.Refreshments provided. 01603 763556 

Swaffham Art Group Community Centre, 2nd & 4th Weds 2:15 - 4pm 

Annual fee £24. Tel: Shirley Tubby 01760 724468 or Pam Buxton 01760 788268 

Arts Lounge beginners/refreshers art classes Wednesday, 

Thursday & Friday 10-1pm or 1.30-4.30pm, £25 per session Call 01760 723624 

Bingo First Wednesday of every month, Holme Hale Pavilion. Eyes 

down 7:30pm. Cash prizes. Tel: June Hewing 01760 441327 

5 

Bingo Swaffham Conservative Club 7:00 – 9:00pm (eyes down for 

7:30). Non-members 30p entry. 

Swaffham Camera Club 1st and 3rd Weds of every month, 7 for 7:30pm 

at Lydney House, Norwich Road. All abilities welcome! Steve Ward 01366 328567 

Creative Textile Certificate 10 Week Course at The Old Art Room, 93 

Market Place Swaffham. Tel Jane 01760 337181 

D&D @ Henchmans 13-18 yrs 4-6pm 1st&3rd/month. League 7-11pm 

2nd&4th/month. Other RPGs 1st&3rd/month 7-11pm 

Swaffham Evening WI Church Rooms, Campingland. 1st Wed 7.30pm 

Telephone Fiona Walker on 01760 722879. 

Healing Rooms The Oasis Centre, Cley Road 11am - 12noon. Book a 

session to experience the healing power of Jesus. Tel: 01760 723175. 

Knitters and Natters For those who love to crochet, quilt, sew… Come 

and join us at The Green Britain Centre 10am - 1pm for a cup of tea and 

company while you work! Contact Leslie on 01760 337 514 

Swaffham Playford Dancers Jane Austen-style Dance. Monthly 

(usually 2nd Wed.) 16th NOVEMBER 7.30 - 10pm. Swaffham Assembly 

Rooms. £3. All welcome - no previous experience or partner necessary. Casual 

clothes and comfortable shoes advised. Contact Patti & Paul 01953 889945 or 

SwaffhamPlayfordDancers@btinternet.com 

Stitch, Mardle and Mend A group of keen crafters covering 

Patchwork, Knitting, Crochet etc. From 10am at Market Cross Inn, Swaffham. 

No charge, but you’ll need to buy your own drinks. Tel Adrienne 01760 336268 

Studio Sessions at The Old Art Room Studio and Inspiration in a 

modern equipped studio 93 Market Place. 10am-1pm £6.50. 01760 337181 

St. John Ambulance - Swaffham (Adults) Every Wednesday 

7.30pm - 9.30pm First Aid training 18 years upwards. 07900927233 

Swaffham & Watton Club for the Visually Impaired Swaffham 

Community Centre 4th Wed (except August) 1.30-3.30pm £3. 01603 629558 

Tai Chi beginners class 10am Swaffham Community Centre 01760723102 

Whist Drive Bradenham Village Hall, 7:30pm. All welcome. 01760 440038. £3 

Youth Café 7:30 – 8:30pm, Swaffham Community Centre. For ages 13 – 18. 

THURSDAY 

1st Swaffham Beavers 1st Swaffham Beavers 5.30- 6.45 at Swaffham 

Infant School. For ages 6 - 8 . New recruits welcome. Boys or Girls. Contact 

Carol 07873329242. Carolmosley@btinternet.com 

Ashill Food and Craft Market 2nd and 4th Thursday each 

month. 9am to 1pm. Community Centre, Hale Rd IP25 7BL. www. 

norfolkfoodandcraft.co.uk Tel Shayne 07766 078123 

Board Games @Henchmans Weekly. Catan League 1st/month 

Swaffham Bridge Club See Tues for details. 6.30pm for 6.45pm start 

except for the first Thursday in the month 2pm to 6pm 

Swaffham Chapter 3 Book Group 10.30am on first Thursday of the 

month. Contact Kate Gordon 01760 723 034 

Crafts, Textiles and Dressmaking at The Old Art Room 

93 Market Place. Techniques, Tips, Inspiration in a modern equipped Art 

&Textile Studio. 10am until 12.15 and 12.30 until 2.45 £9 Tel.01760 337181 

Happidojo Marham Judo Club Sandringham Centre, Marham, PE33 9NP 

5-7yrs:6-7pm, 8-16yrs:7-8pm. Adv. Juniors, Seniors 17+ (Inc. beginners) : 8-9.30pm 

FIRST LESSON FREE. Then 5-12yrs- £2.50. 13-16yrs -£1.00. Seniors- £3.00. 

Colin McCallum. 07905278857 or www.happidojomarhamjudoclub.btckco.uk 

Holme Hale Carpet Bowls Every Thursday 7-9pm, Holme Hale 

Community Hall. No experience or equipment needed. £2 

Iceni Stitchers Ladies group meeting on 3rd Thursday of the month at 

Swaffham Community Centre, 1.30 - 4.30pm. Kate Davies 01760 622254 

Kickboxing Club Juniors 5+ 5pm – 6pm, Inters 6-7pm, Adults 7pm – 

8.30pm Plowright Place. Call Trevor on 07585707196 

Free Lipreading Classes for people with an acquired hearing loss. 

Thursday’s at 10 am to noon in the Catholic Church Rooms, 31 Station 

Road, Swaffham. Contact Hayley at lipreadingwithhayley@gmail.com 

RAF Marham Food and Craft Market 1st Thursday 12am to 5 pm. 

Sandringham Centre Upper Marham PE33 9NP (Behind Spar) 07766 078123 

Royal British Legion, Swaffham & District Branch 8pm, 3rd 

Thursday Swaffham Conservative Club .Tel: Cllr. Anne Thorp – 01760 722611 

Swaffham Lioness Club First Thurs of every month, 7.30pm in Our 

Lady of Pity Catholic Church rooms, Station St., Swaffham. Enjoy friendship 

whilst serving the community. All ladies welcome. Tel: 01760 723377 

Pilates 3 – 4pm, Swaffham Community Centre. Call Di Graham – 01328 

851970 – before your first session. 

Swaffham Rugby Football Club Seniors 17+ training 7:30-9, social after 

Salsa 7-9pm Swaffham Assembly Rooms. 07912366661 

Senior Snooker (60 years +) @ The Norfolk Snooker Academy, West Acre 

£4 per session Facebook - NORFOLK SNOOKER ACADEMY 01760 755337 

Swaffham Sparklers Swaffham branch of the Red Hat Society meets 2nd 

Thurs of the month, 7 pm, The George Hotel,: Jill Neale 01760 723466

U3A The Wissey U3A 1st Thursday of the month at Holme Hale 

Pavilion, 09.45 - 12 noon. Annual Memb. £10. Contact 01760 721247 for 

more details 

Weight Watchers 10:30 Swaffham Community Centre. 

01760721882 

Women Who Write Welcome new and experienced writers to their 

weekly sessions on a Thursday afternoon in Swaffham. For further details 

please email : womenwhowrite2015@yahoo.co.uk 

Young Explorers 1.30 - 3pm at Swaffham Children Centre. 01760 

721101 

Youthie Plus 5:30 – 7pm, Swaffham Community Centre. For ages 11 

– 14. Free entry. Contact sally@iceni.info 07772 852284 / 01760 722800 

West Acre Carpet Bowls Club See Tuesday listing 

Zumba With Kristina, 12– 1pm, Swaffham Community Centre, £4 

FRIDAY 

2nd Swaffham Guides Term time only, 18:00-20:00. Church 

Rooms, Campingland. Girls aged 10-16yrs invited to join. Contact 

07769294414 

Acoholics Anonymous Every Friday at 1pm in Parish Rooms at St 

Dominic’s RC Church,Howdale Rd, Downham Market 

Adult Ballet For Beginners 6:15pm See Monday’s Senior’s Keep Fit 

Adult Tap 7:15pm See Monday’s Senior’s Keep Fit 

Arts Lounge Drawing/sketching classes 10.00-1pm and 1.30- 

4.30pm. All equipment and refreshments supplied. £20.00 ppps 

01760 723 624 

Art, Printing and Paper Craft Session at The Old Art Room 

93 Market Place. Techniques, Tips, Inspiration and printing presses in a modern 

equipped Art &Textile Studio. 10am until 12.30 £10 Tel.01760 337181 

Bingo at Narborough Community Centre Doors 6.30pm, 

eyes-down 7.45pm Contact Mrs Hennessy 01760 337540 

Swaffham Bellringers Practice 

St. Peter & St. Paul Church, 7:30pm on the Friday preceding the 2nd Sunday of 

the month. Beginners welcome. Tel: 01760 724944/lindaringer0447@gmail.com 

Bounce & Rhyme & Stories 10.15 - 11am at Swaffham Library 

Swaffham Carpet Bowls Community Centre. 2 hours from 6.30 for 

£2. Tea & biscuits inc. 01760 627 038 

Country Music Last Friday of each month at the communal lounge 

at Valentine Barker Court, 7.30 to 22.30. Families and friends, free raffle & 

donations for Wish Upon a Star children’s cancer charity. 0370 192 4797 

Henchmans Home Ed Board Games 10-1pm, After School Magic 

13-18yrs 4-7pm. Magic 7-11pm. www.henchmans.com 

Iceni Lunch Club Swaffham Community Centre, £6.00 for two 

courses and tea/coffee every Friday 12.30pm. 01760 722 800 

Indoor Market Swaffham Assembly Rooms 9am-2pm, free entry. 

Refreshments, various stalls… bookings contact Haydn 07957 862 239 

Judo Sacred Heart School 6-7:30pm £2.50 5 years+ Tel. 07920440235 

Rise and shine Parent/toddler group at The Oasis Centre, Cley Road 

10am – noon. £1.50 per adult/child, 50p for any extra persons, includes a drink + snack 

Swaffham Senior Section Term time only. 19:30- 21:00. For young women 

aged 14 to 25yrs. Contact Tracey Clements 07770236689 or Chrissie Brown 07970105771 

Tai Chi for Health 10am all levels welcome. Swaffham Community 

Centre. Tel: 01760 723102 or barbara.smith58@yahoo.co.uk 

Yoga 10.30 - 12 Green Britain Centre, Swaffham. £7 per class. Contact Jayne 

on: 07544974342 or email: greenwillowyoga@outlook.com to book a place. 

SATURDAY 

Art Class for over 12s ...and accompanied Children who want to use 

the sewing machine. The Old Art Room 93 Market Place. 2nd Saturday of 

the month.10 until 1pm £10 Tel.01760 337181 

Arts Lounge Silver Workshops 9:30-3:30 October 22nd & December 

10th. All equipment, silver and refreshments inc 01760 723 624 

Swaffham Bingo Club Community Centre last Sat in month, 7pm for 

7:30pm start. £2.50 annual membership, 50p for visitors. Paul Darby 07880 568628 

Children’s Art Club 1st Saturday of the Month. 10am until 12.15 

£10 All Equipment, Snack and Drink provided Tel. 01760 337181 

Family Fun Sessions Last Saturday monthly Children’s Centre. 

Fun and crafts. Booking essential. 01760721101 

Henchmans Magic League 10-1pm. Family Board Games 1st&3rd/ 

month 12-4pm inc Learn To Play. Paint Miniatures 2nd&4th/month 12-4pm 

Pentney Country Music Club www.pentneycowlsclub.co.uk 

weekly 01760 337 392 karenpentneycountryclub12@yahoo.co.uk 

Pokemon; Yu-Gi-Oh! Magic: The Gathering for beginners alternate 

Sat. www.henchmans.com. Children welcome. 10.30am – 2pm 

Swaffham Market Traditional market, now 800 years old! Every 

Saturday 6am until 3pm. Swaffham Market Place. Details 01760 722 922 

Swaffham Rugby Football Club SwaffhamRUFC@outlook.com 

West Norfolk Crafters & Needleworkers Stitchers, crafters 

and knitters who meet at Leziate Village Hall on the 2nd Sat. 01760 720767 

SUNDAY 

Kuk Sool Won Narborough Com. Centre 5.30 - 6.30pm. 07541261713 

Pentney Indoor Bowls Club bowls coaching for beginners and 

improvers Sundays 10am - 12noon. G Freezer 01760 722262 

Star Wars @ Henchmans 12-4pm www.henchmans.com 

Swaffham Rugby Football Club Minis 10:30-12. Games see Saturday 

Snooker @ The Norfolk Snooker Academy West Acre 

3 hours play £9. Facebook - Norfolk Snooker Academy 01760-755337 

Spiritual Awareness Group Most Sundays 5:15pm to 6:30pm for 

Healing and 6:30pm to 8:30pm Service at Swaffham Community Centre 

Swaffham Junior Academy 

New Year 3’s 

We welcomed the new Year 3’s at the beginning of 

September and all have settled in really well. 

“I started in Year 3 in September. I felt really happy 

and excited to be here. The lessons are fun and very 

interesting and I enjoy learning new things. The staff 

at the Junior Academy are kind and helpful all the 

time. The lunches are very well organised in the hall. 

I’m looking forward to the rest of the year because it 

is interesting.” 

Xanthe Stibbon 

Roald Dahl Day 

“On the 13th September, Swaffham Junior Academy 

celebrated Roald Dahl’s birthday. If he had been alive 

today he would have been 100 years old! The whole 

school, including the adults, dressed up as characters 

from his books.” 

Charlie Garrod 

Year 6 

“I really enjoyed Roald Dahl day because in 

the classroom we got to make marvellous 

medicine just like in George’s Marvellous 

Medicine. This day was a very exciting 

day because we were able to dress up as 

characters from his books.” 

Hayden Baber 

Year 6 

6

The Nicholas Hamond Academy 

Students and staff at The Nicholas Hamond Academy 

in Swaffham are celebrating the achievement of 

the Sainsbury’s Schools Games Silver Award. This 

recognises continued commitment to sport and 

celebrates the dedication of the large number 

of students participating in extracurricular club 

events setting a new benchmark at the Academy. 

Many students have also engaged in activities with 

other local schools enabling them to sharpen their 

leadership skills. 

Swaffham Twinning Association 

BREXIT or REMAIN. Either way the Swaffham 

Twinning Association remained true to its aims of 

promoting friendship with our European neighbours 

on the 23rd September, when all three towns met 

together for our penultimate weekend prior to our 

fifty year celebrations in 2018 in Couhé France. The 

towns of Swaffham, Couhé and Hemmoor were 

well represented and about 80 guests attended 

the official receptions and organised events which 

included Gressinghall, Lynford Hall and the Green 

Britain Centre. Alongside the official occasions were 

many trips and social evenings given by the English 

hosts. Entertainment was provided by the delighul 

“Red Shoes” and the “Novinka Folskaband” who had 

all nationalities singing, dancing and cheering for the 

whole evening which was voted the “best ever” by 

all. Whatever happens, the UK will remain closely 

tied to Europe and Twinning is a wonderful way to 

show friendship with European people. 

The Academy have their sights firmly set on 

gold next year! 

Rainbow Community Choir 

www.rainbowcommunitychoir.org.uk 

Well ~ we sung in Swaffham for World Peace Day with 

choirs from around Norfolk and made a whopping 

£250 plus for Free the Children, a charity that 

educates and empowers young people on a global 

scale. If you came, thank you for making this such a 

successful evening. It was great fun and the church 

has such fantastic acoustics. 

Our next outing is our Christmas concert on 

Wednesday, 14 December in the Swaffham Parish 

Church at 7.30pm when we share the stage with 

the Big Heart and Soul Choir. Tickets are £8 (£6 for 

concessions) and will be available on the door and 

you should really come. We’ll be singing folk music 

from around the world with its wonderful rhythms 

and sounds including a favourite of mine ~ Amazing 

Grace. 

Come and speak to us to find out more about our 

choir ~ we’ve already welcomed two new members 

this term and there’s always room for more. 

We meet weekly (term time) at Swaffham Community 

Centre and more information is on our website. Visit 

our Facebook page, you can contact: 

Alan : 01760 724308 

Anthea : 01760 336313 

7 

Don’t forget to come along to our Christmas 

Celebration on December 3rd, 7:30pm at the 

Swaffham Assembly Rooms. Go on-line to 

http://swaffhamtwinningassociation.weebly.com 

or contact Bryan Farmer tel: 01760 723397 to 

find out more. 

Rocks Don’t Cry 

Swaffham author and poet Cyril Holbrook has a new 

novel out which tells of dramatic upheaval in an East 

Anglian town. It is set in the days immediately after 

WW2 and concerns what happens when the Alderman 

– who owns most of the land in the district and chairs 

the local council – does not get his way for once. 

Cyril was born a Fenman but has lived in Norfolk 

much of his life. He worked on several newspapers, 

including the EDP and Peterborough Evening 

Telegraph. He was production editor of Angling Times 

and went to edit a variety of magazines, some while 

he lived in Spain with his wife and son. On retiring, 

he has lived in Swaffham for the past 10 years. 

From Ceres bookshop “Rocks Don’t Cry” will open the 

eyes of those born long after those post war years, and 

stir the memory of their grandparents.

Singer Martyn Joseph 

Award-winning acoustic guitarist and singersongwriter 

Martyn Joseph checks in at Swaffham 

Assembly House on Saturday 5th November, as part 

of his extensive winter UK tour. 

A powerful singer and songwriter gifted with the rare 

ability to speak to the soul with his expressive and 

poignant lyrics, Martyn’s been compared to Bruce 

Springsteen but has carved his own style and reputation 

as a mesmerising live performer. A unique talent driven 

by passion, social awareness and love for his trade, his 

music empowers and speaks for the many. 

His song “There’s Always Maybe” won the best folk 

song category in the 2012 World Independent Music 

Awards. Social justice is ever-present throughout his 

music, which has been recognised with numerous 

humanitarian awards and plaudits. His latest album 

‘Sanctuary’ has just been released to popular and 

critical acclaim. 

Martyn delivers challenging narratives, tackling the 

complexity of the human condition but underpinned with 

a promise of hope. BBC Radio 2’s Bob Harris observed 

that “Martyn is one of our most intelligent writers. He 

gets better and better like the finest of wines.” 

He has won the love of audiences across the 

USA, Canada and Europe and toured with Art 

Garfunkel, Jools Holland, Suzanne Vega, Mike and 

The Mechanics and Joan Armatrading. A raconteur 

weaving tales on topical concerns, he tells stories of 

the fragility of love, with a magical ability to reach 

out to his listeners through his passion and humour. 

2014 saw Martyn launch his ‘Let Yourself Trust’, a 

not-for-profit organisation which aims to challenge 

injustice, educating via advocacy, campaigning for 

human rights and raising issues otherwise ignored. 

Reviewers have singled him out as an 

unmissable solo performer whose music stays 

with you long after the show has ended. A 

unique talent, driven by passion and love for his 

trade, Martyn continues to write, sing and play 

from the heart. It’s a road he’s been travelling 

for most of his life and, as he often tells his 

audience, ‘you keep turning up and so will I.’ 

Tickets are £16 from Ceres Bookshop in Swaffham 

tel: 01760 722504 and on-line at bit.ly/2atbUNM 

Swaffham Carpet Bowls 

Carpet bowls is easy to play but difficult to master! 

All are welcome to join us at Swaffham Community 

Centre on a Tuesday afternoon from 1:30pm and on 

a Friday evening from 6:30pm for just £2 for 2 hours 

including tea and coffee. 

Call 01760 722 800 for further details. 

8 

100 Years Of Lions 

Swaffham Lions plans to celebrate one hundred 

years of Lions International are beginning to 

be finalised. It all started with Melvin Jones, 

who joined the Business Circle, a businessmen's 

luncheon group and was shortly elected secretary. 

This group was one of many at that time devoted 

solely to promoting the financial interests of their 

membership. Because of their limited appeal 

they were destined to disappear. Melvin Jones, 

then a 38-year-old Chicago business leader, had 

other plans. “What if these men," Melvin Jones 

asked, "who are successful because of their drive, 

intelligence and ambition, were to put their 

talents to work improving their communities?" 

Thus, at his invitation, delegates from men's clubs 

met in Chicago to lay the groundwork for such 

an organization and on June 7, 1917, Lions Clubs 

International was born. 

Lions international now have 1.4m members 

spread over 208 countries with 46,620 clubs 

and focus on humanitarian efforts. Working 

together when a disaster occurs, LCIF, local 

Lions and Lions leaders assess the urgent 

needs and quickly deliver the aid most 

required by victims. This grassroots model 

has proven effective in tragedies around the 

world, such as the Southeast Asia tsunami, 

September 11th and the Haiti earthquake. 

Lions know that disaster can affect anyone’s 

community, whether it’s halfway around 

the world or right here at home. That’s 

why in the last 10 years, LCIF has provided 

more than US$100 million for disaster relief 

programs worldwide. 

Swaffham Lions, with the support of Swaffham 

Town Council, are holding a Civic Reception to 

launch the one hundred year celebration. This 

will be followed throughout the year with a 

programme of events that highlight the work 

that they do in the community, these will 

include Diabetes awareness, Sight, disaster 

relieve and a peace poster competition for 

school pupils. The year will close with a thanks 

giving inter denominational service.

Swaffham Rugby Club 

FIREWORKS NIGHT!!!! 

SUNDAY 6 th NOVEMBER 2016 

Gates open 5pm 

FIREWORKS 7PM 

BBQ/REFRESHMENTS/BAR 

SIDE STALLS & KIDS STANDS 

Ticket Costs: 

Adults £5.00 

OAPs/Children: £3.00(5-16yrs) 

Children under 5 FREE!! 

Family ticket inc. 2 x adults, 3 x children £10.00, (saving of £9.00) 

SWAFFHAM RUFC 

North Pickenham Road 

PE37 7QX 

www.pitchero.com/clubs/swaffham 

Tickets on sale at: 

Swaffham Rugby Club 

Thursday Nights 6:30-8pm 

Sunday Mornings 9:30pm-12pm 

9

Age Concern Launch Services 

On Monday 10 October 2016, Age Concern Swaffham 

and District launched their new five-year Big Lottery 

funded project to be known as: Swaffham Support 

Services Befriending And Hospital Buddies. 

Swaffham Support Services (SSS) incorporates the 

already popular Befriending Service, and the new 

Hospital Buddy Service. It provides support and a car 

transportation service for older people who live in 

social and/or geographical isolation, or do not have 

family or friends to accompany them to and from a 

hospital or clinic appointment. 

Demand is expected to be high and therefore referral 

will be only via a GP, Hospital, or Allied Healthcare 

professionals in the first instance. The new Service 

was introduced to these Health organisations at the 

beginning of October. 

The SSS office is open on Mondays, Wednesdays and 

Fridays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Community Centre, 

The Campingland, Swaffham (opposite the Surgery). 

Please phone there for general enquiries, 07393 981 295. 

For Befriending Tel: Barbara Lock, Befriending 

Service Coordinator on 07412 775574. 

For Hospital Buddy Service Tel: Clair Ensom, Hospital 

Buddy Service Coordinator on 07393 981 290. 

Please also see the advert in this edition for volunteers 

to assist in providing both services. Hospital Buddies 

need to be car drivers 

Swaffham Arts 

Barry Tyler’s Dixieland Jazz Band got us off to a 

cracking start in September. Old troupers that they 

are, they had already played at a birthday party in the 

afternoon, yet during the evening they just seemed 

to get better and better! Perhaps that is where an 

enthusiastic audience plays its part! 

We shall be hosting jazz of a different era on Saturday 

November26th at 7.30pm in the Assembly Rooms, when 

“Close Harmony”, a group of seven voices accompanied 

by Jill Dobbs on keyboard and Ivars Galenieks on double 

bass, will bring us old favourites from the Swing Era of 

the 30’s and 40’s sung in close harmony, and including 

some Christmas music. It promises to be a polished 

performance of well-loved music. 

Tickets are available from our usual box offices, 

Ceres Bookshop and The Green Parrot, priced at £9 

members and £12 non-members, and on the door 

On Sunday 11th December 2016, 3pm at Swaffham 

Community Centre ‘Seasonal Miscellany’. Please come 

along for an informal celebration of poetry, stories, music 

and memories of Christmas’ past. All welcome. Seasonal 

refreshments available. Enquiries: 01366 328648. 

10 

All Change At Home Hospice 

In her long career as Co-ordinator of Swaffham and 

Litcham Home Hospice Support, Debbie Hanwell has 

supported so many people with her kindness and 

unfailing care. She has built the Home Hospice to 

what is today; a well-used and respected part of our 

community. Consequently, I know many of you with 

connections to the Home Hospice, will be sad to hear 

that Debbie has now retired, but I hope you will join us 

in wishing her well. I am pleased to be able to share a 

few words of thanks from Debbie following her farewell: 

“I would like to express my appreciation and thanks 

for all the wonderful cards, messages and gifts I 

received on my retirement from the Home Hospice. 

I have been overwhelmed and humbled by all the 

lovely words and warm wishes during my recent 

ill health and on my early retirement. I have felt so 

privileged to be the co-ordinator of the Home Hospice 

for the last 16 years; it has been quite a wrench to 

leave a job I loved. I have met so many special people 

during that time and I will take away some wonderful 

memories of all the people I have worked with and 

supported. However, I am now taking some time out 

for myself and family to relax and hopefully get back 

to full health. I am very pleased to handover to my 

colleague Wendy Martin who has taken over the 

helm and I am confident that the Home Hospice will 

continue to thrive under her leadership. I wish her 

and all the team every success in the years ahead. 

This organisation will always be close to my heart 

and will continue to get my support albeit from a 

back seat now. 

With grateful thanks, Debbie Hanwell.” 

I am very proud and privileged to take over from 

Debbie to continue to provide the care for those 

needing our support. Working alongside a committed 

team of staff and volunteers we will continue to keep 

this vital service delivering practical and emotional 

support to patients and their family, during very 

difficult times, when serious illness touches their lives. 

Wendy Martin 

Co-ordinator 

Swaffham and Litcham Home Hospice Support

Swaffham History Group 

An old photograph of a familiar Swaffham landmark 

has been discovered by a member of the group, 

showing the Greyhound Inn. The date is unknown 

but seems to be well before the turn of the 19th 

century and is the first we know which does not 

show the building’s name on the facade. Despite 

all the research which the group undertook for our 

series of 14 booklets on the old pubs in the town, 

this one never materialised! If anyone can shed any 

more light on this we would love to hear from you. 

All the booklets mentioned are still available, on sale 

at the museum. There will shortly be another booklet 

available (hopefully in time for Christmas). It is a 

companion volume to the “Crime and Punishment” 

book recently published - this time on ‘Fires in Swaffham’ 

from the 1700s and includes a full report of the great fire 

of Swaffham in 1775 as well as the history of how fires 

have been tackled during the centuries. Again member 

Barry Ellis has been able to discover some fascinating 

original newspaper stories from the tune. 

Our next meeting is on Monday 14th November 

and we would welcome a few new members who 

are interested in the history of Swaffham and would 

be willing to help in various research topics being 

undertaken, some in conjunction with the museum. 

For further details please contact: 

littlebethany2@yahoo.com 

Iceni Youth Clubs 

Youthie: Year 4 to 7 Mondays 5:30pm – 7:00pm 

(Term time only) 

Youth Voice: Wednesdays 6:30pm – 8:00pm 2nd and 

4th Wednesdays of each 

Youthie Plus: Year 7 and 8 Thursdays - 5:30pm – 6:45pm 

Iceni Youth Hub: Year 9 and above Thursdays - 

7:15pm – 8:45pm 

Staff are happy to give information, guidance and 

advice, call Sally for further details on: 07772 852 284 

https://www.facebook.com/groups/iceniyoungpeople 

Merle Boddy Centre 

The Swaffham and District Mental health Association 

which is the company name of the Merle Boddy 

Day Centre will be holding its AGM on Thursday 3rd 

November at 7pm in the Day Centre. We extend a 

warm welcome to Swaffham residents, and hope 

you will come and give us your support as we reflect 

on a very busy year. 

Demand for our service is at an all time high, 

which has of course caused a fair amount of 

wear and tear on the building, so we are going 

to refurbish the toilet block, the corridor to it , 

and update our fire systems as part of a Health 

and Safety review. 

On Friday October 21st there will be a quiz night 

at the Peddars Inn, 70 The Street, Sporle PE32 

2DR - 7.30 pm start - teams up to 6 people, so 

please come and support this event - all funds 

raised go to Merle Boddy. 

The magic ingredient that sets Merle Boddy 

apart is the commitment of our wonderful staff 

who go above and beyond when it comes to the 

dedicated care of our service users, and play a 

very large part in maintaining an independent 

lifestyle for much longer than often projected. 

If you would like to help in any way - from helping 

out at the Day Centre, delivering leaflets or 

maybe even applying to be a Trustee then please 

do come and see us - at the AGM or just pop into 

the Centre between 9 and 3pm Monday to Friday. 

We would like to send my enormous thanks to all the 

parishioners of Swaffham Baptist Church for their 

very generous gift of the Harvest Festival goods. 

We are now stocked up with tea, coffee, hot 

chocolate, biscuits and an array of goodies for all our 

clients to enjoy. 

This wonderful gift which we have been very lucky 

to be given for many years is always a great joy to 

receive. 

Sue Biggar - Trustee 

11

Methodist Church 

Friday 4th November 9.30am - 10am 

The Power of Prayer. All welcome. 

Sunday 6th November 10.45am - 11.45am 

Morning Worship followed by refreshments. All welcome. 

Thursday 10th November 2.30pm -4pm 

Thursday Group school- room, ‘The Silent Killer’ a 

talk about carbon monoxide poisoning by Mr Ray 

Ewart. Refreshments served. 







Saturday 19th November 9.30am - 12noon 

Coffee Morning in aid of church funds. 

Cooked breakfast available also home made cakes. 

Saturday 19th November 9.30am- 12noon 

Christmas Fayre in aid of church funds. 


Morning Worship followed by refreshments. 

Thursday 24th November 2.30pm - 4pm 

Thursday Group, School-room, talk by Mr Malcolm 

Reddington, husband of Rev. Eleanor Reddington. 

Refreshments served. 


Power of Prayer. All welcome. 



Dear friends, 

Some years ago a friend told us the story of how, when 

she was at university, she was caught in a downpour, 

and a fellow student with a car happened to be passing 

and offered her a lift. As our friend settled herself into 

the passenger seat the driver said “I do find all this 

trying to help others very demanding and exhausting”! 

You can imagine how our friend felt! 

Whilst we may smile at the story, it does raise the 

question of how we feel when we do someone else 

a good turn: sometimes we may do it grudgingly, and 

others we’re very pleased to help. 

It also raises a different question, what do we mean 

by generosity? This past couple of months we’ve been 

celebrating harvest festivals, and our churches and 

schools have collected gifts to be given to the foodbank 

– that’s one form of generosity. Then there are the gifts 

we put in a collecting tin, the donations to charity shops, 

the shoebox appeal, and our response to appeals for 

money by charities and other good causes. All of these 

donations are another form of generosity. 

12 

However, whilst it’s important for us to help others, all of 

these ways actually leave me asking the question “How 

much does it really cost us?” I know we buy the gifts for 

foodbank or for shoeboxes, and I know that charity shop 

donations are gifts of things we have bought originally – 

all of which have cost us money. But – once we’ve given 

that gift we tend to forget all about it. 

There is another form of generosity which, for me, has 

a different kind of cost – that of time. I know that time 

is precious, and most of us complain we haven’t got 

enough time to do whatever we want. Isn’t that part of 

the problem, though. We are looking at what we want 

to do, and that stops us spending precious time with 

others, or giving our time, for example, in volunteering. 

It’s those little acts of kindness, those precious minutes 

spent with someone else which actually mean far 

more, and give us a greater sense of satisfaction - and 

are remembered long after we’ve forgotten about that 

money we donated to a good cause, or the clothes we 

gave to a charity shop. 

Time is precious, but the challenge for us today is 

how can we spend some of our precious time with, 

and for, others? 

Eleanor 

Church of St Peter and St Paul 

The November Services in the Swaffham parish 

church will be as follows:- 

Wednesday 2nd 10.00am Holy Communion 

Sunday 6th 8.00am Holy Communion 

9.30am Sung Eucharist 

3.30pm Service of Commemoration 

of All Souls 

Wednesday 9th 10.00am Holy Communion 

Thursday 10th 7.00pm Festival of Remembrance 

Friday 11th 10.55am The 2 Minutes Silence 

Armistice Day 

at the War Memorial 


Remembrance 10.45am The Act of Remembrance 

Sunday 

beginning at the town 

War Memorial, moving 

to the parish church 

Wednesday 16th 10.00am Holy Communion 


9.30am Sung Eucharist 

Wednesday 23rd 10.00am Holy Communion 


Advent Sunday 10.00am Advent Sung Eucharist 

(a united service with the Sporle congregation) 

6.00pm Advent Carol service 

Wednesday 30th 10.00am Holy Communion

Swaffham Counselling and Psychotherapy 

Barbara O'Hanlon is now working from her private 

practice in Swaffham. For more information or an 

initial consultation contact Barbara on: 

07516 917171 

Email barbarann688@gmail.com 

www.swaffhamtherapy.co.uk 

INTERFIT 

For all your 

Plumbing 

Carpentry and 

Tiling requirements 

Bathrooms and Kitchens fitted 

contact John on 

01760 724817 or mobile 07977 235929 

Andrew Francis Funeral Service 

Swaffham and District 

Independant Family Funeral Directors 

01760 720200 (24 hours) 

afrancisfunerals.co.uk 

Pre-paid and pre-arranged Funeral Plans available 

The Old Post OfÞce, Market Place, Swaffham, PE37 7LA 

EAST ANGLIA’S PREMIER GROUNDS CARE EQUIPMENT RETAILER 


At our last session we welcomed back vocalist Tom 

Melvin who was a regular guest when the club first 

started. Guitarist Ed Taylor sat in with the band and 

gave us not only some stunning improvisations on 

electric guitar, but also played two beautiful solo 

pieces on his Spanish guitar. Ed will be rejoining us 

in February. 

Our next two events are Tuesday 8th November at 

7.30pm with Colin Mason Quartet with Eleanora 

on vocals and keyboard and then Tuesday 13th 

December at 7.30pm with 'Four 4 Jazz' - plus 2! Both 

are at Swaffham Conservative Social Club, 23 London 

Rd PE37 7DD and entry is £5. 

More information from bargeoff@yahoo.com 

or telephone Norman on 01760 722384 

13 

Toys, clothing & merchandise available now 

Visit our showroom for an 

excellent selection of garden tools 

including chainsaws, blowers, 

hedge trimmers & shredders 

Dereham Road, Beeston (nr Dereham) PE32 2LE 

01328 701347 | www.benburgess.co.uk 

Your local country hardware & garden store 

Open 8am - 6pm Monday - Friday & 8am - 12pm Saturday

CHRISTMAS LIGHTS EVENT 

& VICTORIAN CHRISTMAS MARKET 

Classic Car Meet 

On Sunday 2nd October, the Swaffham Trade Association 

invited owners of classic cars to have a "Meet" on the 

Market Place car park. The weather was predicted to 

be blue skies, but we all woke up to rain that morning. 

Undeterred, by 1030 the sun was out, and the classic cars 

started to arrive not 1, not 5 but 26 of them including 

some wonderful examples of a Rolls Royce, Bentley, 

Austin A30, Morgans, MG, Rover, Cortina, The General 

Lee, Mustang, to name a few. Plenty of people came to 

admire the cars and chat to the owners, but even though 

it was just for a few hours it was a great day. 

FRIDAY 25 TH NOVEMBER 2-8PM 

MARKET PLACE, SWAFFHAM 

See Santa and his real reindeer, 

bright new Christmas Lights, 

music by Fakenham Town Band, Oasis Church singers, 

Thursford Steam Organ, craft/gift & catering stalls, 

funfair rides for small children and so much more. 

Come along and join in the fun. 

Joint event by Swaffham Trade Association 

& Swaffham Town Council 

The Peddars Inn 

70 The Street, 

Sporle PE32 2DR 

01760 788 101 

Open for lunches, dinners & Sunday Roast 

in our conservatory and dining room. 

Visit our website to see our menus: 

www.thepeddarsinn.com 

A big thank you to everyone who donated towards the 

Christmas Lights during the event, to our volunteers, 

and also to Mike and Eddie for the entertainment. 

We hope to have another Classic Car Meet in the 

near future, and if you would like to participate 

please ring 01760 723624 or leave your details in 

Arts Lounge Gallery. 

Swaffham 

Branch 

01760 

725801 

http://www.family-action.org.uk 

building better families 

email: info@thepeddarsinn.com 

facebook.com/thepeddarsinn 

Family (& dog) friendly Welcoming free wi-fi log welcoming fire Locally open sourced log fire 

food 

Events in November: 

Friday 11th April - 8.30pm - Live Music 

‘Vicky’ discount singing of 10% on food 60’s for to this the evening) current From 8pm day 

Friday 18th 7.30pm April start - teams - 7.30pm up to 6 people. - Quiz Night 

Raising funds for The Benjamin Foundation 

Friday Every Thursday 25th - April Steak Night - 7.30pm - £9.95 steak, - Disco chips, peas & Barbecue 

& onion rings 

Christmas party bookings now being taken!! £16.95 for 2 course, 

60’s, Motown, Soul 

Saturday 11th November - War time tribute evening With Claire Jemima - music, 

food and raffle - raising funds for British Legion - (British Legion and armed forces 

Friday 18th November - Quiz Night raising funds for ‘Macmillan Cancer Support’ - 

Sunday 20th November -‘Four 4 Jazz’ Trad jazz from 3-5pm. Sunday lunch from midday - 3pm 

Friday 25th November - Bingo Evening - Eyes Down 7.30pm. For ‘Excel Appeal’ @ QE Hospital 

Every Wednesday in November - Pie Day: Pie, with chips or mash, peas - £7.95 

£19.95 for 3 course meal - free bottle of wine for every 6 people booked 

14

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16

Sporle Afternoon WI 

What an interesting talk we had 

at our September meeting. Our 

speaker, an ex coroners officer, told of the 

precious metal “torks “ and other items found in 

the fields of East Anglia in the l980s & 90’s and 

some even more recently. The values in some 

cases very exciting and how the most expensive 

find ran into millions and had armed guards to 

transport it from the courts to the museum. A very 

informative afternoon, perhaps we should be out 

with our metal detectors instead of taking tea!!! 

The afternoon continued with much info as this is 

a busy time of the WI year. Outings for the coming 

season, committee members to be nominated and 

there seemed a lot of business from the federation 

this month. The raffle and then an amusing poem 

from Pam Ayres to send us on our way. 

The Pickenhams’ WI 

October Meeting of “The 

Pickenhams“ WI on 11th October at 

the North Pickenham Church. The Meeting was 

opened with The Alberto Creed. 

Matters Arising- Joan Baker reported making 

a massive £256 from her coffee morning 

for our institute funds. Well done Joan and 

thanks to all the people who supported her 

and went along. 

Cinema Club- 10 members went to see the hilarious 

film Bridget Jones at Dereham. 

Speaker- Mr Ken Jeffery gave us an interesting 

insight into a Bus Drivers Life from the old 

style 1960s buses through to the modern 

computerised vehicles. He stressed there is no 

time to help people now because big brother is 

watching and they have a very tight schedule. 

What a kind helpful humorous man.We need 

more like him. 

Competition- A homemade Apple Pie or Cake 

1st our great baker . Felicity Dennis. 2nd Kay Tracy 

Future Events- 

Coffee and Chat 25th October 10.30. Community 

centre, Campinglands. 

Next months Meeting. --- AGM ,followed by a Film 

Show of our WI happenings over the last few years. 

Christmas Party Meeting ---13th December in the 

church followed by some seasonal entertainment. 

Carol service at West Tofts church in the battle area 

on 11th December. 

Please come and have a taster contact---- Melanie 

Cousins Tele. 01760 440456. 

17 

Swaffham Evening WI 

Swaffham Evening WI coach trip 

to Springfields shopping outlet on 

Thursday 24th November. 

Coach will depart Swaffham at 9.15am & return at 

approximately 5.30 - 6pm. 

There will be plenty of time for shopping and lunch 

at Springfields plus a visit to the Baytree Garden 

Centre on the return journey. 

Price: £10 

For details please ring Sandra Robinson on 01760 725956. 

Beachamwell WI 

Looking for something different for 

someone special this Christmas? 

Don’t miss Beachamwell WI’s Christmas Fair on 

Saturday 26 November. Open from 12 noon until 

3pm in the village hall, this is an opportunity to 

buy homemade cakes and preserves, plus a range 

of handmade gifts and decorations. You can also 

treat yourself to a lunch of soup and savouries and 

a mince pie … or just enjoy a cup of tea or coffee 

and a delicious slice of cake. Beachamwell WI 

members look forward to welcoming you to this 

seasonal event! 

Aviva Community Fund 

Iceni Partnership has applied to the Aviva 

Community fund to help alleviate rural and social 

isolation for those in the ‘post working age’ 

stage of life, but we need your vote. The project 

will provide free transport and room hire on 50 

Fridays a year for an initial project life of three 

years. The Breckland area of Norfolk has twice 

the national average of people over the age of 

60 years. The room would be available from 

12:15pm on a Friday and the guests will leave 

Swaffham Community Centre at 3:30pm. They 

will be provided with entertainment and activities 

such as Bingo, talks from local museums, cinema 

showing films unavailable elsewhere in a public 

setting, small concerts from local artists wanting 

experience, Quizzes etc. There would also be the 

opportunity for guests to have a set priced meal 

at the centre too. 

Please visit: https://community-fund.aviva.co.uk/ 

voting/project/view/16-914 and vote for your 

community. 

This project will help improve the lives of those 

no longer working and bring people together, 

sharing new experiences and fond memories.

Swaffham & District Lions 

Following a highly successful 

evening with Jeffery Holland with 

his one man show, Swaffham Lions 

were able to hand over a cheque 

to EACH for £1039. Emma Taylor the Community 

Fundraiser (Norfolk) for EACH, said that they really 

appreciated the support that the Lions give to the 

charity, she went on to say they aim to raise more 

than £6 million from public donations to deliver their 

services this year. We really could not do it without 

the kindness and generosity of people and groups 

like the Lions. 

Now having an understanding of the issues Paul will 

see what council can do to ease these problems. 

The guide dogs were a great success with the public 

who came across to talk and pet them. The day 

proved a great success with raising the issues of sight 

and the work that Lions do in this field. 

For the third year running Swaffham Lions held 

their Sight Awareness Day as part of the Lions 

International Sight Week and National Guide Dogs 

for the Blind Week. Setting up in Swaffham Market 

Place with information about issues that confront 

blind and partially sighted people, secondly to talk on 

preventable eye disease and what Lions Clubs locally 

and internationally do about it. 

Swaffham Lions held their annual Trolley Dash at the 

Tesco store in Swaffham. This year the proceeds were 

for East Anglia Air Ambulance. The winning Trolley 

Dash ticket was purchased by Margaret Daniels, a 

pensioner from King’s Lynn, who has had two knee 

replacements. Margaret was over the moon and 

excited at the thought of doing the Dash. Following 

an inspection of the aisles, to see which goods she 

would like, she set off on her 90 second dash, aided 

by two Lions, and filled the trolley to the tune of £118. 

Tesco discounted the total and presented Margaret 

with a bouquet of flowers. The event raised £565 for 

the Air Ambulance. 

Swaffham & District Lions 

To highlight the problems of blind and partially 

sighted people have walking around town, the Mayor 

of Swaffham, Paul Darby, agreed to walk around the 

town centre with a special blindfold fitted. With 

the aid of a guide Paul walked around the town, 

followed by three guide dogs with their owners. 

Following the one hour tour of the town, the major 

problems highlighted by the Mayor were advertising 

A frames on the pavement and parked cars with a 

large overhang which encroached on the path. Street 

bollards and café furniture also caused problems. 

18 

Diabetes & Health Awareness 

Drop in Day 

With NHS Advisors 

3 rd November 9am-2pm 

Swaffham Assembly Rooms 

Come and talk to the Professionals 

No appointment required 

Free 

Further information 

Tony 01760 755357

01760 

721 230 

Museum opens 

Mon - Fri 10am until 4pm 

Sat 10am until 1pm 

£3 for adults. £2 Concessions. 

£1 child. Under 5s free. 

Family (2 + 2 ) £6 

He left Norfolk and England in 1891 for Egypt, never 

really to return to live until the end of his life (he died 

in 1939 in London) but would occasionally visit his 

family in Swaffham. 

Following the ITV drama Tutankhamun …. 

What DID Howard Carter have to do with Swaffham? 

His grandfather Samuel was born in Great Dunham. 

He moved to Swaffham to become gamekeeper at the 

Hamond Estate. All of his children were born in Swaffham 

and his wife Frances was born in Great Cressingham. 

One of his children was Samuel John - a well-known 

animal and portrait artist. He married Martha Joyce 

Sands, also born in Swaffham. Samuel John, as well as his 

father Samuel, his aunts Catherine and Fanny and brother 

William are buried in Swaffham church graveyard. 

Amongst their 11 or 12 children, some were born in 

Swaffham. Howard himself was born in London but 

was taken, Howard says “almost immediately to our 

house in Swaffham” because of poor health. Here 

he spent at least some if not most of his childhood. 

We don’t know where or how he was educated 

but because of health issues he was “unable to 

go through a regular school training.” Two of his 

brothers attended Hamond’s Grammar School as 

boarders around 1881. 

All of the children were taught by their father to draw 

and paint and several earned their living as artists. 

It was Howard’s brother William who painted the 

iconic portrait of Howard. 

When Howard needed to earn a living, age 15, he 

decided to follow in his father’s footsteps but become 

immersed in things Egyptian when he worked with 

his father at Didlington Hall near Ickburgh, the home 

of Lord and Lady Amherst who owned one of the 

biggest Egyptian collection in England at the time. 

When in 1917 Lady Amherst was asked if she knew 

of a good artist who could copy tomb paintings she 

immediately recommended Howard. 

19 

He never married and was a very private man. Was 

there a relationship between Howard and Lord 

Carnarvon’s daughter Evelyn? There is absolutely no 

evidence; neither tradition, hearsay, written or oral 

report. Evelyn, 21 when the tomb was discovered, 

was her sick father’s companion in the last years of 

his life. She married in 1923. 

Howard’s grandfather Samuel also had a son Robert, 

a carpenter. Robert married and the couple had a son 

Henry. This Henry also married and had a son called 

Henry Robert – known to us as Harry Carter who 

painted so many East Anglian village signs. Robert 

also had a daughter Amelia who married a Mr Ripper. 

One of their children was called Benjamin, the local 

historian, councillor, artist and barber Ben Ripper. 

Swaffham Museum is now 

trending on Facebook. 

Visit us there for up-to-date 

news and events 

Wanted – Fiction paperbacks in reasonable condition. 

Please deliver to Museum shop. Collection from your 

home may be arranged. 

Wanted – Volunteers for Stewarding at Swaffham 

Museum. Would you be interested in working at the 

Museum for 3hrs per week? For more information please 

contact Steve Gregory on 01760 721230 or 755596 

Swaffham Museum, Town Hall, London Street, 

Swaffham PE37 7DQ. Tel: 01760 721 230 

www.swaffhammuseum.co.uk

Swaffham Rotary Club 

President’s Corner 

On Monday 10th October Georgie Bell, 

manager of the Merle Boddy Centre 

talked to Rotary members and partners about 

dementia. Well, “talked to” doesn’t really do her 

presentation justice. In an informative, moving, and 

often hilarious, exercise in audience engagement 

Georgie led us to experience the confusions and 

anxieties that attend the development of dementia 

and to understand the vital importance of patience, 

and of simplicity and certainty, in helping people 

with dementia to interact with the world that seems 

to be distancing them. 

As a town with a high average-age population, 

Swaffham is extremely fortunate to have the Merle 

Boddy Centre. Occasional ‘dementia cafés’ have their 

role, but cannot compare with the Centre’s five days 

a week provision for up to fifteen dementia clients 

each day with company, controlled stimulation and 

an (excellent) hot meal. At the same time carers 

and partners gain much-needed respite from their 

responsibilities. 

As austerity bites harder and sources of public 

funding shrink, services such as these need more 

and more support from charitable and private giving. 

The Merle Boddy Centre is a model of well-managed, 

professional, caring concern of which Swaffham 

can be proud. Each year’s Rotary President has the 

opportunity to nominate a charity for particular 

support in her or his year. The Merle Boddy Centre 

is mine. 

The Colour Purple 

Arts Festival Exhibition 

The Exhibition organised by the Rotary Club in the 

Assembly Rooms on the last weekend of October is 

the climax of a month-long festival celebrating the 

visual arts and showcasing the outstanding range of 

artistic talent in Swaffham, and its surrounding area. 

This year with nearly 60 exhibitors - both established 

favourites and talents new to our Exhibition; with 

over 250 works displayed in a range of media; with 

the products of skilled craftspeople in ceramics, 

silver, wood and textiles, the opportunities for 

finding a work that suits your taste (and your pocket) 

are better than ever. 

We could not do this without help from our Festival 

sponsors, led by Abel Homes, with help from other 

supporters and advertisers. Many of our speakers 

have given their services free or asked for a donation 

to a charity. Venue services have been discounted. This 

generosity means that we can increase the amount 

that will benefit the charitable causes we support. 

Above all we thank our exhibitors for continuing to 

support us, and you, our public, for coming to our 

events and demonstrating that Swaffham has a real 

cultural life. Thank you every one. 

The global eradication of polio has been tantalisingly 

close for a number of years. The ‘End Polio Now’ 

campaign has been inspired by the international 

Rotary Movement through the World Health 

Organisation, funded by The Rotary Foundation, one 

of the largest private international Charitable Trusts 

supported by donations from individual members of 

Rotary and, recently by the Bill and Melinda Gates 

Foundation. As the number of countries reporting 

cases of polio reaches low single figures a last major 

push to achieve the final eradication of the disease 

is needed. Purple is the colour of the dye marking 

children who have been vaccinated. Rotarians are 

planting purple crocuses throughout the country. 

Purple crocuses are the emblem of this campaign. 

Watch out for them next spring. 

20 

Tai Chi 

Has been found to be beneficial for: 

Helping relieve arthritis 

Improving balance & posture 

Tones muscle 

Improve mobility 

Promoting good health, Physical and mental 

wellbeing and being fun 

Our classes are relaxed, 

friendly and fun – and a good 

way of meeting new friends… 

Contact us on: 01760 723102 

barbara.smith58@yahoo.co.uk 

NEW CLASS: Taster class on 20 th September 

1.30pm at Narborough Community Centre.

Wissey U3A 

The Wissey ‘U3A’ is one of many organisations in 

the UK for those who are retired or semi-retired 

and in their ‘Third Age’. U3As offer a combination 

of opportunities to study, create, socialise, and 

contribute to members’ overall health and wellbeing 

and the Wissey U3A is no exception as it offers a 

wide range of topics; some academic, some practical 

and others recreational. Although ‘Third Agers’ are 

encouraged to share their knowledge, skills, interests 

and lifetime experiences with others, many members 

just enjoy the camaraderie of like-minded members 

and the fun of rekindling passing interests they may 

have had in the past. The Wissey U3A has over 320 

members and more than 30 activity groups ranging 

from Art to Wine Appreciation. For those interested 

in physical pursuits there is Archery, Bowling (short 

mat or ten-pin), Croquet, Rambling, Soft-ball Tennis 

and Walking. As this Newsletter goes to print U3A 

members will be enjoying an outing to see the 

hilarious German comedian, Henning Wehn at Kings 

Lynn’s Corn Exchange and other members will enjoy 

the fabulous Christmas Spectacular at Thursford 

in December. The Wissey U3A meets on the first 

Thursday of every month in the Playing Field Pavilion, 

Holme Hale and on November 3rd the Speaker will 

give a presentation about ‘Town Criers’. For details 

about the U3A movement go to www.u3a.uk. More 

information about the Wissey U3A can be found by 

visiting the Wissey Homepage at www.u3asites.org. 

uk/wissey. To enquire about Wissey U3A membership, 

contact the Membership Secretary, Stan Roberts on 

01366 328086 or the Chairman, Ian Clews on 01760 

721247. Also look out for leaflets in the Community 

Centre, Library and the Green Britain Centre. Annual 

membership of the Wissey U3A costs £10. If you are 

a ‘Third Ager’, come along on 3rd November and give 

the Wissey U3A a try. 

Members at the height of guided tour 

of Norwich Cathedral 

Wood Burners & Multi Fuel Stoves 

Professional HETAS Registered Installers 

Chimney Liners & Fireplace Re-construction 

Tel: 01760 788 407 

info@stovesman.co.uk 

www.stovesman.co.uk

Grow Your Business New Offices 

After years of helping other businesses grow, “Grow 

Your Business” has decided it is time to grow itself. 

Tim Vogel and Annie Turner would like to announce 

that Grow Your Business has taken on the first floor of 

the old Corn Exchange in the very heart of Swaffham. 

This historic building, built in 1858 by a local builder, 

has been many things over the years including a 

cinema, working men’s club and reading room. It then 

became the labour exchange and job centre, which it 

remained for many years until the early 2000’s when 

the whole building became empty. Local groups tried 

to raise funds to make it a community resource, but 

these failed. Eventually Costa Coffee took over the 

ground floor about 8 years ago, leaving the glorious 

old Italianate first floor offices empty. 

We at Grow Your Business are very keen on local 

interest and also recycling, so it seemed the perfect 

opportunity to bring this building back into full 

use. Not only that there is an irony that its last 

use was the job centre , trying to help people back 

into employment, and here we are helping people 

to grow their business, and probably take on more 

staff, so it is a return to its helping days. 

New offices also need staff to fill them and as part 

of our investment in the future of the area we have 

taken on two new staff, Conor, a local lad doing an 

apprenticeship with the Association of Accounting 

Technicians, and Connie who is already partly AAT 

qualified. We believe that people expect all their 

accountants staff to be professionally trained, and 

we also believe the next generation deserve the 

chance of proper qualifications, so this is a question 

of putting our money where our mouth is. 

Finally the new office will allow us to offer meeting 

room facilities for local businesses and the self 

employed. We will be running a regular drop in tax 

clinic on a Tuesday morning, and will be at long last 

able to offer probate services on a drop in basis as 

well, the first such service in West Norfolk. 

xtraclean_Layout 1 12/03/2014 09:32 Page 1 

01760 336029 

Celebrating 

22

£1 

coffee morning 

in memory of Carol 

12th November 

9.30 - 1pm 

Assembly Rooms 

book sale, cakes & raffle 

Tickets available from Ceres Bookshop, Just Hair & Market Cross 

all proceeds to Macmillan Unit King’s Lynn 

Are you 65 or over? Need information or advice 

on things to do, getting out and about, staying 

safe and well or caring for someone, then... 

Quality Legal Services in Swaffham 

Ward Gethin Archer offer a friendly and efficient 

service for all legal services from our long established 

offices in town 

Living Independently in Later Years 

a directory of services, activities, advice and 

guidance for older people living 

in West Norfolk 

Available online at www.asklily.org.uk 

or by calling 01553 616200 

Please contact: 

Nic Chris Sheldrake Cosgrave for Property Matters 

Diane Hewitt for Wills, Probate and Lasting Powers 

of Attorney 

Swaffham (01760) 721992 

We also specialise in: Personal Injury Claims, 

Company Commercial, Employment, Family 

Offices also in Dereham, Ely, Heacham, King’s Lynn and Watton 

Traditional Values Local Service 

www.wardgethinarcher.co.uk 

23

Age Concern Swaffham & District 

We are delighted to say we have now set up our new project Swaffham Support Services, (SSS) funded by 

the Big Lottery, which will run until October 2021! We have appointed three new staff to run everything. 

We are also appealing for more volunteers to help with the scheme. Please see more details in this 

edition plus our advert. 

Our Age Concern members normally meet on the last Tuesday each month, at 2 pm in the Assembly 

Rooms (in house), unless shown as trips out. Everyone is welcome, so just turn up. We have a membership 

scheme which costs £3 per year (£5 from next January) so if you are interested please contact our 

Membership Secretary, Vicky (see below). 

November 29th 

Ian Clews – Sing Along Entertainment 

December 14th (note date) Trip out – Wicksteed Park Christmas Show 

January 31st 2017 

Annual New Year Party 

February 27th 

Talk on Lakenheath RSPB 

Please contact John Clarke, Outings Organiser (see details below) regarding trips out. On the 

first Friday morning in each month we have been operating a Help Desk at the Town Hall, but this 

arrangement is to cease at the end of the year. Instead we are expanding this service from January 

2017 and transferring it to the Community Centre, Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, 9am to 4pm. 

Our contacts are: 

Chair, Diane Sanderson, 01760 725715; Treasurer, James Dean, 720756; Trips Organiser, John Clarke, 720140; 

Membership Secretary, Vicky Slater, 725676 and SSS Manager / Befriending Coordinator, Barbara Lock, 

07412 775 574 

24

Ashill & Holme Hale Garden Club 

At the 2016 AGM Kevin Taylor-Ward sadly retired 

from the committee and was presented with a gift 

of a garden voucher in recognition of his excellent 

organisation of the flower show. Kevin has been 

instrumental in bringing about various changes to 

the show and his small team have agreed to carry 

on with the good work. Three new committee 

members were elected and David Green agreed to 

serve one last year as Chairman. The meeting also 

agreed to the creation of the position of President 

which will be filled at the 2017 AGM. 

As usual, the AGM was followed by the Fruit and 

Vegetable Show. There were fewer entries this year, partly 

because of the event being a month later than usual and 

partly because of the unseasonable weather. However, 

David Boggis, who judged the entries, was impressed 

enough to join the Garden Club that afternoon. Richard 

Leighton excelled this year winning four of the classes 

and was awarded Best in Show. Thanks go to Jackie and 

David Priestley for organising the event. 

What’s on in the next 3 months: 

November 24th June Moy 

Christmas Wreath Demonstration 

December 8th Christmas Party 

January 26th Joe Sharman 

Snowdrops 

The Hamond Educational Charity 

reg no: 277789 

The charity invites applications for 

financial assistance from individuals 

under the age of 21 years, living in 

the Breckland DC area particularly 

those living in or near Swaffham. 

The charity can provide assistance 

in cases of need for such things 

as books, tools, equipment, 

instruments, ouits and educational 

trips, including assistance for those 

leaving school, in preparation for 

taking up an apprenticeship or 

further education. The trustees meet 

twice a year in April and October. 

For further information 

contact the clerk by email: 

contact@hamondeducationalcharity.org.uk 

www.hamondeducationalcharity.org.uk 

Remembrance Festival 

Swaffham Royal British Legion will be holding their 

annual Festival of Remembrance on Thursday 10th 

November 2016 in the Parish Church of St Peter & St 

Paul at 7-30pm. 

Entertainment will be provided by Dereham Town 

Band, The Convent School Choir, Kings Lynn Male 

Voice Choir and soloist Amber Batten. 

We do hope that the people of Swaffham will come 

along and lend their support. There is no entrance fee 

but a collection will be taken for The Poppy Appeal. 

Even ironing! 

Tracy 01362 820 966 

Caroline 01953 882 154 

Mobile 07849 652 713 

Swaffham 

Parish Church 

Christmas Bazaar 

Saturday 26th 

November 

9am till noon 

CHRISTMAS PRIZE 

DRAW 

first prize £100 

There refreshments 

and many stalls 

25 

Come and learn to dance like 

Jane Austen’s Mr Darcy & 

Miss Eliza Bennett with 

Swaffham Playford Dancers 

NB: Usually, 2 nd Wednesday of each month but… 

Wednesday, 16 th November 

Swaffham Assembly Rooms 

Market Place, PE37 7AB 

7.30 p.m. – 10.00 p.m. 

All welcome! - £3 entry - Casual dress & comfortable 

shoes - No previous experience or partner necessary 

Contact: Patti & Paul on 01953 889945; 07734054079 or 

SwaffhamPlayfordDancers@btinternet.com

Can you spare a couple of hours each week? 

Make a difference to a family in your community! 

If you have parenting experience Home-Start 

Swaffham & District would love to hear from you. 

We have families waiting for support and all we ask 

is for a couple of hours a week commitment. We 

offer a prep course accredited through CERTA 

which takes place one day a week for 8 weeks. Term 

time 9.30am—1.30pm. 

So, if you think you can make a difference to a 

family needing a little help call us today to find out 

more. 

Volunteers will be subject to an enhanced DBS check. 

We are also looking for trustees, for more info contact 

us on: 

Home-Start Swaffham & District 

The Community Centre, 

Campinglands, 

Swaffham, PE37 7RB 

Tel: 01760 721271 

3 TOWER MEADOWS, SWAFFHAM PE37 7LT 

The team at Swaffham are 

pleased to offer: 

• Appointments to suit you 

• Cutting edge diagnostics 

• Full operating facilities 

• Emergency out of hours 

care at the premises 

• Nurse preventative 

health clinics 

• Accessible parking 

Please contact us by 

phone or email for 

more information: 

Phone: 

01760 722054 

www.swaffhamvets.co.uk 

info@swaffhamvets.co.uk 

Like us on 

Facebook for 

updates and news 

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26

FoSM (Friends of Swaffham Museum) 

We support the Museum financially and encourage 

Friends to help in the museum as volunteers, either 

behind the scenes or as stewards. 

Our new Membership Scheme is a one off Life 

Membership payment of just £10 for an individual 

and £15 for a family. This gives you free access to all 

the museum galleries for life. 

Social Events (guests welcome) 

Lincoln Christmas Market Fri Dec 2 (£15/£17.50) 

BOOK SOON 

Christmas Social ‘Mulled Wine and Nibbles’ Sun Dec 

11 at Suffield Court (£6/£7.50) 

For more information please contact our Hon 

Chairman Stuart Clapton; Tel: 01760 722903 or 

stuartclapton@aol.com. 

Hon Treasurer Ellie Taylor; Tel: 01760 788019 or 

ellietaylor18@outlook.com 

The 100 Club 

Run by the Friends but open to ALL 

A yearly subscription of £20 could win a prize of 

£40, £20 or £10 each month with special extra prize 

of £100 in May and November. If you would like to 

know more or to join, please contact Ellie Taylor Tel: 

01760 788019 or ellietaylor18@outlook.com 

Prize winning numbers in September 2016 were: 

1st - No.86 2nd – No.22 3rd - No.16 

TCT Plumbing and Electrical is a small local 

company based in Swaffham 

From replacing a wall socket to fitting a whole 

new kitchen or bathroom 

Contact Tristan Tomlinson 

01760 709 299 07976 329 509 

www.tctpe.co.uk 

27 

Swaffham Community Hospital LofF 

Catching up on past events. On September 3rd 

we held our annual street collection in Swaffham 

and raised over £500 for hospital funds. Thanks 

go to all our volunteers who helped on the day. 

Also to our Treasurer (Wendy) who sat in the 

office and accounted for all the boxes. Finally 

thanks to Ward Gethin and staff for the use of 

there offices that day. 

On Sept 10th we held a garden fete at the Hospital. 

We had hoped to be outside but the weather 

was against us. Such a Fete has not been held for 

some time but with the help of our volunteers, 

organisations such as the Lionesses and the staff 

of the hospital, we decided to give it a go. The 

Mayor opened proceedings and a variety of stalls, 

games, competitions, books stall, tombola, bric 

a brac kept those attending busy whilst the staff 

served refreshments. It was particularly pleasing 

that it was possible to get some of the patients 

involved. It certainly made for a different day. We 

raised the sum of £500. Thanks to all those who 

donated items. Also that afternoon we unveiled 

a commemorative bench for a member of the 

“Wilson” family. Many members of the family 

attended and chose a place in the garden to 

position it. 

Our next event is another Coffee morning at the 

Methodist church on Saturday 12th November, We 

were very pleased with the support at the last one, 

so do please come and join us again. 

The League has available our own (charity) Xmas 

cards If you are interested please contact any of the 

committee or pick some up at any of our events. 

As I have mentioned before we are always holding 

events and raffles. If you have any unwanted items 

that you would like to donate then they can either 

be dropped off at Hospital reception or give me a 

ring and I can collect. In a future newsletter I plan 

to include more details about the range of services 

available at our Hospital. It is a great benefit not to 

always have to travel to Lynn or Norwich. 

Finally news about our long awaited new hospital 

entrance. The Hospital Estates department has had to 

review the original plan. The new separate entrance 

will now not be built and they are submitting revised 

plans to improve the existing main entrance. This 

is partly because the space available is too tight for 

the Ambulances. As soon as I get more information/ 

plans I can update you with more details. We are 

disappointed with the delay but hope it will still 

prove to be a great new facility. 

My contact details: 

01760 336025 or colin@houghton789.plus.com

AAA Screening 

I was only recently made aware of the above having 

never seen any publicity before regarding this 

valuable procedure offered by the NHS to all men 

aged 65 and over. 

What is AAA Screening you may well ask?? In simple 

terms it involves a five minute session where a scan 

will be taken of your aorta, the body’s main blood 

vessel, to look for any weakness or expansion, as a 

result of which could then lead to an “Abdominal 

Aortic Aneurysm” hence AAA. 

Such screening can immediately ascertain our level 

of risk or otherwise from this condition and allow 

the NHS to offer advice on further investigation 

if required. Failure to spot this problem can lead 

to fatal health issues, so why would we not take 

advantage of this screening?? 

Detailed information can be found at www.nhs.uk/ 

aaadecisionaid and after reading I would encourage 

you all to call the AAA Screening Office in Norwich 

on 01603 288218/288217 to make an appointment 

which will probably be at the Swaffham Cottage 

Hospital. It may be early next year before your scan 

but very much worth the wait!! 

Thanks for your time in reading this important message. 

David Wickerson – Chair of Swaffham Town Team 

West Norfolk Carers 

If you are looking after a family member or a 

friend because they can’t look after themselves, 

and you are not paid for doing so, then you 

are a carer. And the chances are you will need 

some help and support. West Norfolk Carers is 

here to support unpaid family carers because 

we understand the stresses and strains you may 

face. We run Carers Groups in Downham Market, 

Swaffham, King’s Lynn and Hunstanton and 

we run Young Carers groups (from as young as 

7 years old up to 18 years). We can visit carers 

to help assess your needs and advise on grants, 

benefits, activities, which organisations you 

should approach and so on. We’re here to give 

you a friendly shoulder to lean on. 

Recently WNC was awarded funding to run a 

TRANSFORMING LIVES project targeted at young 

adult carers 35 years and under. Here we can offer all 

the above support plus free training to improve your 

personal wellbeing. Training and workshops can 

help you in areas such as stress management, selfconfidence, 

life and parenting skills, career planning, 

job ready skills, opportunities to access volunteering 

and work plus give you the chance to have some 

time for yourself on something you enjoy, eg cooking 

tuition, nutrition, relaxation classes, drama, music or 

activity sessions. 

Interested? For an informal chat and to gain more 

information call West Norfolk Carers on: 

01553 768155 or email on info@westnorfolkcarers.org.uk 

or go to http://www.westnorfolkcarers.org.uk/. 

We’re here to help you. 

Book Launch 

Huib van Hoeven from Castle Acre has published 

his third book. This time not about his own life and 

experiences in the Royal Netherlands Navy, but on 

the subject of faith and religion. Too often religion 

is portrayed in a serious manner that fails to spark 

the imagination of the younger generation. 

His book is called :“Religion can be Fun”, with 

a sub-title:”See the difference for yourself”. 

Bishop Jonathan, the Bishop of Lynn has written 

a foreword to it. He says:”I hope you will enjoy it; 

that it will pause for thought”. 

A book signing will take place at Ceres Book shop 

Swaffham, Saturday 29 October between 10 and 12 

The price is £7.99, reduced to £7 during the signing. 

Anybody not able to attend and who wants to 

order can do so via e-mail. P&P to be charged. 

huibvanhoeven@uwclub.net 

28

Swaffham & Litcham Home Hospice 

It was gratifying to learn that the TSB here in 

Swaffham have chosen the Home Hospice as their 

Charity for 2016/17. The bank ran a survey with their 

customers asking who they would like to see benefit 

from their charity efforts over the year and we were 

lucky enough to be named. They are planning to 

stage events throughout the year and already they 

have completed a 23mile bicycle ride within three 

weeks of us being notified of their intentions. Those 

who rode amassed a total in excess of £500.00, and 

we must thank all those customers who donated 

towards the event too. 

As we draw closer to December, just a timely reminder 

of the Tree of Lights at the Green Britain Centre on 

December 5th at 6.30pm, more information will be 

announced in December’s edition of the Newsletter. 

Our next fundraising event will be the annual 

Christmas Draw in November and once again Tesco 

have allowed us to sell tickets in the entrance of the 

Store, so please support us. Tickets are available 

at Jill’s Hairdressers in Station Street and our Main 

Office. We will be having a stall on Swaffham Market 

on the 26th November too. The draw will take place 

at Tesco on the 3rd December. 

The Charity has been chosen to oversee one of the 

Snowdrop Walk events on the 12th February 2017 

at Lexham Hall, of course early days as yet but worth 

mentioning to you as we will be seeking your support 

in assisting us to bake cakes for us. It is a very popular 

and well supported event and will be advertised 

throughout Norfolk. 

Experience wind 

power from the top of 

a modern windmill 

Our third Concert of Choirs was once again a sell-out 

evening, which was well received with an appreciable 

audience who enjoyed a varied programme sung and 

entertained by the RAF Marham Military Wives Choir 

(The Bluebirds) and the King’s Lynn Male Voice Choir. 

Both choirs came together at the end and sang a 

rendition of Amazing Grace followed by a standing 

ovation from the audience. The total raised was a 

phenomenal £1161.00. 

The first one in the world open for the 

public to climb. Follow our eco trail around 

our heritage orchard and organic gardens 

and enjoy Fairtrade coffee and homemade 

cake from our vegetarian café. 

For opening times and to book your 

turbine tour call us on 01760 726 100. 

www.greenbritaincentre.co.uk 

The Green Britain 

Centre, Turbine Way, 

Swaffham, Norfolk, 

PE37 7HT 

Katarina Sell from Boots Pharmacy decided she would 

like to raise funds for the Home Hospice by dressing 

up for a week in a different costume at work each day, 

and by doing so she raised a total of £500.00. This 

is being match funded by Boots to £1000.00. Huge 

thanks go to the generous customers who supported 

her during this time and of course Boots. 

29 

Sustainable Living 

At the Green Britain Centre, we believe that human 

influenced climate change is a fact so we are trying 

to encourage ways of living more sustainably. 

Come and see us to find out more about the use of 

renewable energy in our homes. Bring your electric 

car and charge it at one of the charging points. Clean 

your home with environmentally friendly products 

from our shop and pamper yourself with our organic 

toiletries. Purchase your stocking fillers and Christmas 

presents from the range of toys and books. And for 

one day only, on Monday 5th December, enjoy 20% 

off everything in the shop. 

If you have any feedback, ideas or questions, why not 

join us in our vegetarian café at 10.30 on the last Friday 

of the month for informal discussions over coffee. You 

might even find yourself staying on for lunch!

S Swaffham & District Registered Charity 1082730 

JOIN A WINNING TEAM AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE! 

BECOME A VOLUNTEER BEFRIENDER OR A HOSPITAL BUDDY 

We are looking for someone exactly like you!! 

I enjoy meeting 

new people 

I want to make 

a difference 

If you think you might be interested in joining our friendly Team, and 

want to help older vulnerable people, please please make contact with 

one of the following, for an information pack: 

Barbara Lock, 07412 775 574, 

befriendingageconcernswaffham@outlook.com 

Clair Ensom on 07393 981 29, 

hospitalbuddiesageconcern@outlook.com. 

Hospital Buddies need to be car drivers 

For general enquiries please contact our office, 9 am to 4 pm on 

Mondays, Wednesdays or Fridays, Swaffham Community Centre, 

07393 981 295 

30

Downham Grange 

State of the art, loving care in Downham Market 

Welcome to Downham Grange Care Home, a striking new 

purpose-built development in Downham Market. 

We provide meaningful person-centred exceptional care for those in 

need of residential, respite, nursing or dementia care. 

Boasting 62 en-suite bedrooms, the home has 

been finished to the most luxurious standards, 

with extra-wide corridors, a variety of large 

spacious and comfortable lounges and dining 

rooms with kitchenette areas that help to promote 

independence and social inclusion. 

The home has been designed to meet the needs 

of people who require nursing and dementia 

care. This exciting new development meets our 

Kingsley care ethos, responding to individual 

needs and providing the highest standards of care. 

Like all Kingsley Healthcare Homes, our care is 

focused around each person’s individual needs and 

wishes. We value and respect how each person 

chooses to spend their day. 

Our strong ethos of person-centred care runs 

through everything we do. Our staff are all highly 

experienced and receive on-going training to make 

sure that we deliver only the very best quality care. 

We really want to make a difference 

to the lives of the people we care for. 

With this in mind we have built the 

home to the highest specifications, 

giving particular consideration 

to making the design and layout 

suitable for people living with a 

dementia. 

This new home will enable us to 

continue to provide high-quality 

surroundings and environment. It 

will ensure our staff deliver quality 

of service and improve the quality of 

life of our residents every day. 

The staff at Downham Grange go 

that extra mile to make the home 

feel comfortable and relaxed. We 

like Downham Grange to feel like 

a ‘home from home’. We encourage 

people to take part in the daily living 

activities as well as other ongoing 

activities that take place throughout 

the day. 

“It took me just a few 

days to feel at home 

because the staff are 

so welcoming and 

caring” 

Downham Grange Care Home 

Clackclose Road, Downham Market, 

Norfolk PE38 9PA 

Tel 01366 387054 Fax 01366 385861 

downham.manager@kingsleyhealthcare.co.uk 

www.kingsleyhealthcare.co.uk 

From the Mayor’s Parlour 

On 15th September I attended a ceremony at 

County Hall to remember all those that lost 

their lives in the Battle of Britain. I marched with 

veterans to St Nicholas Church, Dereham for 

Dereham’s Battle of Britain service on Sunday 

18th September. 

From 22d to 26th September was the twinning 

weekend. On Friday we had a welcome tea and 

cakes at the Green Britain Centre where we 

showed a film of all the activities around the 800 

year celebrations of Swaffham as a market town, 

our thanks to the museum for making and sharing 

the film. 

Saturday started with the civic meeting at the 

Town Hall, lots of Ideas were discussed for a 

new charter which will be signed at the 50th 

Anniversary in France in 2018. In the afternoon it 

was off to Gressenhall Museum and in the evening 

it was the turn of the twinning club to host all for 

a dinner and dance. Sunday was the Civic lunch at 

Lynford Hall. They all departed on Monday, and I 

would like to say a big thank you to all the hosts 

and staff for their support. 

I had a walk around the town on Friday 7th 

October, but it was not the same as I have done 

many times before, this time I had a blindfold on 

and was being lead by a member of Guide Dogs 

for the Blind, it felt very different and I found that 

there are a lot of things to bump into, lamp posts, 

tables and chairs, A-boards and even cars that had 

parked over the pavement. Please think about the 

blind when you put out A-boards and how you 

park your car. Try it yourself it will make you think. 

Cllr Paul Darby 

Mayor 

Town Council Dates 

Wednesday 9th - Full Town Council Meeting 

6.45 p.m. - 9.00 p.m. 

Council Chamber, Town Hall. 

Wednesday 16th – Open Spaces Committee 

7.00pm - 9.00pm. 


Monday 21st – Relief in Need 

6.45pm – 7.30pm 

Tuesday 22nd – Partners Meeting 

2.00pm – 4.00p.m 

Green Britain Centre, Swaffham 


Wednesday 30th – Planning Committee 

12.00pm-1.00pm 

Council Chamber, Town Hall 

31

In Touch With Your Town 

The section ‘In Touch 

with your Town’ is 

usually put together by 

the Town Clerk Richard 

Bishop or occasionally 

by the Deputy Town Clerk 

Claire Smith. It has been kept under 

this heading as it stems from when the 

Town Council used to produce its own 

‘in house’ newsletter under the same 

name. It deals with some of the most 

topical items of the day and the odd 

item where the Council want to share 

information with the Town. 

The recreation ground Skate 

Park and MUGA Update 

We have been looking at a project to 

upgrade the skate park at Haspall’s Rd 

for sometime and so all Councillors and 

staff were pleased to hear that we have 

been successful bidding for funds from 

the Breckland Sport and Play fund. This 

project has had the support of many 

people in our community, and we would 

like to thank all those who helped gather 

the information needed for the funding 

bids, as well as everyone who has been 

involved in the fundraising efforts – 

from Hog Roast events to car boot sales. 

We will now be able to commission a 

new skate park and hope that it will be 

a well used facility for everyone. 

Allotments at Tumbler Hill 

and Shouldham Lane 

Swaffham allotments are a much loved 

and well used local facility and new 

and enthusiastic allotmenteers are 

welcome. We have a few allotments 

available for rent at both Shouldham 

Lane and Tumbler Hill, if you are 

interested in becoming an allotment 

holder please get in touch with Kerry 

at the Town Hall offices. I would like 

to remind everyone that the allotments 

are gated for security, the area is for 

allotment holders only. Please do not 

climb over the gates and walk across 

the allotments, we have had a number 

of walkers and people exercising their 

dogs through the allotments and we 

respectfully ask you not to do so. 

Neighbourhood Plan 

The Town Council have secured a grant 

of £4,500 from the Community Rights 

Programme, funded by the Department of 

Communities and Local Government. There 

is a possibility that this may be matched 

by Breckland Council and that a further 

grant of a similar sum could be made 

available from March 2017, depending 

on the progress made in that time. It is 

hoped that the Council can now appoint 

a Planning Consultant to advise/guide 

the group through the process of putting 

together a Neighbourhood Plan. In the 

next two months the Planning Committee 

of the Town Council are meeting with 

representatives of the Schools and then 

from Sports & Leisure organisations. There 

will be many ways where you can get 

involved in the Neighbourhood Plan, as 

there will be a number of consultation days, 

as we get further along the process. If you 

are interested in playing a part, please let 

us know at the Town Hall, by leaving your 

contact details at Reception - thank you. 

Offline Drama 

Our grateful thanks to Iceni Partnership 

who saved the day recently, as the Town 

Hall office went off-line for a whole week, 

not internet connection and no e-mail. As 

most of our communication now comes 

through to us by e-mail, this was a very big 

deal to us, as the technical people argued 

amongst themselves who was responsible. 

It was all resolved without anyone really 

accepting the blame, it has made us very 

wary though of having systems in place as 

a back up, as it caused great disruption, far 

more than we had considered previously. 

Iceni Partnership provided us with a 

temporary Wifi connection and office 

space, so that we could deal with urgent 

issues and this was very much appreciated 

- thank you. 

Town Diary 

For anyone wishing to arrange an event for 2016, an Events 

Diary is available at the Town Hall for all Community Groups 

to use so that their event does not clash with any other event. 

32

Free stall Pitches for Swaffham 

Market 

Following a number of new traders 

taking up the offer to trade free in the 

first weeks of October, November and 

December we will be continuing with 

the offer for three months of trading 

in the new year. If you would like to 

take up this offer or have any queries 

regarding Swaffham Saturday Market, 

please contact our office 

The Town Council 

Mayor – Cllr Paul Darby 07880 568 628 

Deputy Mayor – Cllr Jill Skinner 01760 336121 

Cllr Steven Allen 

Cllr Terry Jennison 

07825 801 605 

01760 720608 

Cllr Robert Bartram 

Cllr Sheila Lister 

01760 721 022 

01760 720114 

Cllr Wendy Bensley 

Cllr Shirley Matthews 

01760 722 524 

01760 723205 

Cllr Brenda Bowler 

Cllr Les Scott 

01760 788519 

01760 720465 

Cllr Jan Buckley-Stevens 

Cll Anne Thorp 

01760 722604 

01760 722611 

Cllr Colin Houghton 

01760 336 025 

Breckland Councillors: 

Cllr Paul Darby, Cllr Shirley Matthews and 

Cllr Ian Sherwood 01760 725550 

twitter@ CllrIanSherwood (your.cllr@breckland.gov.uk) 

Your County Councillor is Cllr Paul Smyth 

07733 431358 / email paul.smyth@norfolk.gov.uk 

Officers 

Richard Bishop – Town Clerk 

townclerk@swaffhamtowncouncil.gov.uk 

Twitter - @SwaffhamClerk 

Claire Smith - Deputy Town Clerk 

deputyclerk@swaffhamtowncouncil.gov.uk 

Hannah Duggan – Office Administrator 

administrator@swaffhamtowncouncil.gov.uk 

Swaffham Town Council 

Tel: 01760 722922 

www.swaffhamtowncouncil.gov.uk 

Twitter - @SwaffhamMarket 

Town Hall Opening Times 

Monday 9.30am-1pm and 1.30pm-4pm 

Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday & Friday : 9:30am-1pm 

Swaffham Relief in Need Charity 

Registered Charity No. 1072912 

Relief in Need is a Registered Charity which meets 6 

times a year, offering grants for a specific purpose for 

the relief of persons resident in the area of benefit 

(i.e. Swaffham) who are in need, hardship or distress. 

Application Forms are available from the Town Hall 

or reliefinneed@swaffhamtowncouncil.gov.uk 

Agencies at Swaffham Town Hall 

Swaffham Museum Gift Shop & Tourist 

Information Centre Open: Mon-Fri, 10am – 4pm 

& Sat 10am - 1pm 01760 721230 

Breckland Council Room 1: Open 9am – 1pm & 

1:30pm - 4pm every Monday. 

9:30am – 1pm every Tuesday, Thursday & Friday. 

For all your Council Tax & benefit enquires. 

33

Mind, Body & Spirit 

Well Autumn has finally caught up with us in 

Swaffham as the beauty from summer changes, 

just as beautiful, to different feelings and 

understandings. 

This year saw a number of amazing events in Norfolk 

with Mind Body and Spirit Exhibitions including 

four at the amazing Assembly Room in the heart 

of Swaffham, a fabulous venue with a charm that 

has seen many generations come and go with so 

much happiness. Although the exhibition season 

has closed we are still continuing to run activities 

with a regular monthly slot at the Assembly for our 

very popular Gong Bath. If you haven’t been along 

do try it. It’s particularly good if you wish to calm 

the mind and open the spirit. The next one will be 

the evening of November 23rd starting at 7.30pm. 

Before we move into the next gong bath we have 

created a workshop entitled ‘Working with Angels 

and Ascended Masters’. These workshops will 

take place in Sporle. These workshops have come 

about after so many people asked to understand 

more about the way I work and why I work in 

this way. Very simply this first workshop will 

be about working with a gatekeeper/guardian 

angel and understanding how we work with 

Arch Angel Michael for protection and ascended 

master Melchizedek for clearance techniques. 

The workshop will be a three hour course and 

will accommodate six students, a goodly number 

to achieve a great level of understanding. We 

have decided to offer two dates as both already 

have interest. If you feel you wish to attend this 

one please contact me steve@times8.com or ring 

07932 012262. If we are swamped with enquiries 

we will run a few more to accommodate the needs 

and wishes as required. Further development 

workshops will be available in the New Year, so 

keep in touch with our website and newsletter due 

out in 2017. 

The last weekend in November will see a few of us 

wander up the road to West Lexham for a three day 

weekend retreat. The emphasis will be on Spiritual 

Development and will include a number of popular 

tutors including Chris Jacobs Clairvoyant Medium, 

Mike and Pam Smith with Spiritual Surgery and 

Marilyn Fleischmann with Clairvoyant Spiritual 

Art techniques and understandings. I will also be 

offering an insight into Sound Journey’s with my 

Gongs, Solfeggio Tubes, Singing Bowls along side 

many other interesting instruments. It plans to be 

a wonderful weekend for a no pressure really fun 

loving occasion. There are now only four places 

left, so do contact me to check on availability. 

34 

Finally, I was asked to put another Reiki 

Beginners course together, and so for those 

that are interested in understanding Reiki 

Healing I will be happy to welcome you to 

this one day beginners course in Sporle. We 

only look to work in a beginner’s environment 

with just four students. This is also a fun 

loving day with no pressures, just a natural 

love to want to be a channel for healing 

energy. I would like to encourage progress 

in those students who do look to take it 

further so follow ups and case styled studies 

would be wonderful to see and achieve. This 

is an official Certificated Level One Course, 

planned for Wednesday 9th November. 

All have a lovely month. 

Steve Hudson 

Spiritual Flow Events 

Swaffham Spiritual Awareness Group 

Meets in the Community Centre, 

Beech Close, Campingland, Swaffham 

at 6.30pm. 

12th November Linda Rae Ashill 

26th November Sheila James Clenchwarden 

Donations much appreciated – see our facebook page 

Everyone welcome Healing at 5.15pm to 6.30pm

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