Swaffham Newsletter

Merle Boddy Centre
On the 25th November it was just like going to Fakenham
races; the spectators enclosure was full to the brim; the
winners came thick and fast and the betting furious.
The amount made on the night came to a staggering
£1007. My thanks goes to all my girls who helped on the
night and before with all the organising running up to
the evening. Also, thank you to all owners of the horses;
the sponsers of the races and to all who gave me wine
and raffle prizes.
My thanks also to Woody, Kim, Janet, Alan and Shep
for the big part you played on making the evening so
enjoyable. The room at the Conservative Club was
generously given by Paul and the bread and cheese
was donated by Tesco and of course a big thank you to
everyone who supported us on the night, we hope to
see you at our event in the new year.
Norman gave us a lovely surprise when he popped in for
a quick visit, as a member of Swaffham Bingo Club along
with Ian and Linda, he presented us with £500. I can’t
tell you how thankful we are for the continuing support
they show us.
Surprises can come in different guises, but when it is from
one of our armed forces associations the feeling is always
very special. Our thanks goes to all of you belonging to
the Naval Association for your kind donation of £100.
The church service held in St Peter & St Paul’s was enjoyed
by all who attended. The collection of £310 has been
generously donated to us. It is with many thanks to all
who gave and to the Lions for their kindness of thinking
of us we feel very blessed with the Lions continuing
support of our centre.
A dull morning outside was made to feel like a sunny day
when we were presented with a cheque for £380 from
Swaffham Baptist Church. Thank you to all who attend
the church and for your continuing support of our work.
Wissey U3A
The U3A is an international movement whose aims
are the education and stimulation of mainly retired
members of the community or those in their ‘Third
Age' of life. The Wissey U3A has over 300 members
and nearly 30 interest groups with subjects such as
Art and Classical Music through to Poetry and Wine
Appreciation.
The table tennis group meets weekly in the
Community Centre and also invites other U3A
table tennis groups to play against them in friendly
tournaments at home and away. U3A membership is
open to any individual who by definition is not in fulltime
gainful employment, so anyone working ‘parttime’
can also apply for membership. Leaders of
groups do not have to have any formal qualifications
for their interest activity but enthusiasm and drive to
help and guide others is usually fairly high on their
agenda.
There was no Speaker arranged for the monthly
meeting in December, instead, Committee Members
organised the annual Christmas Party when fizzy
wine, sausage rolls and mince pies were the order of
the day. Christmas background music was provided
by Karl’s ‘KSD Disco’ from Watton and members tested
their general knowledge by answering questions in a
conventional quiz and a ‘Pointless’ quiz. The Speaker
on Thursday 4th January is Peter Lawrence, Peter’s
talk is entitled ‘Beneath London Streets’.
There is to be a First Aid course by the Red Cross in
January which will include training in the use of a
defibrillator. For more information about the U3A
movement, go to www.u3a.org.uk. To enquire
about Wissey U3A Membership contact Ian Clews
on 01760 721247. For information about group
activities in the Wissey U3A contact Dave Thorogood
on 01760 622751 or visit the Wissey Homepage at
www.u3asites.org.uk/wissey. If you are a ‘Third
Ager’ and may have just moved to the area, come
along as a guest to the monthly meeting on Thursday
4th January. Meetings are held in the Playing Field
Pavilion at Holme Hale on the first Thursday of every
month. Annual memberships cost £10 and renewals
are £7 with a small charge of £1 for admittance to
each monthly meeting.
Swaffham WEA
The first of this year’s courses looks at the history
of schools and education in England. A Little
Learning … Educating the People 1700 – 1914
covers a period of great change in both attitudes
to teaching and the provision of schools.
Tutor Rosemary Steer presents this course,
illustrated throughout with images, quotations
and examples. In addition Rosemary will provide
guidance to sources for the history of schools
to help students find out more about their local
schools.
Beginning in February aviation historian Ian
McLachlan takes us on a flight of fact and fancy
exploring the development of aviation through
centuries of myth, legend and reality. His course
Airs and Graces spans the period from Icarus and
Daedalus through to the Wright Brothers and
beyond. Fascinating human-interest accounts and
episodes from regional aviation history enhance
this course.
Both courses run for 7 weeks; the cost for each
is £51. You are welcome to attend the first
session as a ‘taster’ for £7 with no obligation to
continue. Fees may be waived for those in receipt
of benefits. Courses are held at the Community
Centre, Campingland, Swaffham. Information
about courses is available online at www.wea.org.
uk where you can also sign up to attend. However
there is no requirement to book in advance: just
come along and you will be very welcome.
The Workers’ Educational Association (WEA) is
a charity and the UK’s largest voluntary sector
provider of adult education. Although originally
aimed at workers, as the name suggests, nowadays
all are welcome. Courses are informal and friendly.
There are no tests or exams and you don’t need
previous knowledge of the subject, so there’s no
pressure to achieve a particular standard – just
the pleasure of increasing your knowledge and
experience, and the opportunity to meet new
people.
• A Little Learning … Educating the People 1700 –
1914 – Fridays 10am to 12 noon from 19 January
2018
• Airs and Graces – Mondays 7.30pm to 9.30pm
from 5 February 2018
Further information: Tel 01760 723558
Details of all WEA courses at www.wea.org.uk
Swaffham Jazz Club
A Happy New Year to you all, from Geoff and
Norman! Looking back over 2017, I think every
session had something memorable, but for me
there were three particular highlights.
First there was the sheer exhilaration in March of
Eleanora and Mark Ferguson playing four hands on
one keyboard in a frantic boogie woogie number.
Second was the evening in June when seventeen
year old music student, Kayleigh Robinson, turned
up with her saxophone and sat in with the band.
Originally intending to play just two numbers,
given the support and encouragement of the
highly experienced, Myke Clifford on sax and Chris
Kirk on trumpet, she played virtually the whole of
the second set as well.
Third was the second appearance in four months
of guitarist Lee Vasey in August. We expected our
lowest turnout of the year, assuming many of our
supporters would be on holiday. Instead, so many
turned up that we ran out of chairs! (By contrast,
the lowest turnout was in September. I expect
many regulars prefer to wait to go away when it is
less crowded and less expensive!)
We are taking a break in January but will be back in
February on Tuesday 13th at 7.30pm, with the Ed
Reed (guitar) Trio. Swaffham Conservative Social
Club, 23 London Street, PE37 7DD £7 on the door.
Geoff 01366 328730 or Norman 01760722384
special educational needs
information day for parents
Come along and learn more about Education, Health and Care plans,
annual reviews and SEN support. If you wish to discuss your childs needs
on a personal basis we will be joined by:
• Victoria Federico, SEN specialist, Access Legal solicitors
• Dawn Stilwell, Parent Adviser at Contact
• Natalie Webb, Family Action Health Champions project
• PLUS representatives from Norfolk services.
Refreshments and light lunch provided
Tuesday 30 January, 9.45am-2pm
Venue: The Assembly rooms, Market Place, Swaffam PE37 7QH
to book your place please contact:
Dawn 01733 811 993 eastofengland@contact.org.uk
Natalie 01760 7203 02 Natalie.Webb@family-action.org.uk
Contact is a trading name of Contact a Family. Charity registered in England and Wales (284912) and Scotland (SC039169).
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