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<strong>Mardler</strong><br />
BROCKDISH & THORPE ABBOTTS<br />
THE<br />
Edition No. 215 <strong>April</strong> & May 20<strong>18</strong><br />
THE MARDLER is FREE and delivered to all<br />
houses in Brockdish and Thorpe Abbotts<br />
Also available on-line at<br />
www.brockdishandthorpeabbottsmardler.co.uk
Editorial Team<br />
Useful Contacts<br />
Editor<br />
Robert Buck 01379 668663<br />
robertbuck1974@talktalk.net<br />
Chairperson<br />
Jan Croxson 01379 668630<br />
jpcrocky@btinternet.com<br />
Advertising<br />
Judith Chambers 01379 668072<br />
judecham@gmail.com<br />
Treasurer<br />
Janice Stacey 01379 668549<br />
janicestacey@btinternet.com<br />
Surgeries Harleston<br />
Bullock Fair Close 01379 853217<br />
Emergencies 01379 853503<br />
Police<br />
Harleston and Diss 101<br />
NHS Direct 111<br />
Electricity Power Cuts 105<br />
Gas Emergencies 0800 111 999<br />
Mary Alderton 01379 668537<br />
maryalderton@btinternet.com<br />
Linda Bell 01379 669293<br />
belltomlinda@gmail.com<br />
Anglian Water 03457 145 145<br />
South Norfolk Council 01508 533633<br />
Borderhoppa 01379 854800<br />
Cheryl Mounser 01379 741435<br />
billmounser@yahoo.co.uk<br />
The views expressed in The <strong>Mardler</strong> are not<br />
necessarily those of the Editorial team. The Editor<br />
reserves the right to amend or alter any copy<br />
received.<br />
____________________________________<br />
BROCKDISH VILLAGE HALL<br />
Monday - Aerobics 6:45 - 7:45pm<br />
Wednesday - Ballroom & Latin Dance<br />
Classes 7pm – 11pm<br />
Thursday - Tea Dance 2pm<br />
- Carpet Bowls 7:30pm<br />
Friday - Hall available for hire<br />
Saturday - Quizzes, Ballroom Dancing*<br />
Sunday - Tea Dance*<br />
* See notice board for more information.<br />
ADVERTISING IN THE MARDLER<br />
If you are interested in advertising, the<br />
current rates are £25 for ¼ page and<br />
£50 for ½ page, which covers the 6<br />
issues from 1 st <strong>April</strong> annually. The cost<br />
for less than 6 issues is £5 per issue for<br />
¼ page and £10 per issue for ½ page.<br />
For further information please contact<br />
Judith Chambers, see above.<br />
Brockdish Village Hall<br />
Bookings Jill Edwards 01379 669057<br />
Thorpe Abbotts Village Hall<br />
Bookings Kelvin Halifax 01379 668705<br />
Carpet Bowls Club<br />
Glyn Catchpole 01379 668698<br />
Aerobics<br />
Clare Peed 01379 668715<br />
Sunday Tea Dance/Ballroom<br />
Latin Dance Classes<br />
Niall O’Brien 07526 883776<br />
South Norfolk District Councillor<br />
Jenny Wilby 01379 741504<br />
Parish Clerk<br />
Teresa Hines 01379 308617<br />
Libraries<br />
Harleston 01379 852549<br />
Diss 01379 642609<br />
2
Editorial<br />
In this edition the cover photograph is of a familiar sight in Brockdish<br />
for this time of the year, unlike the back cover which is a photograph<br />
taken by Philip Thompson a month ago following the unusually<br />
excessive snowfall that we encountered. That said it was good to<br />
see a community spirit where the young were assisting the not so<br />
young in view of the inclement weather. As one resident quoted to<br />
me ‘it’s in times like this you see the good in people’ and this was<br />
certainly appreciated by all.<br />
I take this opportunity of thanking all those advertisers who have<br />
renewed their adverts for a further year – we are indebted to you for<br />
your financial support.<br />
Robert Buck Editor<br />
REMEMBER<br />
Closing date for entries in the<br />
June / July 20<strong>18</strong> issue is<br />
Monday 7 th May 20<strong>18</strong><br />
Articles received after this date may<br />
not be included in the next issue.<br />
_______________________________________________<br />
WHAT’S ON<br />
<strong>April</strong> 20<strong>18</strong><br />
Sun 1 st Open Garden (p8)<br />
Sat 7 th Thorpe Abbotts Social (p5)<br />
Sun 8 th Open Garden (p8)<br />
Fri 13 th Thorpe Abbotts Bar (p6)<br />
Sun 15 th Billingford Mill (p12)<br />
Sun 15 th Open Garden (p8)<br />
Thurs 19 th Dimentia Cafe (p28)<br />
Thurs 19 th Guesthouse Play (p13)<br />
Fri 20 th Alburgh Cinema (p26)<br />
Thurs 26 th Mobile Library (p21)<br />
Sat 21 st Music Quiz (p6)<br />
Sun 22 nd Open Garden (p8)<br />
Fri 27 th Thorpe Abbotts Bar (p6)<br />
Sun 29 th Open Garden (p8)<br />
May 20<strong>18</strong><br />
Sat 5 th Thorpe Abbotts Social (p5)<br />
Fri 11 th Thorpe Abbotts Bar (p6)<br />
Sat 12 th Brockdish Quiz (p11)<br />
Sat 12 th European Beer Tasting<br />
at Thorpe Abbotts (p6)<br />
Sun 13 th Billingford Mill – Classic<br />
Car Event (p12)<br />
Tue 15 th Annual Parish Meeting<br />
Brockdish (p9)<br />
Thurs 24 th Mobile Library (p21)<br />
Fri 25 th Thorpe Abbotts Bar (p6)<br />
Tues 29 th Parish Council Meeting<br />
Brockdish (p9)<br />
3
Sun<br />
KM Gardencare<br />
N J Rush<br />
Painting and Decorating<br />
General Maintenance<br />
Tiling<br />
Pressure Washing<br />
Re-felting Sheds<br />
Fast and Friendly Service<br />
For free, no obligation quotes<br />
Call Nick 01379 388304<br />
07931 653197<br />
4<br />
Hedge & Lawn Cutting<br />
Fencing Erected& Stained<br />
Trees Pruned & Felled<br />
Seeding & Turfing<br />
Patios & Driveways<br />
Gardens Cleared<br />
Stump Grinding<br />
Mini Digger Work<br />
All Garden care Undertaken<br />
Phone: 01379 687983<br />
Mobile: 07799 492603<br />
Do You Need<br />
Your Garden<br />
TIDYING<br />
UP?<br />
Call Tom Bell on<br />
01379 669293 or<br />
07905208209<br />
Very Reasonable<br />
Rates
Village<br />
Dear Villagers<br />
I am a ten year old girl, on a mission trying to clean up our<br />
village of Brockdish.<br />
It is very shameful to take a walk and see rubbish. This is our<br />
village and we need to keep it clean!<br />
When you go for a walk please clean up and pick up at least 3<br />
pieces of rubbish and put it in the bin.<br />
Think of how proud you’d be if you could take a walk and not<br />
see rubbish.<br />
MAKE OUR VILLAGE CLEAN!<br />
From Amelia<br />
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------<br />
THORPE ABBOTTS SOCIAL CLUB<br />
Since our last report, yes the weather has been “variable”, but<br />
I am pleased to report that 50 people came along to our<br />
February event and 45 of those paid an annual subscription to<br />
the Club which is positive. We were entertained by Brian Roy<br />
and members were happy to dance the night away and keep<br />
warm.<br />
The following event in March was cancelled in view of the<br />
adverse weather conditions, the car park being covered with<br />
four inches of snow. As far as possible members were advised<br />
in advance, but if we were unable to contact people and they<br />
came along we do apologise and trust they understand the<br />
reasoning behind the action.<br />
Annie, a regular entertainer at the Social Club, will be along on<br />
the 7 th <strong>April</strong>, followed by the popular Tony Bryant on the 5 th<br />
May. Why not come along a warm welcome is assured.<br />
Lenny Havers – 668219<br />
Linda Halifax – 668705<br />
5
Village<br />
The Flying F rtress Bar<br />
At Thorpe Abbotts Village Hall<br />
Don’t forget that the Annual Easter Eggstravaganza takes<br />
place on Saturday 31 st March from 2pm. Future dates for your<br />
diaries are as follows:<br />
Friday 13 th <strong>April</strong> 6pm onwards Bar Night<br />
Friday 27 th <strong>April</strong> 6 pm onwards Bar Night<br />
Friday 11 th May 6 pm onwards Bar Night<br />
Saturday 12 th May 7.30 pm European Beer Tasting<br />
Friday 25 th May 6 pm onwards Bar Night<br />
6
Village Information<br />
WANTED – VILLAGE HANDYMAN<br />
The Brockdish Parish Council (including Thorpe Abbotts) requires a<br />
Handyman to carry out small maintenance jobs around the villages<br />
as and when required.<br />
This is a paid position of £10 per hour.<br />
For further details, please contact the Parish Council see page 9<br />
As a plant stall is planned for the Open Garden event on June<br />
16 th , any spare plants that you may have and would care to<br />
donate would be greatly appreciated. Call Jan on 668630 for<br />
collection of plants. Many thanks.<br />
7
Village Information<br />
OPEN GARDEN - In memory of friends and family<br />
We are opening our garden every Sunday afternoon in<br />
<strong>April</strong> from 12pm to 4pm.<br />
We hope to raise some funds to buy something for the Village in memory<br />
of those friends and family we have all recently lost in the Village. Please<br />
try to join us and enjoy a pleasant afternoon down by the river.<br />
Don't forget to bring along your picnic and chairs.<br />
A minimum donation of £2 per adult.<br />
Children free but must be accompanied by an adult.<br />
We look forward to seeing you.<br />
John Jackie and Jean - The Old Coach House Brockdish<br />
Sorry no dogs.<br />
StyleS<br />
UNISEX HAIRDRESSERS<br />
15A WILDERNESS CLOSE<br />
HARLESTON<br />
01379 852228<br />
8
Parish Council<br />
BROCKDISH PARISH COUNCIL (Including Thorpe Abbotts)<br />
CHAIRMAN – Christine Mackenzie<br />
Clerk – Teresa Hines Tel: 01379 308617<br />
e-mail:brockdishthorpeabbottspc@gmail.com<br />
Planning Applications<br />
(www.south-norfolk.gov.uk/online-applications)<br />
● 2017/2894 Mr and Mrs Young, Little Barn, Grove Road,<br />
Brockdish - Building an external spiral staircase/fire escape to a<br />
barn.<br />
● 20<strong>18</strong>/0168 Mr and Mrs Summers, 30 & 32 The Street,<br />
Brockdish - Internal alterations to Avonside and The Homestead<br />
at first floor and attic level and insertion of three new roof lights.<br />
● 20<strong>18</strong>/0408 Mr G Leech, Orchard End, Common Lane,<br />
Brockdish - 3 single storey extensions<br />
Decisions (approved by SNC & PC).<br />
● 2017/2488 Mr A Machen, Hall Farm Cottage, Scole Road,<br />
Thorpe Abbotts - Retention of stabling and grazing together with<br />
storage of three to four caravans for leasing purposes.<br />
The Parish Council currently has vacancies for Councillors - for<br />
further information please contact Cllr Christine MacKenzie<br />
(Chairman) on 01379 6688<strong>18</strong> or Teresa Hines (Clerk) on<br />
01379 308617 email brockdishthorpeabbottspc@gmail.com<br />
STREET LIGHTS Please continue to report street light outages<br />
to PC Chairman or Clerk.<br />
Dates of next scheduled meetings: - (members of the public<br />
are welcome to attend)<br />
Agenda posted on both Village notice boards prior to meeting.<br />
No scheduled meeting is held during <strong>April</strong>.<br />
Tuesday 15th May 20<strong>18</strong> (Annual Meeting of parish/village<br />
organisations) at Brockdish Village Hall 7pm.<br />
Tuesday 29th May 20<strong>18</strong> at Brockdish Village Hall 7pm.<br />
9
Information<br />
Important Information Regarding changes to GP<br />
Appointments at Harleston Doctor’s Surgery<br />
Patients requiring the attention of a GP should call us between<br />
8.30 and 10 am. A trained medical receptionist will ask you for<br />
some information about your need and will ask the doctor to<br />
telephone you. Please be assured that the doctor calling will<br />
offer you an appointment to be seen if this is required.<br />
DWS FENCING & GARDEN MAINTAINANCE<br />
All types of fencing patios + paths pressure washed<br />
All garden work undertaken Fencing stained<br />
Trees, hedges + lawns cut Large area cleared<br />
House, garage, shed and yard clearance<br />
Fully insured<br />
Tel: 01379 650380 Mobile: 07899 893380<br />
Carole Mole Catcher<br />
The expert you can trust<br />
Competitive Rates No Fuss<br />
01508 47 19 16<br />
079<strong>18</strong> <strong>18</strong> 78 37<br />
carole@norfolk-molecatcher.co.uk<br />
10
Coffee Break<br />
Jan - 'How are you getting on with your advertisement for a<br />
husband? Have you had any replies?'<br />
Jill - 'Yes, lots and they all say the same - 'take mine'.'<br />
Wife - 'One more word from you and I'm going back to my Mother.'<br />
Husband - 'Taxi!'<br />
They say he fell in love with his wife the second time he met her.<br />
The first time he didn't realize how rich she was!<br />
A thought!<br />
A woman worries about the future until she gets a husband. A man<br />
never worries about the future until he gets a wife!<br />
Riddle<br />
Find one letter for each line from the clues given in each line of the<br />
verse. The letters will spell the name of a flower.<br />
My first is in DIANTHUS but not in PINK<br />
My second is in CHAIN but never in LINK<br />
My third is in CALCIUM though not in CHALK<br />
My fourth is in STEM and also in STALK<br />
My fifth is in RYE but not in CORN<br />
My whole is a plant you might see in a lawn.<br />
Answer DAISY<br />
QUIZ NIGHT<br />
SATURDAY 12 th May 7:30 for 8:00pm<br />
Admission £4 BROCKDISH VILLAGE HALL<br />
Bring your own drink Jan 668630<br />
11
Information<br />
BILLINGFORD MILL<br />
Due to ongoing works our traditional Easter Egg hunt has been<br />
postponed until Sunday <strong>April</strong> 15th. (Normally Easter Monday). The<br />
Mill will be open for tours 12.00 - 16.00 with an Easter Egg Hunt for<br />
under 15's free and a Treasure Hunt for adults £2.50, both<br />
commencing at 14.00. It will be your chance to see how the<br />
restoration work is progressing. The Mill will be restored to full<br />
working order with new sails in the future.<br />
Sunday 13th May - Classic/Vintage car event.<br />
Mill open 12.00 - 16.00 for tours. Adults £3, Concession £2, Children<br />
free. Entry to The Common free.<br />
Refreshments available from Shepherd's Hut.<br />
The Common will open for vehicles from 11.30am (earlier if<br />
required).<br />
J & H Websdell – 853967 - Mill Custodians<br />
12
Information<br />
Eastern Angles touring theatre group join us with their production of<br />
'Guesthouse'. At Syleham and Wingfield Village Hall on Thursday<br />
19 th <strong>April</strong>.<br />
Prices £10, £9 concession - Bar Open at 7.30pm<br />
Book by texting 07929794636, or tickets may be available on the<br />
door.<br />
In this poignant and beautifully observed drama, three generations<br />
of women have to set aside differences as they decide the fate of<br />
their family-run B & B.<br />
Guesthouse asks what's it like when the town you were proud to<br />
grow up in becomes impoverished. What does it take to keep going?<br />
And what does it take to face the truth?<br />
Written by Essex playwright Nicola Werenowska and directed by<br />
Tony Casement<br />
YOUR OLD SPECTACLES<br />
Unwanted old spectacles will enable someone in the third<br />
world to see.<br />
Please continue to drop your old glasses into our collecting bin<br />
at Harleston Information Plus, in Exchange Street.<br />
13
14
Local History<br />
Brockdish and Thorpe Abbotts in the Workhouse<br />
© Elaine Murphy<br />
In <strong>18</strong>44 there was a riot in the Depwade Union Workhouse, when<br />
paupers tried to set fire to the buildings. Many ended up serving<br />
time in Norwich gaol. We are all familiar with the old workhouse<br />
brick buildings, today converted to flats next door to Cherry Lane<br />
Garden Centre on the A140 at Pulham. The detested workhouse,<br />
built only a few years earlier in <strong>18</strong>36, to serve many local parishes,<br />
was where the destitute unemployed were sent when work ran out<br />
in a very hard winter. The winters of <strong>18</strong>38, <strong>18</strong>39 and <strong>18</strong>40 were very<br />
severe. Death rates were high from infectious diseases and snow<br />
remained on the ground for months. It was the Victorian memories<br />
of these hard snow-bound winters that led to snow all over our<br />
Christmas cards. It wasn’t as picturesque if you had to work outside.<br />
There were increasing admissions of agricultural labourers to the<br />
workhouse who simply could not get sufficient work. People had<br />
ended up in the workhouse because of the hated ‘ticket’ or<br />
‘roundsman’ system that worn them down and still failed to give<br />
them work. In desperation they rioted in protest.<br />
Depwade Union Workhouse A140 Pulham Market<br />
15
Local History<br />
The Brockdish roundsman system was not all that common; most<br />
parishes were kinder to their impoverished unemployed. The system<br />
was frowned on by the poor law administration in Somerset House<br />
as being rather cruel but also inefficient. Unemployed men were<br />
obliged to collect a ticket every week from the parish overseer, then<br />
go round every farm and large employer in the parish to enquire<br />
whether there was any possibility of work. If there was any work<br />
then the man was obliged to take it at reduced wages that were<br />
decreed by the parish as the ‘labour rate’. Under the labour rate,<br />
ratepayers could hire people to work for them at a wage rate set by<br />
the parish or choose to pay a labour rate tax to the parish.<br />
Parishes would sometimes supplement these very low wages for<br />
wives and children but not always. In practice, unemployed men<br />
would trudge round from farm to farm all day desperately looking for<br />
work in winter and then come away with a signature on the ticket to<br />
say there was no work. If all the employers signed, then the filled out<br />
ticket could be exchanged for cash or bread relief. If not then the<br />
man would be turned away. It is hardly surprising that the weak, the<br />
sick, the barely unemployable, ended up in the workhouse with<br />
nowhere else to go, exhausted by the struggle.<br />
Plans drawn up by William Thorold, Depwade Union Workhouse <strong>18</strong>35.<br />
16
Local History<br />
Some unscrupulous farmers deliberately paid their workers low<br />
wages knowing that the local tax payer would top up their wages.<br />
Inevitably workers, who were being paid by the parish, did not feel<br />
very committed to the work they were doing and worked<br />
unenthusiastically, feeding the prejudices against ‘the undeserving<br />
poor’ as lazy wastrels.<br />
In <strong>April</strong> <strong>18</strong>35, Brockdish parish poor law overseers made “an<br />
agreement” with the parishioners that 6 farmers, land ‘occupiers’,<br />
William Smith, James Burgess, R Leaper, Levi Welton, Mr Walne (at<br />
the Grove) and Mr Brigham (Brockdish Hall) would keep in<br />
employment one man per 25 acres of land at 8 shillings a week and<br />
in addition could hire unemployed men at the parish labour rate on<br />
the roundsman system, paid for by the parish. The system was<br />
maintained until the harshest winters put everyone out of work for<br />
months and gradually after the late <strong>18</strong>40s, when the worst, most<br />
punitive excesses of the new poor law were being criticised and in<br />
many places reviewed, the roundsman system was dropped.<br />
In the last half of the 19 th century the main reasons for ending up in<br />
the workhouse were frailty in old age, orphaned or abandoned<br />
children or being unable to work because of mental or physical<br />
disability. But there were always the overly optimistic, the feckless,<br />
the poor planner, the gambler and the simply unlucky. Let’s look at<br />
two very typical cases:-<br />
Sam Marriott Brockdish.<br />
Sam was admitted to Depwade Union Workhouse at the age of 12<br />
in late <strong>18</strong>54 after his mother Amy died at the young age of 40. He<br />
was called ‘an imbecile’, in other words he had profound learning<br />
disabilities. His father, also Samuel, was considerably older and<br />
there were two other children, one Eliza, stayed at home with her<br />
father, and an older boy had left home to find work. It is clear that<br />
Sam was being looked after by his mother but when she died the<br />
family could not cope with poor Sam anymore and there was<br />
nowhere else for him to go. Sam was cared for in the workhouse<br />
until he died in 1915 age 72.<br />
17
Local History<br />
John Chenery Thorpe Abbotts.<br />
John also came out of the workhouse only after he had died, to be<br />
buried in Thorpe Abbotts churchyard alongside his wife Ann Finch<br />
who had died many years earlier in <strong>18</strong>65. They married in Thorpe<br />
Abbotts in <strong>18</strong>21. He was born 1796 in Thorpe Abbotts and although<br />
he is listed in the workhouse in <strong>18</strong>81 records as a labourer in fact he<br />
had been a skilled wheelwright, prosperous enough when working.<br />
John and Ann had several children, his sons all became<br />
wheelwrights or skilled carpenters but most died before their elderly<br />
father, leaving only two who could possibly have taken him in as he<br />
got frailer. But they had families of their own and it is likely John was<br />
developing dementia when he was admitted to the workhouse in old<br />
age. There were no residential care homes, no hospitals that would<br />
care for long-term patients, there was no help for families at home,<br />
the workhouse was the only place to go. John Chenery died when<br />
he was 86 in the workhouse, his last resort.<br />
The Poor Law Records for Brockdish and Thorpe Abbotts are in the<br />
Norfolk Record Office ref PD 477/43 and PD277/25. Depwade Poor<br />
Law Union Records are ref C/GP 3. Next time: The Union copes<br />
with feckless George Barkway.<br />
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Local History 01379-668142 All Saints<br />
Church Thorpe 07990-520706 Abbotts<br />
“Collected www.jrbaskerville.co.uk<br />
for the redemption<br />
of the English captives out of<br />
19<br />
rachael@jrbaskerville. co.uk
Turkish Bondage £9 5s 6p December 1670”<br />
This is a hand-written note, on the side of a page, in the All Saints<br />
record of management decisions made by the Church Officials known<br />
as the Vestry Book. Well what’s this all about I wondered?<br />
Piracy and the taking of slaves had been a fact of life in the<br />
Mediterranean for over 300 years. The Mediterranean coastlines<br />
were at the mercy of Barbary pirates (corsairs) from the coast of<br />
North Africa, based mainly in the ports of Algiers, Tunis and Tripoli.<br />
Their number included not only North Africans but also English and<br />
Dutch privateers operating against Spain with the support of the<br />
English Government. Their aim was to capture slaves for the Arab<br />
slave markets in North Africa.<br />
The Barbary pirates attacked and plundered as far north as the<br />
English Channel, Ireland, Scotland and Iceland, with the western<br />
coast of England almost being raided at will. It is estimated that along<br />
with raids along the coast that between 1677 and 1680 some 160<br />
English ships were captured which would translate into a probable<br />
7,000-9,000 able bodied souls taken into slavery in those years.<br />
The English Government, unlike its Catholic neighbours, was slow to<br />
organise or finance the freeing of its nationals by payment of a<br />
ransom. The English Church however did seek funds and the note in<br />
our Vestry Book is testament.<br />
After an attack on Algiers by the British and Dutch in <strong>18</strong>16 more than<br />
4,000 Christian slaves were liberated and the power of the Barbary<br />
pirates was finally broken.<br />
Simon Beet<br />
BROCKDISH AND THORPE ABBOTTS ALLOTMENT ASSOCIATION<br />
Brockdish and Thorpe Abbotts Allotments Association (BATAAA) is<br />
run by a small group of volunteers for members of the local<br />
community. The allotments are situated at the end of Church Road in<br />
Brockdish, just before the bypass.<br />
We still have a few plots and half plots available. If you are interested,<br />
would like to find out more or would like to look round the site, please<br />
e-mail Rebecca Abrahall, BATAAA Secretary, at<br />
bataaa@hotmail.co.uk or contact David Young on 01379 668556.<br />
20
Information<br />
MOBILE LIBRARY<br />
Visits Brockdish and Thorpe Abbotts every four weeks<br />
on a Thursday, calling at:<br />
Brockdish 11:40 am Waveney Heights<br />
Brockdish 12 noon Grove Road<br />
Thorpe Abbotts 12:15 pm Telephone Box / Post Box<br />
Next scheduled visits are:<br />
Thursday 26 th <strong>April</strong><br />
Thursday 24 th May<br />
21
Recipe – Easter Nest Cake<br />
Ingredients<br />
For the chocolate sponges<br />
200ml vegetable oil, plus extra<br />
for the tin<br />
250g plain flour<br />
6 tbsp cocoa powder<br />
2 tsp baking powder<br />
1 tsp bicarbonate of soda<br />
280g soft light brown sugar<br />
250ml buttermilk<br />
22<br />
For the nest<br />
200g marshmallows<br />
100g butter, cut into chunks<br />
2 tbsp cocoa powder<br />
75g salted pretzels, crushed<br />
4 shredded wheat biscuits,<br />
crushed<br />
chocolate eggs, to decorate<br />
2 tsp vanilla extract<br />
3 large eggs<br />
For the icing<br />
150g slightly salted butter, softened, 2 tbsp cocoa powder<br />
300g icing sugar, 4 tbsp milk<br />
Method<br />
1. Heat oven to <strong>18</strong>0C/160C fan/gas 4. Oil and line two 20cm round<br />
cake tins. Add the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, bicarb, sugar<br />
and a large pinch of salt to a bowl. Mix with a whisk, squeezing any<br />
large lumps of sugar through your fingers, until you have a fine,<br />
sandy mix.<br />
2. Whisk the oil with the buttermilk in a jug. Stir in the vanilla and<br />
eggs, then pour the wet ingredients into the dry and mix until there<br />
are no more streaks of flour. Divide the mixture between the tins and<br />
bake for 25 mins. Test the cakes by inserting a skewer into the centre<br />
– if there is any wet mixture on the skewer, return the cakes to the<br />
oven for 5 mins more, then check again. Leave the cakes to cool in<br />
the tins for 15 mins, then transfer to wire racks to cool fully.<br />
3. Next, make the nest. Clean one tin and line it with some oiled<br />
baking parchment. Put the marshmallows and butter in a heatproof<br />
bowl and microwave on high for 1 min, stirring halfway through (or<br />
heat gently in a pan on the hob). Continue microwaving in 20-second<br />
blasts until you get a runny mixture. Stir in the cocoa, pretzels and<br />
shredded wheat until well combined. Tip the mixture into your lined tin<br />
and use the back of your spoon to create a nest shape. Leave to cool<br />
at room temperature for a few hrs, or chill in the fridge if you need it to<br />
set faster.
4. To make the icing, beat the butter, cocoa, icing sugar and milk<br />
together until smooth, adding a splash more milk if the mixture is too<br />
stiff. Assemble the cake by stacking the sponges with icing in<br />
between, topping with more icing and the nest. Fill your nest with as<br />
many chocolate eggs as it will hold, then serve. It may be easier<br />
to cut the cake if you remove the nest – you can then chop the nest<br />
into chunks and serve alongside the cake.<br />
Information<br />
Group Hires with Borderhoppa<br />
Community Transport<br />
Did you know that, along with our door-to-door dial a ride and outings<br />
service for members, not for profit community groups can hire our<br />
minibuses for their own outings.<br />
Go to destinations of your choice, visit your favourite places or enjoy<br />
shopping trips with your group.<br />
Our requirements are very simple. Your group must register with us<br />
as a not for profit organisation. The cost of our annual group<br />
membership is £15. Tell us what your group does and when and<br />
where you would like use of a minibus.<br />
If you would like to make a booking or would like more information,<br />
then please call 01379 854800 or visit www.borderhoppa.org<br />
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FOR A CLEANER OVEN LET US<br />
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For your FREE no obligation<br />
quote CALL 01379 854690<br />
24
THE MARDLER GARDENER AKA PANSY’S POTTERINGS<br />
“Loveliest of trees, the cherry now<br />
Is hung with bloom along the bough,<br />
And stands about the woodland ride<br />
Wearing white for Eastertide.“<br />
A E Housman<br />
Top up raised beds with compost and good quality topsoil.<br />
To top dress containers remove the top 5cm of old compost and<br />
replace with new.<br />
Repair any bare patches in your lawn.<br />
Re-cut lawn edges to straighten them up.<br />
Apply a layer of mulch around perennials, trees, and shrubs before<br />
the hot weather arrives. Use organic matter such as well rotted<br />
manure.<br />
Chit and plant out second early potatoes in the first half of the<br />
month, main crop in the second half. Many crops can be sown<br />
directly into the ground now including beetroot, Swiss Chard,<br />
Summer Cauliflower and Perpetual Spinach in well-prepared soil.<br />
Finish cutting back any dead foliage left on your perennials and<br />
ornamental grasses to make way for new growth.<br />
Plant summer-flowering bulbs into beds, borders and containers.<br />
Divide primroses after they have finished flowering.<br />
CLARE HACKETT-BROWN<br />
On behalf of Clare Hackett Brown's family I would just like to say how<br />
touched we all were - the help to organise the funeral; the wake at the<br />
Red Lion; The Swan where I had a wobbly; Jackie and John for our<br />
accommodation, Eileen and Derek for all their help.<br />
Thank you once again from Simon and Martin (her nephews), Joe,<br />
Allan, Brian, Martyn and Penny ("Penelope" as Clare always called<br />
me) Vaughan.<br />
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Information<br />
Alburgh Village Cinema<br />
Presents “MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS”<br />
(Judi Dench, Derek Jacobi, Johnny Depp & Michelle Pfeifer)<br />
(Crime /Drama /Mystery)<br />
on Friday 20 th <strong>April</strong> 20<strong>18</strong><br />
at ALBURGH VILLAGE HALL (Low Road Alburgh IP20 0BZ)<br />
Doors & Bar Open 6.30pm Film Starts 7.30pm<br />
Ices available during the interval<br />
Adults £4 Children (U16) £2 BBFC PG<br />
(www.alburgh.org.uk or 01986 788477)<br />
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Information<br />
Harleston & District Dementia Friendly Community<br />
<strong>April</strong> News<br />
Monthly Cafe<br />
Don’t forget that our café & support group is open on the 3 rd Thursday<br />
of every month at the Swift Piano Bar at the Swan Hotel, Harleston,<br />
2pm – 4pm with our next session on Thursday 19 th <strong>April</strong> 20<strong>18</strong><br />
This month our Café is kindly sponsored by the Coop<br />
We provide refreshments, cakes and stimulating activities fully<br />
supported by our volunteers. Please be assured of a very warm,<br />
friendly welcome to everyone.<br />
Dementia Lunches<br />
In May we plan to start having Dementia Lunches on the 1 st Thursday<br />
of the month, we will be offering a 2 course meal in pleasant and<br />
comfortable surroundings at a very low cost.<br />
Dementia Business Awareness Training<br />
In the next couple of months we will be holding some more free<br />
Business Training at The Swan Hotel, Harleston, if you or your staff<br />
would like to attend, you would be most welcome. Register for your<br />
place please.<br />
Annual General Meeting<br />
This will be held at Malthouse Court (Communal Block) on the 24 th<br />
<strong>April</strong> at 7pm . Everyone welcome and refreshments will be served.<br />
Follow us<br />
@Harlestonddfc<br />
For further information on any of the above please contact<br />
patricia.simmonds@mail.com 01379 676557<br />
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Brockdish Church<br />
By kind permission of the owners of The Grange, the newly<br />
designed gardens will be open on June 16th 1.30pm- 5.00pm.<br />
Proceeds will be going towards Brockdish Church. Sorry no dogs<br />
allowed. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Entrance fee<br />
£3. Walk across the road to the Grove to enjoy refreshments and<br />
stalls on the front lawns. Andrew Longe has kindly made the yard<br />
available for car parking. Do put the date in your diary and come<br />
along and enjoy the afternoon.<br />
On June 10 th there will be a Pet Service held in Brockdish Church.<br />
All creatures great and small are all welcome - no legs to eight<br />
legs! The Service commences at 3pm. Please come and join in<br />
with or without a pet.<br />
Jan Croxson - Church Warden<br />
Thorpe Abbotts Church<br />
The chestnut tree, on the north side of the Churchyard lost a large<br />
bough in the autumn storms which indicated that the tree was<br />
deceased. Advice was sought, which suggested, that its time had<br />
come, thus it was that a couple of weeks ago armed with<br />
chainsaws it was taken down. It has opened up the Churchyard<br />
wonderfully and now the debate is whether we replace it and if so<br />
what with.<br />
Easter will soon be on us. In the meantime of course we are in lent<br />
during which we do not have flowers in Church. During this time,<br />
lead by Lynda Mansfield, we have a Lent course run as a house<br />
group around the village. Probably the most important Christian<br />
event of the year Easter is quite early this year being the last<br />
weekend of March. We will hold an Easter Service at All Saints at<br />
9.30am on Sunday 1 st <strong>April</strong>, as always a very warm welcome<br />
awaits.<br />
Simon Beet<br />
30
Church Service Times<br />
Rector<br />
http://www.7churches.org.uk<br />
Benefice Administrator<br />
admin@7churches.org.uk<br />
Brockdish<br />
Church Wardens<br />
Thorpe Abbotts<br />
Church Warden<br />
Revd Nigel Tufnell - 01379 308905<br />
rector@7churches.org.uk<br />
Lucy Cooke Mon to Fri 01379 851148<br />
9am to1pm.<br />
Facebook.com/7churches.org.uk<br />
Ann Cork - 01379 668635<br />
Jan Croxson - 01379 668630<br />
Christine McDonald<br />
01379 669116<br />
1 st Apr Brockdish 9.30am Easter Holy Communion<br />
Thorpe Abbotts 9.30am Easter Holy Communion<br />
8 th <strong>April</strong> Brockdish 9.30am Morning Prayer<br />
15 th <strong>April</strong> Brockdish 9.30am Holy Communion<br />
22 nd <strong>April</strong> Brockdish 9.30am Morning Prayer<br />
29 th <strong>April</strong> Harleston 10.30am Benefice Communion<br />
6 th May Brockdish 9.30am Morning Prayer<br />
13 th May Brockdish 9.30pm<br />
Morning Prayer<br />
Thorpe Abbotts 9.30am<br />
Holy Communion<br />
20 th May Brockdish 9.30am Holy Communion<br />
27 th May Brockdish 9.30am Morning Prayer<br />
Quiz & Light Supper - Saturday 12 th May (Bring your own drink), 7.30pm for<br />
8pm start at Brockdish Village Hall – £4pp, Book with Jan 668630.<br />
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Advance Warning!<br />
Brockdish Village Garage Sale is planned for<br />
Saturday 30 th June<br />
9 am – 1.30 pm<br />
To take part phone Jill on 669057<br />
Proceeds to The <strong>Mardler</strong> and Brockdish Village Hall<br />
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