Mardler October 2018 JS

Mardler
BROCKDISH & THORPE ABBOTTS
THE
Edition No. 218 October & November 2018
THE MARDLER is FREE and delivered to all
houses in Brockdish and Thorpe Abbotts
Also available on-line at
www.themardler.blogspot.com

Editorial Team
Useful Contacts
Editor
Robert Buck 01379 668663
robertbuck1974@talktalk.net
Chairperson
Jan Croxson 01379 668630
jpcrocky@btinternet.com
Advertising
Judith Chambers 01379 668072
judecham@gmail.com
Treasurer
Janice Stacey 01379 668549
janicestacey@btinternet.com
Surgeries Harleston
Bullock Fair Close 01379 853217
Emergencies 01379 853503
Police
Harleston and Diss 101
NHS Direct 111
Electricity Power Cuts 105
Gas Emergencies 0800 111 999
Mary Alderton 01379 668537
maryalderton@btinternet.com
Linda Bell 01379 669293
belltomlinda@gmail.com
Anglian Water 03457 145 145
South Norfolk Council 01508 533633
Borderhoppa 01379 854800
Cheryl Mounser 01379 741435
billmounser@yahoo.co.uk
The views expressed in The Mardler are not
necessarily those of the Editorial team. The Editor
reserves the right to amend or alter any copy
received.
____________________________________
BROCKDISH VILLAGE HALL
Monday - Aerobics 6:45 - 7:45pm
Tuesday - Line Dancing 7.15pm
Wednesday - Ballroom & Latin Dance
Classes 7pm – 11pm *
Thursday - Tea Dance 2pm
- Carpet Bowls 7:30pm
Friday - Hall available for hire
Saturday - Quizzes, Ballroom Dancing*
Sunday - Tea Dance*
* See notice board for more information.
ADVERTISING IN THE MARDLER
If you are interested in advertising, the
current rates are £25 for ¼ page and
£50 for ½ page, which covers the 6
issues from 1 st April annually. The cost
for less than 6 issues is £5 per issue for
¼ page and £10 per issue for ½ page.
For further information please contact
Judith Chambers, see above.
Brockdish Village Hall
Bookings Jill Edwards 01379 669057
Thorpe Abbotts Village Hall
Bookings Kelvin Halifax 01379 668705
Carpet Bowls Club
Glyn Catchpole 01379 668698
Line Dancing
Tracey Hood 07854 943490
Aerobics
Clare Peed 01379 668715
Sunday Tea Dance/Ballroom
Latin Dance Classes
Niall O’Brien 07526 883776
South Norfolk District Councillor
Jenny Wilby 01379 741504
Parish Clerk
Teresa Hines 01379 308617
Libraries
Harleston 01379 852549
Diss 01379 642609
2

Editorial
September saw the annual Macmillan World’s Biggest Coffee
Mornings being held over Great Britain. Here in Brockdish we
always like to be a bit different, so if you thought you’d missed
supporting a worthwhile cause, fear not as there is one being hosted
this Friday at Brockdish Village Hall – see page 8 for more details.
The end of this month is Halloween and yet again Thorpe Abbotts
Village Hall are hosting their annual Halloween Ball on Saturday 27 th
October with fun and games for all ages, be sure to book your
tickets for an entertaining evening.
Robert Buck - Editor
REMEMBER
Closing date for entries in the
December 2018 / January 2019
issue is
Monday 5 th November 2018
Articles received after this date may
not be included in the next issue.
_______________________________________________
WHAT’S ON
October 2018
Fri 5 th MacMillan Coffee Morning
Brockdish Village Hall (p8)
Sat 6 th Thorpe Abbotts Social (p7)
Thurs 11 th Mobile Library (p28)
Fri 12 th Thorpe Abbotts Bar (p5)
Sat 13 th Starston WW1 Talk
Starston Jubilee Hall (p31)
Tues 16 th HIP Information Talk
(p17)
Wed 17 th Waveney Heritage Talk
(p21)
Thurs18 th Dementia Café (p34)
Fri 26 th Syleham Bingo (31)
Sat 27 th Halloween Ball (p5)
Sun 28 th Waveney Heritage Talk
(p21)
Tues 28 th Parish Council Brockdish
(p12)
November 2018
Sat 3rd Thorpe Abbotts Social
Club (p7)
Thur 8 th Mobile Library (28)
Fri 9 th Bar Night Thorpe Abbotts
Village Hall (p5)
Sat 10 th Syleham Coffee Morning
(p32)
Sat 10th Race Night Thorpe
Abbotts Village Hall (p38)
Wed 14thWaveney Heritage Talk
(p21)
Sat 24th Quiz Brockdish((p18)
Sun 25 th Waveney Heritage Talk
(p21)
Thurs 29thParish Council Meeting
Thorpe Abbotts (p12)
Fri 30 th Syleham Bingo (p30)
3

Sun
)
KM Gardencare
Hedge & Lawn Cutting
Fencing Erected& Stained
Trees Pruned & Felled
Seeding & Turfing
Patios & Driveways
Gardens Cleared
Stump Grinding
Mini Digger Work
All Garden care Undertaken
Phone: 01379 687983
Mobile: 07799 492603
Do You Need
Your Garden
TIDYING
UP?
Call Tom Bell on
01379 669293 or
07905208209
Very Reasonable
Rates
4

Village Information
The Flying F rtress Bar
At Thorpe Abbotts Village Hall
Friday 12 th October - Bar night, 6.30pm onwards.
Saturday 27 th October - Halloween Ball, 5pm onwards, to
include Trick or Treat around the Village.
Friday 9 th November – Bar Night 6.30 pm onwards.
Saturday 8 th December – Christmas Tree Lights Switch On at
the Village Pump followed by Bar Night.
We hope everyone appreciates the events that we are putting
on at the Hall; however, these do need staffing. If you are able
to help in any way, please sign up for a shift on the bar. It’s
good fun! Shifts are: 6.30-8.30pm or 8.30pm - close. Let Paul
Slater know and he will add you to the rota.
Paul Slater (tel. 668585) Mike Pursehouse (tel. 668498)
5

Village Information
OLD COACH HOUSE BROCKDISH STRAWBERRY TEA
Not the best of days after all that sunshine, but, despite the awful
weather, we still had a great turn out. We finally raised enough to
pay for the new village memorial bench. We also sent £250 to
Harleston and District Dementia Café.
Thank you to everyone who came along and supported us. Also
thank you for the donations, prizes, cakes; not forgetting everyone
who gave their time, helping us make it another successful day.
With our best wishes
John, Jackie and Jean
6

Village Information
THORPE ABBOTTS SOCIAL CLUB
Since my last report, there have been four club events, all were
very well attended. The members night saw over 50 people come
along to a free food and drinks night. This was to show the Club’s
appreciation for the continual support by the members.
The calendar of dance events for 2019 is now fully booked. Any
help from village folk to help and support us would be
appreciated.
It had not been planned to have a New Year’s event, but Club
members were strongly in support of a having one. We have now
booked the popular Dave Mann, so will be having a New Year
Party. Tickets priced £12 to include buffet supper. Kelvin on
01379 668705 will be taking bookings.
Next dance is 6 th October with Lisa Marie.
3 rd November Mary Cubley
1 st December Bob Whiting
Linda Halifax (668705)
StyleS
UNISEX HAIRDRESSERS
15A WILDERNESS CLOSE
HARLESTON
01379 852228
7

Village Information
Macmillan Coffee Morning
Brockdish Village Hall
Friday 5th October
10.00am-11.30am
Everyone very welcome
Coffee mornings can help change lives!
BROCKDISH VILLAGE HALL
CHRISTMAS DAY 12 NOON TO 3.30 PM
Christmas day buffet lunch
Good company, transport available to anyone needing it from
Brockdish or surrounding villages. If this is something you
might be interested in then please contact myself.
Email debbiegibbs@live.co.uk
Tel 01379 669332
Debbie Gibbs
8

Village Information
B4RN is back!
Better Broadband for Brockdish and Thorpe Abbotts
In my last update in May, I reported there was a pause in
progressing the superfast 1000MB optical fibre service from B4RN
to our villages. It was because the parent company in the north of
England had decided to take stock of how fast realistically they were
able to support local community projects like ours. I am delighted to
announce that they have now appointed a local person, employed
by B4RN, to progress the project locally. Getting started still
requires 50% sign-up from households in our civil parish of the
two villages before we can get a routing plan and get
commitment on investment funding. (Syleham is now over 50%
signed up. We aren’t going to let those Suffolk folk beat us are we?)
Charles Errington, our new contact at B4RN, is a local man living
in the Heywood, Diss and has great experience in communications,
finance and running businesses. He has already progressed the
project from the live Scole hub and there is funding in place to take
the fibre routes to Billingford and soon to Burston and Shimpling and
Tivetshall.
To remind you, the B4RN ‘hub’ is now installed at Scole Village Hall,
Ransome Ave, Scole and there are now 50 properties connected,
getting phenomenal speeds of 950-1000MB. Anyone who wishes
can see it in action at Scole Community Centre on Friday evenings.
7.30-9.00pm. Just go along and test it out.
Why bother with B4RN? We’ve got increased speeds from BT’s
new cabinets, although not providing what was promised and with
BT’s usual customer service. ItsWisp is another possibility for some.
Here are the reasons we need B4RN:
Ultrafast broadband adds £20,000 to the value of
your house.
B4RN service is not diminished in the evenings and
at weekends by contention rates (when everyone
else is online with you).
9

The B4RN monthly charge is less than BT. It is £30
per month.
With B4RN you can ditch your BT phone landline,
saving substantial money.
B4RN is owned by the local Community, profits come
back to us.
There is a connection charge and we cannot progress the local
project until funding is in place via the Community Interest Company
BUT many individual households would not be expected to invest
personally. It’s a choice but the more people who invest small
amounts, the quicker we can get the total funding in place. More
information is available on that.
I shall be emailing those who originally expressed an interest to see
if you are still interested. Meanwhile, you can register an interest
WITH NO COMMITMENT on https://b4rn.org.uk/b4rnservice/register-an-interest
where Brockdish and Thorpe Abbotts will
shortly have its own section under East Anglia. Anyone else who
wants to know more, please email me at
elaine.murphyrobb@gmail.com.
Elaine Murphy
The Grange, Brockdish.
BROCKDISH CARPET BOWLS CLUB
The Club members have been busy playing in the summer league.
We have won 7 matches and lost 5. WELL DONE all members.
We have lost the first league of the Final of the Cup to Kenninghall,
leaving the return match to play at a later date.
We meet in Brockdish Village Hall most Thursdays at 7.30 pm.
Anybody interested, please come along.
Glyn Catchpole
10

Village Information
STREET PARKING WITH CONSIDERATION
Consider when you park your vehicle particularly in relation to
dropped kerbs. This applies to most of us, in order to gain
access to the road from your driveway. Therefore please do
not obstruct your neighbour’s or anyone else’s dropped kerb
without permission.
In addition, if you feel the need to park, on the pavement
please ensure there is sufficient space for a mobility scooter or
push chair to pass between your vehicle and the edge of the
adjoining property. This is particularly noticeable in The Street
in Brockdish by pedestrians when walking to and from the pub.
11

Parish Council
BROCKDISH PARISH COUNCIL (Including Thorpe Abbotts)
CHAIRMAN – Christine Mackenzie
Clerk – Teresa Hines Tel: 01379 308617
e-mail:brockdishthorpeabbottspc@gmail.com
We are still seeking Councillors - for further details please
contact us, see above contact details.
PLANNING ( www.south-norfolk.gov.uk /onlineapplications)
Applications
● 2018/1101 47 The Street, Brockdish
Variation of condition 2 following 2014/1945 - to allow the
addition of an attached garage & also a timber terrace with
glass balustrade to the rear of the property to facilitate fire
escape.
Decisions (applications approved by SNC & PC)
● 2018/0730 2 Crabtree Rise, Brockdish
Remove existing brick wall & replace with trellis garden
fencing.
● 2018/0743 1 The Street, Brockdish
To alter internal structure to accommodate attached outhouse
/ utility room with access from the main house.
● 2018/1011 12 The Street, Brockdish
Two storey side extension.
● 2018/1075 3-5 The Street, Brockdish
Repair/replacement of part roof finish & alteration to doors &
windows, installation of shower room & insulation, re-wire &
re-plumb.
● 2018/1468 Ynot, Mill Road, Thorpe Abbotts
Single & two storey extensions to the rear (not approved by
PC).
● 2018/1190 Land adj. to 66 The Street, Brockdish
Erection of 1 no dwelling with parking & turning & construction
of a new highways access.
12

Parish Council
DOG FOULING
Please clear up after your dog - bag it and bin it. There are
dog waste bins in Brockdish and Thorpe Abbotts. Please be
aware that it is an offence for a person in control of a dog not
to clear up the dog mess immediately, on any land that is open
to the air and to which the public is entitled or permitted to
have access (with or without payment).
Offenders can be issued with a fixed penalty notice of £80,
reduced to £60, if paid within 10 days, or if taken to court, a
fine up to £1000. If you see someone allowing their dog to foul
and not clear it up, please contact SNC with the owner’s
details, and where it happened so it can be investigated and
cleaned up www.south-norfolk.gov.uk or call 01508 533701.
STREET LIGHTS
Please report street light outages to PC Clerk or Chairman.
Dates of next scheduled meetings:- (members of the public
are welcome to attend)
Agenda posted on both village notice boards prior to meeting.
Tuesday 30th October 7pm Waveney Heritage Centre,
Brockdish
Thursday 29th November 7pm Thorpe Abbotts Village
DWS FENCING & GARDEN MAINTAINANCE
All types of fencing patios + paths pressure washed
All garden work undertaken Fencing stained
Trees, hedges + lawns cut Large area cleared
House, garage, shed and yard clearance
Fully insured
Tel: 01379 650380 Mobile: 07899 893380
13

Carole Mole Catcher
The expert you can trust
Competitive Rates No Fuss
01508 47 19 16
07918 18 78 37
carole@norfolk-molecatcher.co.uk
14

Coffee Break Jokes
Q. What do witches like to read in the newspaper?
Ans. Their horror scopes.
Q. Why did the little ghost keep looking in the mirror?
Ans. To make sure she wasn't there.
1st witch - 'Goodness, your little girl's grown.'
2nd witch - 'Yes, she's really gruesome.'
Q. Was Dracula ever married?
Ans. No, he was a bat-chiller.
* * * * *
United States Quiz
1. In which State is Disneyland?
2. Which is the largest of the Great Lakes?
3. Name 4 States beginning with W.
4. How many miles is it to travel from New York to
San Francisco?
5. In which State is Chicago?
6. How many States can you name which begin with 'New'?
7. In which State is Las Vegas?
8. Name the National Park which is the nation’s largest
sub- tropical wilderness.
Answers on Page 37
English is a pain!
The buck does funny things when the does are present.
The wind was too strong to wind the sail.
A thought on age - Remember, once you are over the hill you
begin to pick up speed.
15

HARLESTON CARPETS AND FLOORING
Our friendly staff will guide you through the selection of your new
flooring, and you can rest assured that we will manage the selection,
installation/fitting of your new flooring from start to finish.
Man made and wool carpets, Luxury Vinyl Tiles, Hard Wood
flooring, vinyls and cushion floor
All Domestic and Commercial flooring supplied and fitted
Bring this ad with you and receive 10% off your chosen flooring*
No.6 The Thoroughfare, Harleston IP20 9AX 01379 309209
*Offer not valid with other in store offers
16

Information
You are invited
to an afternoon with
Harleston Information Plus
Brockdish Village Hall
Tuesday 16 th October 2pm – 4pm
This is a free, social get-together with tea and cakes, plus
information about local activities and services. Everyone is
welcome to come along to meet with Information Plus staff
and your Brockdish friends and neighbours. Harleston
Information Plus is a voluntary group that runs an information
centre, jobs club and community hub in Harleston. We are
working to bring people together to chat, have fun and learn
more about their area.
For more information call Julie Helsby on 01379 851920.
Part of the Better Together Norfolk project
17

Last Shots Fired Cycle Ride - 10 - 15th November 2018
On 18th August 2014 I was fortunate enough to be part of a team
of ex Servicemen 'mates' and friends who departed London to
cycle to Mons in Belgium in time to commemorate the first shots
fired by British forces in the early morning of 22 August 1914.
Successfully achieved, relatively incident free, £12,500 raised for
the RBL and no doubt buoyed by a moderate amount of alcohol
we all agreed it would be a fine thing to complete 'the journey'
with a return trip 4 years later to commemorate the last shots
fired. That time is now fast approaching and planning has
commenced. Twelve of the original 14 are back in training,
hunting down the lycra and pain killers that got them through the
week 4 years ago.
The plan is to depart Saturday 10th November and drive to
Mons. Sunday 11th November we will attend a Service in Mons
to commemorate the 100th Anniversary of the end of the Great
War. Monday 12 November we plan to ride to Ypres taking in as
many War Grave Commission sites as we can. Tuesday 13th
November, we depart Ypres for the Channel and overnight in
Folkstone. Wednesday 14th November, Folkestone to the Royal
Military School of Engineering, my Alma Mata in Chatham.
Thursday 15th November its Chatham to London and a small
reception at Lloyds of London before dispersing for a well-earned
shandy or two.
All money raised goes to the RBL. I have set up a Just Giving
page - work in progress but a link is
here: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/marc-finch1
Marc Finch
QUIZ NIGHT
SATURDAY 24 th November 7:30 for 8:00pm
Admission £4 BROCKDISH VILLAGE HALL
Bring your own drink Jan 668630
18

Remembrance Sunday.
As we all will know this year sees the
100 th anniversary of the guns falling
silent. Many of us will be at various
memorials around the country in
memory of those fallen. What often
strikes me and reinforced during my
research is that these are not just
names. They are sons, brothers or
fathers and when you see the same surname repeated I can
only wonder how that will have impacted the family and in a
wider sense the local community. I lived in France as a
youngster in the 1960’s and remember wondering why there
were so many little old ladies dressed in black. France, of
course, lost almost an entire generation over the 4 years of
conflict.
Not only is this an important chance for us to reflect on the two
World Wars, but, what is often not realized, is that this country
has been involved in military combat operations every year bar
one since 1946. The Royal British Legion has a critical role to
play in supporting those whose lives have been impacted by
their service.
So wear your Poppy with pride… “for your tomorrows we gave
our todays”
The Summer
Well what a summer we have had, wall to wall sunshine day
after day! Now a couple of years ago we had promise of a
BBQ summer which turned into one of the wettest ever! This
one however rather crept up on us. I cannot remember seeing
the countryside (or my garden) looking so brown. It seemed
like no amount of watering was working. You would think that
it would have been a perfect time for tomatoes; sadly I am told
that it was far too hot. Apparently they do not like
19

temperatures above 30°C which rather bizarrely stops the
toms from ripening. Happily September and August saw a
return to relatively normal temperatures, so all things, apart
from my beans, have recovered.
The last really hot summer was way back in 1976 with the
countryside all about going very crispy. All bar the gardens in
Thorpe Abbotts, who had access to the pump, which in those
days still drew water. It had been refurbished a few years
before and had benefitted from being rebored. The result of a
water table drop due to the number of bore holes servicing the
Airfield. Piped water only came to the village in 1952/3 when
each of the houses were provided with a single stand pipe,
which sat on the verge at the front of the house. I believe
these were still in use when the Estate sold off the houses in
the 1970/80’s.
Well, it seems the autumn is setting fair so far, which means
that by the time you read this it will be pouring down with rain!
Enjoy.
Simon Beet
MEL’S HEDGEHOG RESCUE
I rehabilitate hedgehogs where I can, working closely with
Uplands Way Vets, who treat them when needed. They then
come back to me until they are well enough to be
released back into the wild. I have donation bins at Pulham
Market Garden Centre and Uplands Way Vets .My number is
01379 669174 .I also have a facebook page, Mel’s Hedgehog
Rescue
Mel Boon - Brockdish
20

Information
AUTUMN EVENTS AT
THE WAVENEY HERITAGE CENTRE
At last! We proudly present some public talks - all on local
subjects, at extremely reasonable ticket prices and just up the
road!
Stones and Bones Tim Holt-Wilson
Wed 17 October 2.30 - 4.30pm Tickets £5.00 and £4.00*
The geological history of the Waveney Valley. Previously presented
at the Fisher Theatre in 2014 to a capacity audience of 120, this is
THE definitive story of the history of the Waveney Valley.
Paupers, Lunatics and the Decayed: Discovering our less
fortunate ancestors Elaine Murphy
Sun 28 October 2:30 - 4:00 pm Tickets £5.00 and £4.00*.
Today we take the Welfare State for granted, but Elaine's talk looks
at how care for the sick, destitute and unemployed was organised in
the 17th-20th centuries.
Natures Future: Mark Cocker
Norfolk's vital role in the story of British conservation
Wed 14 November 2018 7:30 - 9.30 pm Tickets £8.00 and £6.00*
Nationally celebrated author, journalist and speaker, Mark speaks of
the conservation work in his home county as well as giving practical
advice in a Q&A session focussing on practical ways to support
local wildlife.
Dick Turpin: The Myth and the Man Stephen Poulter
Sun 25 November 2018 2:30 - 4:00 pm Tickets £5.00 and £4.00*.
In this presentation Stephen contrasts the myth about the
"gentleman highwayman" which has grown up over the last 150
years in magazines, novels, films, and television with the true story
of one of history's most notorious villains who was a murderous
thug.
www.waveneyheritage.org for more details and to book tickets
* Reduced ticket prices for members of Waveney Heritage.
Join on our site to save on all tickets and sales!
21

22

Local History
George Barkaway of Brockdish, a tale of the New Poor Law
© Elaine Murphy.
Dickens’ Oliver Twist and other colourful tales of the harsh
cruelty and bureaucratic inflexibility of unthinking beadles and
overseers has coloured our ideas about the way the poor law
was administered by the Victorian Boards of Guardians and
union workhouses. It was an uncompromising and rigid
system, designed to deter the feckless. It could also be a life
saver and provided financial support and care when there was
nothing else available. The life story of George Barkaway from
Brockdish, and his family, gives a flavour of a bureaucracy that
wasn’t always unthinking or unkind.
The Barkaway family, on Brockdish Street, (later simply
Barkway) were a prosperous hardworking family of
fellmongers, who prepared skins for leather tanning. Charles
Barkaway (1769-1843), became right hand man to Brockdish
tannery owner John Doughty. When John Doughty died,
suddenly in 1837, the Barkaways could not afford to buy the
whole tannery with its stores of skins and oak bark, but, they
could afford to keep the fellmongering business going in a
smaller way.
A fellmonger at work
23

Local History
One of the Barkaway sons though had a somewhat checkered
career. George Barkaway was born in 1802, one of 5 children
and he also became a fellmonger. He married Mary Masterson
in Starston, Norfolk, on 1 October 1824 when he was 22 years
old and settled in Brockdish where he had seven children with
Mary before she tragically died in 1836, only two months after
giving birth to her last child.
After Mary’s death, things started going wrong for George.
First, his oldest son, also George, died when he was 11years
old and soon afterwards in 1838, George and his other six
children were admitted to the Pulham Workhouse. Why was
the family destitute? Why not supported by his brother or other
members of the family? The family situation is unclear; even
prosperous tradesmen had little spare cash to give to
extended family members. Perhaps there was insufficient work
or George was not a reliable worker, or quite possibly he was
in a poor mental state after his bereavements. Soon after
going into the workhouse, another child, Emma, died.
George must have seen that the only salvation for him and his
remaining children was to find work. But how do you search
for work when you are in the workhouse? In late December
1839 George ran off from Pulham Workhouse without
permission and found himself a fellmongering job in
Cambridge. He took with him the respectable clothing the
workhouse had given him…a waistcoat, a shirt and a pair of
stockings and left behind the old stuff he had been admitted
with. That was a ‘larceny’ according to the workhouse master,
James Hardy, who sent a constable off to Cambridge to
apprehend poor George, who was then paraded before the
Magistrates. He pleaded guilty to the theft of the clothes but to
his surprise Mr Wilson, Chairman of the bench, told him he
should plead not guilty as he was surely intending to return the
24

Local History
clothing and that his new master had given him a very good
character. Mr Wilson declared that “There was no felonious
carrying away”, and directed the jury to acquit the surprised
George, to the annoyance of Hardy.
Up before the Magistrate (originally an illustration by H Furniss
of Dicken’s Artful Dodger)
This new job gave George the relaunch he needed and before
long he had found another fellmongering job in Beccles,
probably at the huge tannery in Northgate and also acquired a
new girlfriend, Elizabeth Cole (often written Coal), and
together they established a new home for George’s surviving
five children at 23 Fen Lane, Beccles. Elizabeth is referred to
as a ‘housekeeper’ in the census of 1851 but she gave birth to
25

Local History
baby Lydia in 1850. The couple married quietly in 1858. In
1859 George lost his job again, for reasons unknown and
returned to Bury St Edmunds to find work, leaving Elizabeth
and the now 6 children without funds to support them.
A desperate Elizabeth applied to the Brockdish parish
overseers for support, in spite of living in Beccles. The great
advantage of the poor law ‘settlement’ rules was that if you
could claim a ‘settlement’ in a parish through birth, marriage or
long term employment, the parish was obliged to support you
when you couldn’t support yourself. Elizabeth, through her
marriage to George, and his children, because they were
legitimately his progeny, all qualified for support from
Brockdish parish. The parish overseer had the power to
compel George to agree that his employer could deduct
money (the sum of 5 shillings a week) from his wages for the
support of his family and George signed that agreement.
The Bury job didn’t last though and George was obliged to go
even further afield for work, fetching up in the 1861 census in
lodgings in Cowden, Kent working locally, again as a ‘tanner’.
Elizabeth was still in Beccles but was still being supported by
George. But ten years later, George was no longer working
and had been admitted to the Union Workhouse in Milton,
Kent, by then 69 years old, probably too unwell to work and
Elizabeth had chosen to join him, accompanied by her two
daughters Lydia age 22 and Harriet age 13. Elizabeth had
been given work at the workhouse as a nurse, probably in
simple exchange for her own board and lodging.
George died in the workhouse a year later in 1872, Elizabeth
stayed on as ‘inmate’ and ‘nurse’, Lydia staying with her. Lydia
died in the workhouse, in 1894, only 44 years old; Elizabeth
also died in the workhouse in 1897.
26

Local History
The Union Workhouse at Milton, Kent.
George Barkaway’s story raises far more questions than it
answers. Perhaps George was less gifted than his siblings, or
he may not have been emotionally robust. He was often adrift
in a difficult situation, in the end unable to cope without a lot of
support from the authorities. The new poor law wasn’t all bad,
in spite of its reputation. Elizabeth and her children and
stepchildren were supported by the system and in the end a
fudged arrangement in the Kent workhouse enabled them to
end their days together, separate rooms and tough regulations
notwithstanding, the Guardians probably did the best they
could.
[George’s story has been traced through the online census
data, the Depwade Union Records and Brockdish parish
overseers’ records in the Norfolk Record Office, and
newspaper reports from Norfolk, Suffolk and Kent. Elaine will
be talking about how to use poor law records for family history
research at the Waveney Heritage Centre (the old school) on
Sunday afternoon 28 October at 2.30pm.
Elaine’s new book, Monks Hall, the History of a Waveney
Valley Manor will be available from 20th October at local
bookshops and online at www.poppyland.co.uk.
27

Information
MOBILE LIBRARY
Visits Brockdish and Thorpe Abbotts every four weeks
on a Thursday, calling at:
Brockdish 11:40 am Waveney Heights
Brockdish 12 noon Grove Road
Thorpe Abbotts 12:15 pm Telephone Box / Post Box
Next scheduled visits are:
Thursday 11 th October and Thursday 8 th November
THE MARDLER GARDENER AKA PANSY’S POTTERINGS
Fall, leaves, fall; die, flowers, away;
Lengthen night and shorten day;
Every leaf speaks bliss to me
Fluttering from the autumn tree.
I shall smile when wreaths of snow
Blossom where the rose should grow;
I shall sing when night’s decay
Ushers in a drearier day.
Emily Bronte.
October is an ideal time for moving and planting trees, shrubs
and climbers and making new hedges.
Bare-root deciduous trees and shrubs, as well as rootwrapped
evergreens, become available towards the end of the
month, so you could think ahead and prepare the ground for
them now. They are cheaper than containerised plants.
Renovate old lawns or create new grass areas.
Harvest apples, pears, grapes and nuts.
If you did not tidy up the pond last month, then clear out any
debris, weeds and excess oxygenating plants now. Leaving
plants on the side of the pond for a day before composting
them, so that any wildlife has time to escape back to the pond.
Protect plants that are borderline hardy, such as Agapanthus
with a thick mulch of straw or garden compost.
28

Open Monday to Saturday
Offering
ESPA facials, massage, reflexology,
manicure, pedicures, gel nails, ear
candles, tinting and much more......
1a Sawmills Road Diss
Norfolk IP22 1PT
Tel 01379 643533
29
01379-668142
Plots available now at
Brockdish
07990-520706
and Thorpe
rachael@jrbaskerville. co.uk
Abbotts Allotments
www.jrbaskerville.co.uk

Information
Brockdish and Thorpe Abbotts Allotments Association
(BATAAA) is run by a small group of volunteers for members
of the local community. The allotments are situated at the end
of Church Road in Brockdish, just before the bypass.
Now is a great time to get an allotment ready for next year’s
growing season so why not give it a go! We have full and half
plots available and there is water on site.
If you are interested, would like to find out more or would like
to look round the site, please e-mail Rebecca Abrahall,
BATAAA Secretary, at bataaa@hotmail.co.uk or contact David
Young on 01379 668556.
Starston Jubilee Hall
The centenary of the 1918 Armistice is being marked in
Starston by War Girls, a programme of readings which
commemorate the role of women in the First World War. The
readings, performed by professionals, include poetry and
newspaper reports, as well as extracts from diaries and letters,
which show the range of war work which women undertook.
The event takes place on Saturday 13 th October 7.30 pm at
Starston’s Jubilee Hall, with tickets costing £10. To book
contact Michael Bartlett on 01379 852318.
Syleham and Wingfield Village Hall
Bingo continues on the last Friday of each month at Syleham
and Wingfield Village Hall. We raise funds for locally
nominated charities and good causes. Come along on 26 th
October and 30th November when we will raise money to add
to the purchase of a defibrillator for Wingfield. We start just
after 8pm. The bar will be open and we will run a raffle. We
look forward to seeing you.
30

Information
Syleham and Wingfield Village Hall
'Come along for Coffee' on Saturday 10 th November between
10.30 and 12.30. Enjoy the tea, coffee, cakes and savouries,
as well as a natter. We will have a raffle, cake stall, Usborne
books, Jan's Jams, Jewellery and some crafts. Free entry. Do
join us!
Harleston and District U3A
Ageing in the U.K. has for some time now been characterised,
almost entirely, in terms of “bed-blocking”, dementia and
similar negative stereotypes. There is some truth in this, of
course, but plenty of older folk thoroughly enjoy life, post fulltime
work which is where U3A comes in.
We are an inclusive, self-funding, non-political, non-religious,
cost effective organisation run “BY the members FOR the
members.
The title of a recent report - “Living Life, Extending Horizons,
Challenging Conventions” neatly sums up the ethos of U3A
and points out that membership has a positive and sustainable
effect on the well-being of those who are retired or semiretired
from work.
Our regular general meeting is held at 2.00pm Masonic
Rooms, Harleston on the third Wednesday of the month. We
have a varied programme of speakers, a raffle and some
social time. Visitors are most welcome.
Our website at www.u3asites.org.uk/harleston will give you
information about the twenty plus interest groups on offer. It is
quite a good idea to attend a “taster session” to see if a
particular group is what you are looking for. Membership
Secretary, Kim, can be contacted on 01986 788149 ready to
answer any other queries you may have.
31

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desire which includes waxing, tinting, threading etc. After having
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Call 07761931761
GROUP HIRE
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Did you know that, along with our door-to-door dial a ride and
outings service for members, not for profit community groups
can hire our minibuses for their own outings.
Go to destinations of your choice, visit your favourite places or
enjoy shopping trips with your group.
Our requirements are very simple. Your group must register
with us as a not for profit organisation, cost of our annual
group membership is £15, tell us what your group does and
when and where you would like use of a minibus.
If you would like to make a booking or for more information
please call 854800, email adminborderhoppa@btconnect.com
or visit our website at : www.borderhoppa.org
32

Full Steam Ahead
BORED WITH IRONING AND HOUSEHOLD CHORES?
LET ME HELP
DOMESTIC CLEANING
IRONING SERVICE
COLLECTION AND DELIVERY
CALL WENDY
01379 650380
07880726783
33

Harleston & District
Dementia Friendly
Community
October 2018
Harleston & District Forget – Me - Not Café
The Forget-me-Not Café is open on the 3 rd Thursday of every month
at the Swift Piano Bar at the Swan Hotel, Harleston, 2pm – 4pm with
our next session on Thursday 18 th October 2018
Come along and see the Co-op ‘Pop-Up’ Shop
Display of ‘Times Gone By’
This month our Café is again kindly sponsored by:
The Master & Members of the
Faithfull Masonic Lodge
Our Sponsors are always welcome to come along to the Café
and join us for Tea.
We provide support and companionship to those in the
Community who are experiencing issues with their memory.
Please be assured of a very warm, friendly welcome to
everyone.
Free Tea and Cakes to all those that attend.
CARER’S SUPPORT GROUP
The Carer’s Support Group at the Swan is on the same day as the
Café. We started this informal Support Group to support and allow
you to spend time together, and with others in a similar situation
knowing that your loved ones are being supported too.
Come along and join Val who looks after this Group.
34

DEMENTIA LUNCHES
This month kindly Sponsored by
D A Browne & Son Butchers, Harleston
Please make sure you book your place. Two courses with coffee
and soft drinks is only £3 per head.
We are looking for a slightly larger venue to hold our lunches, if you
know of anywhere, or a catering establishment that we could hold
our lunches – please do let Pat know.
TESCO GREEN TOKENS
If you shop at Tesco, Harford Bridge you can help support us by
putting your Green Tokens in the Harleston Dementia box. The
Tesco Express stores also have collecting boxes.
This runs from September to the end of October. Any money
received from Tesco will go towards running the Dementia Café and
holding Lunches.
For further information on any of the above please contact Pat on
patricia.simmonds@mail.com or 01379 676557
35

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36

Brockdish Church
The Harvest Festival this year is on October 21 st at 9.30am at
Brockdish Church. All gifts will be going to the food bank. If
you are unable to attend but would like to make a donation to
the harvest celebration, please contact Jan 668630 and
collection arrangements can be made.
The Remembrance Service on November 11 th is at 3.00pm.
Please do come if you are able as this is the 100th
anniversary of the end of WW1. On this occasion
refreshments will be served at the end of the Service, so
please stay and have a chat.
Dates for your diary
The Brass Band concert this year is on Tuesday December 4 th.
Tickets will be £5 with all the usual niceties included.
As numbers are limited please call Jan 668630
to reserve your seat!
A coffee morning will be held
December 1 st 10.00am - 12.30pm.
Stalls and games to tempt you.
All proceeds to the Church Fabric Fund.
Answers to United States Quiz From Page 15
1. California
2. Lake Superior
3. Wyoming, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin
4. 2,934
5. Illinois
6. New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico and New York.
7. Nevada
8. The Everglades
37

All Saints Church, Thorpe Abbotts
Over the summer we put out a plea for some help with the running
of the Church and churchyard. Thank you very much indeed to
those who have offered their help. As it happens, the mowing task
has not been onerous as the mower did not have to come out from
May through till the end of September! We hope to have a cleanup
day later in the year when the clearing of the boundary wall will
continue. We will have a go at the ivy on the Church which has
grown vigorously.
Back in July we were delighted to welcome a visit from the Round
Towers Society, who included us in their Friday tours. We had
over 50 there and it was fascinating to hear the experts tell us all
about the Church. Mind you with a building over 900 years old
there have been many changes, alterations or rebuilds. For
instance, it is clear that during the 15 th Century, there was a major
extension to the west and then the building of the tower. The skill
lies in being able to spot what, and when, alterations have
happened.
Coming up we have our Harvest Festival on 14 th October when we
will celebrate what a wonderful summer we have had, with a family
service at 4pm. Following on from this we have our Remembrance
Service at 9.30am on Sunday 11 th November. We have decided to
put on a Race Night in November so put the 10 th in your diary.
More details to follow but definitely not one to be missed!
It is with much sadness that I have to inform you all that Jane
Wood has died. Jane was a well-known character in our Village,
often seen out early mornings, in all weathers walking her beloved
dogs .She also liked to be involved in all aspects of our community
and village life, being supportive to individuals and helping out
whenever possible with Thorpe Abbotts Church and Village Hall
events.
Jane will be greatly missed.
Simon
38

Church Service Times
Rector
http://www.7churches.org.uk
Revd Nigel Tufnell - 01379 308905
rector@7churches.org.uk
Benefice Administrator Lucy Cooke Mon to Fri 01379 851148
admin@7churches.org.uk
Brockdish
Church Wardens
Thorpe Abbotts
Contact
Ann Cork - 01379 668635
Jan Croxson - 01379 668630
Christine McDonald
01379 669116
7 th Oct Brockdish 9.30am Morning Prayer
14 th Oct Brockdish
Thorpe
Abbotts
21 st Oct Brockdish
25 th Oct
Thursday
Thorpe
Abbotts
9.30am
4.00pm
9.30am
6.30pm
39
Morning Prayer
Harvest Service
Harvest Holy Communion
Benefice Compline
28 th Oct Brockdish 9.30am Morning Prayer
1 st Nov
Thursday
Thorpe
Abbotts
6.30pm
Patronal Holy Communion
4 th Nov Brockdish 9.30pm Morning Prayer
11 th November
Remembrance
Thorpe
Abbotts
Brockdish
9.30am
3.00pm
Remembrance Service
Remembrance Service
18 th Nov Brockdish 9.30am Holy Communion
25 th Nov Brockdish 9.30am Morning Prayer
Race Night – Thorpe Abbotts Village Hall starting at 7pm with first race
starting at 7.30pm on Saturday 10 th November. Contact Simon Beet 668132
to book your tickets at £5 each which includes a light supper. Bar available.
No tickets on the door.
Quiz & Light Supper - Saturday 24 th November (Bring your own drink),
7.30pm for 8pm start at Brockdish Village Hall – £4pp, Book with Jan 668630.

Lily Lofts’ Lemon Drizzle Cake
Simple yet Scrumptious
This recipe was given to me by Lily some twenty years or so ago, having
mislaid it for approximately fifteen years, I consider the finished cake tastes
as good as it used to and is definitely moreish. With a lemon as a key
ingredient, I’m sure a slice will count as one of your five a day!
Baking Ingredients
1 oz (30g) ground almonds
3 ozs (85g) self-raising flour
3 ozs (85g) caster sugar
2 ozs (55g) butter or margarine
1 egg
2 tbs milk
grated rind of 1 lemon
Instructions
Place all ingredients in a large mixing bowl and mix with an electric
whisk for approximately one minute. Then place in a lined and
greased 1lb. loaf tin and cook in the centre of the oven for about 40
minutes at 180°C or at 170°C if using a fan oven. Test with skewer or
similar. Leave in the tin and place on wire rack. Squeeze the juice
from the remaining lemon and mix well with 2 ozs (55g) of granulated
sugar. After the cake has been standing for 10 minutes, spoon this
mixture over the top and leave to cool before taking out of the tin.
You can double up on the ingredients to make one in a 2lb loaf tin to
make a larger cake or if you’re just plain greedy!
Printed by Datatech DTP – 01379 652053
40