Swaffham Newsletter

SWAFFHAM
newslet ter
Do you recognise any of these
January 2019
Swaffham girl guides from 1932?
If any of them look familiar, head to the Museum Matters article on
p.30 to find out how you can help...
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Swaffham Newsletter
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Contents
4 Upcoming Events / Regular Events
8 School Speak
9 Church News
11 Merle Boddy Centre
12 Swaffham & District Lions
14 WI/U3A
15 Rugby Club /SCALGA
16 Age Concern
17 Lionesses/WEA
19 Swaffham Rotary
20 RBL/Swaffham Jazz Club
24 Swaffham Spiritual Awareness
28 Swaffham Arts/LoFs/Swaffham History
30 Museum Matters
33 Mayor's Parlour
34 Swaffham Town FC
Happy New Year to all of our readers
Swaffham & Litcham Home Hospice
In 2018 we celebrated 30 years since the work of
Swaffham & Litcham Home Hospice began supporting
patients and their families.
As the year has come to a close I wanted to say a
huge thank you to everyone who has supported our
charity. If you have attended any of our fundraising
events or have donated money to us, we appreciate
every penny we receive. Without this support we
would not be able to help those in our community
who are suffering with serious ill health.
On behalf of all the staff and volunteers I wish you all
a Happy Christmas and a healthy 2019.
Wendy Martin, Co-ordinator
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.
1
SNL Volunteers
A polite notice to all of our delivery volunteers, if you
have any of our delivery bags at home, please could
you return them to the Town Hall as we are starting
to run low.
Also, if you know of anyone who might be interested
in joining our volunteer team, on either a temporary
or permanent basis, then please spread the worsd.

Upcoming Events
Free Tai Chi Taster Session Friday 4th January 2019, 10.00am,
Swaffham Community Centre, Campingland, Swaffham PE37 7RB. The
way we move, breath stand and walk, and even sit can have a positive
effect on our general heath. There are very few of us today who do
not spend much of our time feeling tense. The hectic pace of modern
living and lack of exercise leaves us tired and exhausted. You need some
form of exercise that gently and steadily relaxes the body, and most
importantly refreshes the mind! Tai chi is an exercise that develops both
the physical, mental, external and internal health of the body; it also
achieves well-being and balance in your life! Call or email to save your
space: academytaichi@yahoo.co.uk, 01760 723102 or 07587 567406.
Icenima Film Screening Weds 16th Jan, 2pm, Swaffham Community
Centre. Film TBA. Tickets purchased on door.
Free Meal Monday Monday 21st Jan, 11am - 1pm at Swaffham
Assembly Rooms. Join us for a free vegetarian meal made with
ingredients from Swaffham Community Fridge. To book a place please
call Iceni Partnership on 01760 722800.
Nar Valley Ornithological Society (NarVOS) Tuesday 29th
January 2019, 7.30pm at the Barn Theatre, Sacred Heart Convent
School, Swaffham. Access and parking from Sporle Road. Please come
along to this illustrated talk by James Lowen, entitled: 'Britain’s Best
Wildlife Weekends'. James Lowen is a wildlife travel guide, photographer
and writer. The title of James’s talk reflects the name of one of his
books. This book was the first guide featuring 52 weekend-sized breaks
highlighting the best of British wildlife - from tiny silver-spotted skippers
to gargantuan basking sharks, from seabird skyscrapers to autumn fungi.
Most appealing.
Visitors most welcome. Admission £2 on the night if you are not a
NarVOS member. For more information about this meeting or NarVOS
call Ian Black on 01760 724092.
An Evening Of Clairvoyance On Friday 8th Feb at 7.30pm Swaffham
Spiritual Awareness Group are holding an evening of clairvoyance at the
Community Centre, Swaffham with our popular trance medium Barry
Potter from Leicester. Tickets £6 on the door. All proceeds will be for our
nominated charity of the year - Homestart Swaffham. Please note that
this event is for over 18 years of age
The Colin Mason Quartet with David Taylor on Saxophone. Tues
12th February at 7.30 at Swaffham Conservative Club, London Street.
PE37 7DD. Ticket price will be £8. Happy New Year Everyone! Norman
01760 722 384 and Geoff 01366 328 730
Desert Rats D-Day Dinner & Dance 6th April 2019, 6.30pm for
7pm, Lynford Hall Hotel, Mundford IP26 5HW. £44 per person (advance
booking required). Period or smart dress. Includes 3 course meal with
tea or coffee and entertainment from 1940's Swingtime Sweetheart
singers, Piper & DJ AndyV8. Carriages at 12.59am. Contact Debbie Wells
on 01366 347316 or email desert.rats.events@gmail.com.
Westacre Theatre www.westacretheatre.com 01760 755800
Sun 20 Jan: Launch event to meet the photographers behind a brand new
exhibition in the Foyer Gallery: ‘THE WORLD THROUGH THE LENS’ by an
exciting new collective DECENT EXPOSURE. Exhibition runs until 10 March.
Tue 15 Jan: On Screen: NT Live! from the Almeida Theatre in London;
THE TRAGEDY OF KING RICHARD THE SECOND starring Simon Russell Beale.
7pm. £15
Sat 26 Jan: On Screen: NT Encore for a MATINEE showing of ANTONY AND
CLEOPATRA starring Ralph Fiennes and Sophie Okonedo. 2pm. £15
Thu 31 Jan: On Screen: NT Live! from the National in London; I’M NOT
RUNNING – an explosive new play by David Hare. 7pm. £15
4
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 Scout
Leader Adrian Searle on 07771 603409 or group Secretary Ali Plomer
on 01760 441175
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
Central Norfolk Dog Training Club Upstairs in Church Rooms,
Campingland. 4 classes available, from puppies to intermediate.Tel: Chris 07745
892417
Citizens Advice Swaffham Community Centre, 10am until 12:30pm
Free Meal Monday Every 3rd Monday of the month, 11am - 1pm,
Swaffham Assembly Rooms. Join us for a free 2 course vegetarian meal.
Kickboxing Club Juniors 5+ 5pm – 6pm, Inters 6-7pm, Adults 7pm –
8.30pm Plowright Place. Call Trevor on 07585707196
The Phoenix Singers rehearse each week in the Methodist Church
Hall at 7:30pm. New members welcome. Contact Marion 01760 724 473
Playdayz – Parent/toddler group Sacred Heart School 9.30-
11.30am term time only. £1 per session/per family (includes a snack)
Contact: Tor Howman 07854 736 920
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 contact John or Nicky on 01760 721568 or email swaffhamplayers@
gmail.com
Junior Snooker & Billiards 4-7pm @ The Norfolk Snooker
Academy, West Acre 01760 755337 for details and to book, 9 -16 years
TOSH community drama group meets 7.30pm Monday & Wednesday
at the Church Rooms, Campingland All ages welcome. More details
Fiona 07768211087
Youthie 5.30 - 7pm, age 8 - yr 6. Swaffham Community Centre.
Contact 01760 722800 for more info.
TUESDAY
1st Swaffham Cubs Meet Tuesday 6:30 to 8:00pm at the Scout Hut at
Cockley Cley. For boys and girls aged 8 to 10 1/2. New members welcome. For
more information contact Group Scout Leader, Carolyn Cooper 07816 208687
gsl1stswaffham@gmail.com
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 2pm for
£2. Tea & biscuits inc. Call Alan on 01760 723 910
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 10am-noon. ‘Come And Meet Each Other’. Free tea,
coffee & hot chocolate in a relaxed cafe style setting. Discovery Hour: 10am
- 11am. Looking at and discussing a small bible passage. Oasis Centre 01760
723 175
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
Holme Hale Whist Club Meets at Tony Evans Centre of Holme Hale
Village Hall on the First and Third Tuesdays @ 1.30pm. Contact Mrs Sue Ludlow
on 01760 441660 for more details.
Jump, Jive & Swing Swaffham Community Centre, 7.45pm. Classes 8pm
until 9.45pm with social dancing until 10.30pm. www.jumpjiveswing.com
Mamma Munay (Mother Love) - antenatal classes on alternate
Tuesday afternoons at The Green Parrot. …all welcome at all stages of your
pregnancy. Booking essential on 01760 724704 or Anne 07469243052
Pickenhams’ WI 2nd Tuesday 2pm St Andrew’s Church (not August)
PROBUS Club of Swaffham Meet second Tues of the month for lunch
at the George Hotel, 12.30 for 1pm. Rod Goddard 01760 722 834 rodgoddard@
hotmail.com
Swaffham Voices 7.30-9.30pm. Swaffham Community Centre.
Interested in joining us? 01760 336 313 rainbowcommunitychoir.org.uk
Royal British Legion, Swaffham & District Branch 8pm,
3rd Tuesday Swaffham Conservative Club. Tel: David Thorogood
01760622751 Royal British Legion (Women’s Section We
meet the 2nd Tuesday of the month at Valentine Barker Court,
Swaffham, from 2-30pm – 4-30pm. All welcome, you do not have to be
ex- service personal or have connection with the Armed Forces. Please
Contact Frances on 01760 724445 or Iris on 01760 721430,
The Royal Elizabethan Lodge Meets alternate Tuesdays, 8pm in
the Conservative Club. Tel: W Rogers 01760 720632 or S Trattle 01760
721760
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 5.30pm & 7.30pm. Edyta 07428 516814
SNAP (Safer Neighbourhood Action Partnership)
Meetings held 3rd Tuesday every other month, starting Tuesday 17th July. Town Hall,
7pm.
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
Tai Chi beginners welcome East Dereham at 10am 01760723102
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. Meg
Dorling: 01760 722139 meg_dorling@msn.com
Tom’s Kickboxing Academy 6pm - 7pm Juniors, 7pm - 8.15pm
Seniors (16+) , Holme Hale Village Hall IP25 7DP
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: Belinda_Bush@
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 5:30-6.30pm Swaffham Community Centre.
Nikki 07970316054
Yoga at Great Dunham Village Hall 10.30am till 12.00pm, £8 per
session, please contact Jayne on 07544974342
Yoga at Necton Community Centre
2pm till 3.30pm, £8 per session, please contact Jayne on 07544974342
Zumba With Becks Swaffham Assembly Rooms 7-8pm bectuff@
hotmail.co.uk £5
WEDNESDAY
1st Swaffham Rainbows Term 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 Weds of month,
10am-12noon. Swaffham Assembly Rooms. Support, information and social
activity.Refreshments provided. 01603 763556
5
Arts Lounge beginners/refreshers art classes Weds, Thurs &
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
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
Dementia Café Free cafe offering support, information for those living
with dementia and their families/carers. Assembly Rooms. 01603 763 556
Swaffham WI Methodist church room on the first Wednesday at
2pm. 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
Henchmans Beginners games night. A night of games especially
for people wanting to give it a try. We'll play a variety games tailored
for beginners and those wanting to dip their toes in the games pond.
Refreshments available. From 7pm. 13 Station Street, Swaffham. 01760
788427
The Swaffham and District Branch of the Labour Party
meets in the Community Centre at 7.30 pm, first Weds of the month.
Stitch, Mardle and Mend A group of keen crafters covering
Patchwork, Knitting, Crochet etc. From 10am at Market Cross Inn,
Swaffham
Oasis Wednesday Worship: 10am - 11am. Worship and prayer
Acrylic/Oil painting workshops
Arts Lounge Gallery Studio, 15 Market Place Swaffham are on Wednesday,
Thursday and Friday. Two sessions each day, 0930-1230 or 1pm-4pm, £30 per
session includes all equipment, materials and refreshments. Call 01760 723624
to book.
Baby Signing Classes -Sing and Sign
Swaffham Community Centre (Dickens Room). Help your baby to
communicate before speech with our award winning music classes. 10am
Stage 2 14mths - 2yrs. 11am Stage 1 6mths - 14mths. Term time only. Booking
is essential as places are limited. Contact Andrea 07905 061336 or Email
kingslynn@singandsign.co.uk
Swaffham Players every Monday and Wednesday, 7:30pm Baptist
Church, Swaffham. If you are interested in joining a fabulous team
please contact John or Nicky on 01760 721568 or email swaffhamplayers@
gmail.com
Swaffham Veterans Snooker Group (60+) 10am-1pm at West Acre
Village Hall, PE32 1TQ. £3 per player. Call Phillip on 01760 755337
St. John Ambulance - Swaffham (Adults) Every Wednesday
7.30pm - 9.30pm First Aid training 18 years upwards. 07900927233
Swaffham VIPs A social club suitable for those with failing sight and
degenerative medical conditions. Swaffham Community Centre 4th Wed
(except August) 1.30-3.30pm £4. 01760 722800.
Tai Chi beginners class 10am Swaffham Community Centre
01760723102 or barbara.smith58@yahoo.co.uk
http://www.academytaichi.co.uk
Tom’s Kickboxing Academy
6pm - 7pm Jnrs, 7pm - 8.15pm Seniors (16+) , Holme Hale Village Hall IP25 7DP
TOSH community drama group meets 7.30pm Monday & Wednesday
at the Church Rooms, Campingland All ages welcome. More details
Fiona 07768211087
Whist Drive Bradenham Village Hall, 7:30pm. All welcome. 01760 440038. £3
THURSDAY
1st Swaffham Beavers Meet Thursday 6 to 7:15 at the Scout Hut
at Cockley Cley. For boys and girls aged 6 to 8. New members welcome. For
more information contact Group Scout Leader, Carolyn Cooper 07816 208687
gsl1stswaffham@gmail.com
Acrylic/Oil painting workshops Arts Lounge Gallery Studio, 15
Market Place Swaffham are on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. Two sessions
each day, 0930-1230 or 1pm-4pm, £30 per session includes all equipment,
materials and refreshments. Call 01760 723624
Beachamwell WI 1st Thursday 7.30pm. New members or visitors always
welcome. Contact Maggie 01366 327023 or Helen 01366 328589
Swaffham Bridge Club See Tues for details. 6.30pm for 6.45pm
start except for the first Thursday in the month 2pm to 6pm
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
Great Massingham Film Night Great films every third Thursday of
the month. 7 for 7.30 at the Village Hall, Station Road. £4 with refreshments.
Email:massinghamfilmnight@gmail.com or phone 01485 520628.

Happidojo Marham Judo Club Sandringham Centre, Marham, PE33
9NP 3-4yrs 5.20-6 Fun & Games,5-7yrs:6-7pm, 8-16yrs:7-8pm. Adv. Juniors, Seniors
17+ : 8-9.30pm FIRST LESSON FREE. Then 3-4yrs £2, 5-12yrs- £3. 13-16yrs -£1.00. 17+
- £3.50. Colin McCallum. 07905278857 or www.happidojomarhamjudoclub.
btckco.uk
Henchmans Board games. £2.50 per person. 7-11pm. Henchmans, 13 Station
Street, Swaffham. 01760 788427. New players always welcome (over 18)
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
Kirtan for Health Relax and enjoy the meditative benefits whilst
singing/chanting beautiful songs and ancient mantras. Sessions every
other Thursday. £6 including refreshments. For details contact Chris on
07957 405823 or chrissywillis57@yahoo.co.uk
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
Mothers’ Union The Swaffham branch of the Mothers’ Union – the largest
organisation within the Church of England – usually meets on the 2nd Thursday
of the month. Enquiries to Anne 336328
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,
Salsa 7-9pm Swaffham Assembly Rooms. 07912366661
Swaffham Sparklers Swaffham branch of the Red Hat Society meets
2nd Thurs of the month, 7 pm: Jill Neale 01760 723466
RockaVoX Every Thursday, 7pm - 9pm, Swaffham Community Centre.
Contact Tiggy on jdtmusic@hotmail.co.uk for more information.
Tom’s Kickboxing Academy 6pm - 7pm Juniors, 7pm - 8.15pm Seniors
(16+) , Shipdham Pavillion IP25 7LU
U3A The Wissey U3A 1st Thursday of the month at Holme Hale
Pavilion, 09.45 - 12 noon. Annual Memb. £10. Contact 01760 721247.
Weight Watchers 10-11am Swaffham Community Centre.
Cheryl 07941 319 742
Youthie Plus 5:30 – 7pm, Swaffham Community Centre.
For years 6, 7 & 8 Free entry. Contact 01760 722800 for more info.
Youthie Hub 7.30 - 9pm, Swaffham Community Centre. Age 13 +. Contact
01760 722800 for more info.
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: Belinda_Bush@hotmail.com
FRIDAY
2nd Swaffham Guides Term time only, 18:30-20:30. 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
Age Concern-Swaffham Support Services at Community Centre
Volunteer recruitment 10.30am - 12.00 noon 1st Friday of the month
Adult Tap 7:15pm See Monday’s Senior’s Keep Fit
Acrylic/Oil painting workshops Arts Lounge Gallery Studio, 15
Market Place Swaffham are on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. Two sessions
each day, 0930-1230 or 1pm-4pm, £30 per session includes all equipment,
materials and refreshments. Call 01760 723624 to book.
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, eyesdown
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
Swaffham Carpet Bowls Community Centre. 2 hours from 6.30 for £3.
Tea & biscuits inc. Call Alan on 01760 723 910
Coffee Morning At Ashill Community Centre 2nd Friday every
month, 10am until noon. 01760 441 651
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
Games Evening & Social 2nd Friday/month Swaffham Baptists Church
Hall - 7:30. All welcome
Swaffham’s Green Gym Friday 8.30am Recreation Ground, Haspalls Rd
Henchmans Early Friday Night Magic at Henchmans, 13 Station Street. 2pm
to 6pm. Friday Night Magic at Henchmans from 7pm. 01760788427
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
Oasis Messy Church 6pm every 3rd Friday Fun event for all ages. £1.
www.facebook.com/oasiscentreswaffham
Rise and shine Baby & Toddler Group: 10am - 12noon. Large play area.
£1.50 per adult/chld. 50p any extra persons. Incl drink & a biscuit
Senior Snooker (60 years +) @ The Norfolk Snooker Academy, West
Acre £4 per session Facebook - Norfolk Snooker Academy 01760 755337
Sporle Art Group Meets every Friday at 1pm-3pm. in the community hall. No
tuition given, bring your own materials. Free intro then £2 per week. 01760 724615
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. Swaffham Community Centre. Tel: 01760
723102 or barbara.smith58@yahoo.co.uk http://www.academytaichi.co.uk
Yoga at Dunham Village Hall 10.30am till 12.00pm, £8 per session,
please contact Jayne on 07544974342
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
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
Buzzbox A hive of activity for young families, 10am to noon. On the 3rd
Saturday of each month, in the parish church. Each session has a themed
‘Sharing Circle’; illustrated and acted stories from the Bible; children’s
discussions; songs; prayers; and birthday celebrations. All are welcome.
Children’s Art Club 1st Saturday of the Month. 10am until 12.15 £10
All Equipment, Snack and Drink provided Tel. 01760 337181
Henchmans Warhammer Day. Join us for a day of playing, painting and
modelling in store. from 10am to 5pm. £3 for the entire day or part thereof.
All ages welcome. Customers are welcome to bring their existing models to
paint and battle with but we do now stock Games Workshop paints, models
& accessories. Terrain/accessories and rules for in-store battles are provided.
13 Station Street, Swaffham. 01760 788427
Parkrun Every Saturday at 9am on the filed adjacent to the Nicholas Hamond
Academy, Brandon Rd, Swaffham. For further details contact David Wickerson:
davidwickerson@btinternet.com
Pentney Country Music Club www.pentneycowlsclub.co.uk
weekly 01760 337 392 karenpentneycountryclub12@yahoo.co.uk
Pilates Class 9-10.15am All Saints Centre, Church Lane, Boughton.
Beginners welcome. £8 per session. 07515834729
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. 01553 765870
SUNDAY
Henchmans Yu-Gi-Oh trading card game from 12 noon until 4pm. £2.50 per
person.Regular friendly tournaments. Konami registered store. Henchman’s, 13
Station Street, Swaffham PE37 7LL.
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 Methodist Church
Swaffham Methodist Church reopens
its doors!
Swaffham Methodist Church reopened
in December, following a
major refurbishment. This has been
possible thanks to support from
central Methodism as well as various
funding bodies. Local people have
supported the church’s Pinnacle
Appeal over the past four years and helped to raise
£350,000 for the regeneration.
The new interior undoubtedly has a ‘wow’ factor, fresh
and bright with movable furnishings in an open and
welcoming space for the congregation and community
alike, to enjoy.
The first public event to be held in the church was the
annual Christmas Fayre and Big Breakfast. As well as
the traditional Methodist hospitality, there was a good
array of gifts to be bought from the stalls in the Fayre
and it provided an excellent opportunity to view the
new interior.
On Sunday 2nd December at 10.45am, the Revd Andrew
King led the first service in the newly refurbished church
with blessing and dedication of the various features in
the building including a new back-lit cross. There will
be an official opening event in the spring of 2019.
Every week day throughout December the church,
dubbed, “The Chapel in the Market Place”, was open
between 10am and 12 noon when all were welcome to
step in and find out more.
People also had the chance to speak to artist Eddie
Goodridge who is painting a spectacular mural across
one whole wall of the interior. Eddie is a member of the
Institute of East Anglian Artists and has been creating
the mural since November. Refreshments were
available from the new servery in the church and there
was a 5 minute “pause for thought” each day reflecting
on the theme of Christmas.
In this new year, all are welcome to visit and view the
new facilities which we hope will be a welcome addition
to the community spaces in the town. As well as the
church’s own programme of events, the new space and
the existing school room are available for hire and all
details can be found on the church’s website at www.
swaffhammethodistchurch.org.
Let your curiosity get the better of you!
Contact for more information about Swaffham
Methodist Church Geraldine Allen 07976 286645
Swaffham Library News
The Pightle, Swaffham PE37 7DF. Tel: 01760 721513
Most of Norfolk’s libraries, Swaffham Library
included, now have the Open Library system running
which allows access to the library for longer hours,
Sundays included. You will need to register to use
the Open Library service which can be done in the
library at one of our staffed sessions.
*Library Available
Mon-Fri 8am-7pm
Saturday 8am-4pm
Sunday 10am-4pm
*During times when
the library is available,
without staff, you can
access it using the
Open Library system.
Staffed Hours
Tuesday 10am-7pm
Thursday 10am-7pm
Friday 1-7pm
Saturday 10am-4pm
Regular events at Swaffham Library
Tuesday
• Bounce and Rhymetime at Swaffham Library, 10-
10.30am (term time only). Songs, rhymes and stories
for pre-school children and their parents/carers. No
need to book. Call the library on 01760 721513 for
more information.
• Digital Support at Swaffham Library, 10am-12noon.
Help with getting online, filling in forms, setting up
an email address etc. Book or drop in. Call the library
on 01760 721513 for more information and booking.
Thursday
• Digital Support at Swaffham Library, 10am-12noon.
Help with getting online, filling in forms, setting up
an email address etc. Book or drop in. Call the library
on 01760 721513 for more information and booking.
• Games afternoon at Swaffham Library, 2-4pm.
Drop in for a cuppa and a friendly chat over a game
of Scrabble, cribbage or dominoes, or relax with
some colouring. Call the library on 01760 721513
for more information
6
7

The Nicholas Hamond Academy
The Business Of Animals & Creepy Crawlies
All businesses must operate successfully including a
Zoo! This allows them
to care for a variety of
animals from around
the world (including the
rather large cockroach
introduced to one of
our Year 10 Business
students when they
visited Banham Zoo).
As well as enjoying
a seminar, students toured the zoo to investigate
the products and services offered and learnt about
marketing and customer services.
Let’s Dance
We all know that dance is at the heart of every culture
embracing multiple genres, styles and traditions. A
new dance class at the academy is already proving
popular with our students enjoying learning various
dance routines. Before long they will be performing
to audiences in Swaffham and beyond!''
Deciding The Future
It’s not an easy process choosing which university to
select when contemplating the next step in further
education after school and the process can be a little
overwhelming. Our Year 13 students were invited
to a Decision Making Session with a representative
from the University of East Anglia where they were
encouraged to ask questions about what they should
consider when receiving their ‘offers’. The thought
provoking session suggested considering points such
as “What do you consider important about where
you live?” and “Is the university a ‘good fit’ for me?"
Meet Our Budding Entrepreneurs
Create a gadget aimed at reducing our carbon
footprint - this was the task given to our students
in a recent Humanities lesson. Students considered
the effect of emissions produced by both the
general public and mass market and how their idea
could minimise the effect. The project resulted in
an excellent and innovative range of ideas with
students creating prototype models, posters, adverts
and presenting their pitches in front of an audience
in true ‘Dragon’s Den’ style. Amongst the results
was a redesigned aircraft wing which captured the
attention of their peers and teaching staff. Look out
for these budding entrepreneurs in the future!
Tnha On Top Form At West Norfolk Championships
TNHA students achieved success in the recent West
Norfolk Event when our Girls Years 10/11 Basketball
Team were crowned champions. Our cross country
team were also on top form with 4 students making
the West Norfolk Team and one gaining the title of
West Norfolk Champion.
St Peter & St Paul’s Swaffham
The January Services in Swaffham parish church will
be as follows:-
Wednesday 2nd
10.00am Holy Communion BCP
Sunday 6th THE EPIPHANY
8.00am Holy Communion
9.30am Sung Eucharist
3.30pm Evensong BCP
Wednesday 9th
10.00am Holy Communion BCP
Sunday 13th THE BAPTISM OF CHRIST
8.00am Holy Communion
9.30am Sung Eucharist
Wednesday 16th
10.00am Holy Communion BCP
Sunday 20th
8.00am Holy Communion
9.30am United Benefice Sung Eucharist
11.15am Family Service
Wednesday 23rd
10.00am Holy Communion BCP
Sunday 27th
8.00am Holy Communion
9.30am Sung Eucharist
Wednesday 30th
10.00am Holy Communion BCP
NB
Sunday 3rd February CANDLEMAS
8.00am Holy Communion
9.30am Sung Eucharist
3.30pm Evensong
The Week Of Prayer For Christian Unity
This is something in which, in this country, the
majority of Christian denominations are involved.
This year the initial meeting locally will be held
in the church of Our Lady of Pity at 10.00am on
Friday 18th January. This will be followed by a
brief service on Saturday at 10.00am in the Baptist
church and the Sunday service will be held in the
Swaffham Methodist church at 3.00pm. The rest
of the week (to 25th) is marked by short 10.00am.
services as follows:- Monday 21st in the parish
church of St Peter & St Paul: Tuesday 22nd in the
Methodist church: Wednesday 23rd in the Baptist
church: Thursday 24th St Peter & St Paul: Friday
25th Our Lady of Pity.
The meetings are open to all comers and we
hope this event will be well supported also by the
members of the participating congregations.
Mothers’ Union
The Swaffham branch of the MU usually meets on
the 2nd Thursday of the month and the next meeting
will on Thursday 10th January in the Baptist Church
Room (please note change of venue). Coffee/tea is
served from 9.30am and the meeting proper starts at
10.00am. This will be the AGM which will be followed
by our New Year speaker, Mr Andy Mash. Parking is
available in the Old Station Yard. Enquiries to Julie on
720041
Buzzbox
A hive of activity for young families at 10.00 am to 12.00
noon on the 3rd Saturday of each month, in the parish
church. Each session has a themed ‘Sharing Circle’;
illustrated and acted stories from the Bible; children’s
discussions; songs; prayers; and birthday celebrations.
The next meeting will be in church at 10.00am on 19th
January. All parents and children are most welcome.
Christmas Bazaar – Thank You
On behalf of the Parochial Church Council, Sheila Fowler
and Anne Handley would like to thank the many people
who contributed to the success of the 2018 Christmas
Bazaar, the stall holders, those who gave to the wide
variety of stalls, those who were involved in the supply
and serving of the refreshments, and the generosity of
those who came and supported the event by buying
from us, we raised just under £3000 which will go some
way to meet the Parish Church’s regular expenditure of
£1700 per month. We could not have achieved any of
this without your help. So, again, many thanks.
Christmas Tree Festival – Thank You
The parish church would like to say a big ‘Thank You’
to Gill and Keith Creed, and their many helpers, for
organising this year’s very successful Christmas Tree
Festival which was our 8th. As many as 29 charities
benefitted from the generosity of those who visited
the church in such large numbers (including children
from local schools) and we are grateful to all the charity
volunteers that took part. In addition, we would also
like to thank Susan Butler and her willing team of
helpers and all those who provided the refreshments
in church during the festival. Their efforts are also
much appreciated.
The Children's Society Home Money Boxes
Would those who are able to do so please bring their
Children's Society 'Home Money Box' to St Peter & St
Paul's Church on Sunday 13th January 2019 at the 9.30
am service? There will be prominently placed a suitable
container for them. Alternatively I will arrange to collect
the box from your home as soon as possible after that
date. In advance I thank you for your cooperation and
for generously supporting the Children's Society. Any
queries please contact me:- Linda Burton Tel: 01760
720205.
8
9

Big Lottery Funding Opportunities
If you would like to apply
for funding between £300
and £10,000 you can apply
online for our Awards for
All Grants. See our website
for more details:- https://
www.biglotteryfund.org.
uk/funding/under10k
If you are looking for
funding for over £10,000 and your project helps to:-
• Shape the spaces and places in your local community.
• Strengthen relationships and bring people together.
• Enable people to work together to address issues at
the earliest possible stage
Then did you know that the Big Lottery Fund has a
new way of working?
In order to make its funding more accessible than
ever before, to as many community groups as
possible, we no longer expect groups to fill out an
application form. You can speak directly about your
project to your local funding team.
Funding Manager for Norfolk and Suffolk is Rachael
Luckin, contactable via email on Rachael.Luckin@
biglotteryfund.org.uk
It will help us to have a greater understanding of
your project proposal if you could provide us, in
the first instance, with the answers to the following
questions:-
• What is your organisational history and track record
of service delivery?
• Who are your beneficiaries and what challenges do
they face?
•What does your project involve?
• How have you and your beneficiaries established the
need for your project?
• How have your beneficiaries been involved in the
design and potential delivery of your project?
• Where, geographically, will your project be delivered?
• How much funding do you need, what for and over
what period of time?
• What difference will your project make?
• How will you measure these differences?
• Finally, what will happen to your project at the end of
the lifecycle of potential funding?
If you can answer all of these questions, then why
not contact your local funding team to talk about the
opportunity to apply for Big Lottery Funding for your
local organisation. The team look forward to hearing
from you very soon!!
Churches Together
After a busy lead up to Christmas, the churches quieten
down a little in January, but of course we are still in
the Christmas season and the parish church will be
celebrating Epiphany on Sunday 6th January. That is
the day we focus on the wise men’s arrival at the crib,
and it’s another festival which has inspired a lot of lovely
music. The Choir of St Peter & St Paul’s will be singing
Evensong on 6th January (3.30 p.m.), partly to Anglican
chant but with an Epiphany anthem and hymns.
Epiphany continues for 4 weeks, and overlaps with
the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity which comes
round from 18th to 25th January each year – this year
we are thinking about Indonesia, the largest country
in South East Asia. Indonesia is made up of over
17,000 islands, has 1, 340 ethnic groups, considerable
religious diversity, and 740 languages (but one shared
national language): we will be reflecting on how they
seek to work collaboratively across those groupings,
as they face many issues of economic justice and the
challenges posed by religious radicalization. Each year
the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity focuses on a
different country, which can offer fascinating insights
into peoples lives in other parts of the world. Details of
all the events are listed, and all are welcome – with the
main service being on Sunday 20th at the Methodist
Chapel at 3 p.m.
Wishing you a very happy 2019, wherever it may lead
you.
Revd. Janet Allan, Vicar of Swaffham and Sporle
Swaffham Methodist Church
Sat 5th Jan 9.30 am 12noon Coffee Morning run by
Womens' Section Royal British Legion.
Sun 6th Jan 10.45am. Covenant & Commissioning Service
led by Revd. Andrew King. Followed by refreshments. All
welcome.
Thurs 10th Jan 2.30pm. Thursday Group. Beetle Drive held
in School Room. A time of fun and fellowship.
Fri 11th Jan 9.30am - 10am. Power of Prayer. School Room.
Sat 12th Jan 9.30am - 12noon. Coffee Morning run by
Brownies & Guides.
Sun 13th Jan 10.45am. Morning Worship led by Mrs Vera
Dye. Followed by refreshments. All welcome.
Wed 16th Jan 7pm Churches Together. All welcome.
Thurs 17th Jan 2.30pm. Bible Study with Revd. Liz Jolly. All
welcome.
Fri 18th Jan 9.30am - 10am. Power of Prayer. School Room.
Sat 19th Jan 9.30am - 12noon. Coffee Morning run by
Swaffham Methodist Church.
Sun 20th Jan 10.45am. Morning Worship led by Revd.
Phillip Butcher. Followed by refreshments. All welcome.
Sun 20th Jan 3pm Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. All
welcome.
Tues 22nd Jan 10am -12noon. Week of Prayer for Christian
Unity. All welcome.
Thurs 24th Jan 2.30pm Thursday Group. A time of fun and
fellowship. Also a talk by Miss Muriel Bean.
Sat 26th Jan 9am -12noon. Coffee Morning run by
Swaffham Branch Royal British Legion.
Sun 27th Jan 10.45am. Morning Worship. A Local
Arrangement. Followed by refreshments. All welcome.
Thurs 31st Jan. Bible Study with Rev Liz Jolly. All welcome.
Merle Boddy Centre
Thank you to a parishioner from the Baptist church
who gave us a mega amount of craft materials.
We had great fun going through it all and a lot of
future projects are in the pipe line.
Many of our clients enjoy the feel of soft toys, so
thank you Sebastian for giving us some of your
treasured cuddlies.
We have had several hampers dotted around
Swaffham and the one I did from the centre was
won by the boys at A.V.S.
A craft event was held by Julia Willis and many
of her crafting friends, the proceeds from the
refreshments have been donated by this lovely
bunch. The grand total of £200 came our way,
that's a lot of tea, coffee and cake! Thanks so much
for thinking of us. Julia's late dad made us such a
wonderful set of dominos which have been well
used and much enjoyed by our clients.
Norman popped in to see us with a fantastic
donation in the sum of £500. This was gratefully
accepted by the lovely Ann. We are so very grateful
for the support of Swaffham bingo (Norman, Linda
and Ian)and of course to all the loyal bingo players.
What a knitter! This beautiful double size blanket
was completed in only a few days by the very
talented Jeanette. It is one of the prizes that has
been placed around Swaffham, this one is in Hair
Unique.
The call went out for unwanted gifts and you lovely
people answered. Thanks to Sarah, Hazel, Madge,
Pam and Mrs Caley who have given us some lovely
things.
At the Rotary Christmas Fair we had a cake stall.
Thanks to everyone who made us such delicious
cakes and pastries. We made £153.35. A big thank
you also to the Rotary for such a lovely community
event.
We are in great need of puzzles, the ideal ones are
'house of puzzles' 250 big pieces. But you know us,
any make would do as long as they are big pieces,
so please if you don't want them any more we
would be very grateful to some new additions to
the few we have.
Due to retirement we are looking for two new
directors, if you would like to know more please
contact Eddie Doran on 01760 725220. If there is
someone out there that likes a challenge where
funding is concerned and knows their way around
the application forms we would love to hear from
you, we are in need of direction.
Pheonix Singers
The Pheonix Singers entertained a capacity audience
in the Methodist Church on 7th December. It was a
privilege to perform in the newly refurbished space
and the mix of music and words was a perfect start
to the Christmas festivities.
Once again, this choir gave a polished performance
of seasonal music, both old and new, in perfect
harmony. It was obvious to all present that they
enjoy what they do. Some very amusing anecdotes
were recited by choir members and by a complete
contrast, the St Withburga Handbell Ringers played
some traditional carols. Hot
mince pies and warm spiced
fruit punch was served during
the interval, this was included
in the ticket price. Proceeds
from the evening will go to the
Methodist Church.
The Pheonix singers perform for worthwhile
causes and their next concert in the summer will
be in support of the Swaffham and Litcham Home
Hospice. Please keep watching for details nearer
the time in your local Newsletter and don't miss the
opportunity to hear this talented group of singers.
10
11

Swaffham & District Lions
Following a very successful Trolley
Dash, at Swaffham’s Tesco store,
where Pauline Adams won £80
worth of food; Swaffham Lions
were able to hand over a cheque
for £468, from the proceeds, to Swaffham & Litcham
Home Hospice Support.
Swaffham Lions are helping collect food at the
Swaffham Tesco Store for FoodShare over a four
day period. Food collected will be topped up by
Tesco with a 20% monetary donation. FoodShare is
a charity fighting hunger and tackling food waste.
They distribute good food that would otherwise
go to waste to frontline organisations supporting
vulnerable people. Last year, FoodShare provided
over 95663 projects with enough food for 36.7
million meals.
Swaffham Lions were out supporting Children in
Need with their Pudsey who visited the Assembly
Rooms, the Friday
Indoor Market and
Tesco. The generous
people of Swaffham
always support this
worthy cause, with £5
and £10 going into the
collection bucket with
all the coins.
The second event of
Swaffham Lions marking the 100 years since the
end of 1st World War was a sell-out Variety Show
in the Assembly Rooms. The show, compared by
Nigel Wilkins the Town Crier, included the shanty
band Pot of Gold, the ever popular Phoenix singers,
Biddy Vogel with her very talented daughters playing
some wonderful classical music. Swaffham Players,
who had the audience in tears of laughter and the
evening was brought to a close with a sing along
with the Ukulele Band. The evening raised £1432
for Scott’s Little Soldiers, the charity for bereaved
Armed Forces children.
Swaffham Lions held their annual Christmas Party
in Swaffham Assembly Rooms. Over sixty guests
enjoyed a three course meal followed by dancing to
Pam & John. It was a great way to start the Christmas
festivities as Lions embark on their tour of RAF
Marham and the local supermarkets with their Santa
Sleigh.
Swaffham Lions Santa took the opportunity to call
in to the Tesco Children’s Christmas Party, much to
the delight of the young children and the parents.
With over thirty excited children Santa was kept busy
distributing presents.
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Sporle Afternoon WI
November’s meeting, our AGM, was a
good afternoon. First we had a lovely
flower arrangement demonstration
– with beautiful flowers and lucky winners of the
arrangements. After tea and cake, an important part
of any WI afternoon, the AGM business went smoothly
with the “new committee” in place to take us into the
New Year. At time of writing we have not had our last
meeting of 2018 – Christmas Lunch - which is sure to be
a joyous occasion. 2019’s programme looks varied and
interesting covering such topics as tourism, working
dogs and one of our members reliving her memories of
a turbulent time, to mention just a few.
Our 1st meeting of the New Year is on Tuesday 15th
January 2019 – when our yearly subscription is due.
Sporle Afternoon WI each 3rd Tuesday of the month
l.45pm – 4pm – guests always welcome.
Highway problems
Highway problems should be reported to Norfolk
County Council: Tel. 0344 800 8020.
Give the location of the problem and a telephone
number where further information can be obtained.
Faulty street lights can be reported at the Town Hall
during office hours or by telephoning Norfolk County
Council 0344 800 8020. Reports should give a precise
location of the light and the number on the column.
Alternatively visit www.norfolk.gov.uk.
Search: Street Lights/Pot Holes
Discover Blakeney Rowing Club
Blakeney Rowing Club is a friendly, active club of just
over fifty active rowers of all ages. There are two St
Ayles Skiffs – Hoi Larntan and Bluejacket – and these
have been built by club members with both social
and competitive rowing in mind. Usual outings are
towards Blakeney Point in the summer and across the
peaceful Norfolk Broads during the winter. There is
always a refreshment stop in beautiful surroundings
and conversation always sparkles across the water.
The boats are in frequent use with two or more
outings each week. Recently, twelve rowers travelled
the length of the Caledonian Canal in Bluejacket, ably
assisted by the crew of the canal barge Ros Crana.
What a great adventure! If you are interested in social
rowing, racing, or simply trying a new activity in the
New Year, browse some excellent action photographs
and further information on the club website at
crablakeney.wordpress.com to gain a full impression
of all aspects of club life. Alternatively, contact Tom on
01263-761570 to arrange an outing. Life jackets and full
instruction will be provided. You are allowed three free
rows before deciding whether to join and no previous
experience is necessary. Safety-aware, experienced
rowers will always be present. What are you waiting
for? Find out more today.
Barry Howes.
14
Wissey U3A
There was no Speaker at the monthly
meeting on 6th December, instead
members indulged themselves with
a choice of mulled wine or Prosecco, cheese straws and
mince pies, tea, coffee and biscuits. A ‘Brain-teaser’ was
provided to amuse members until the Great Dunham
Hand-bell Ringers treated members to a selection of
extremely pleasant sounding carols. The Bell Ringers were
then followed by ‘Timescape’: a duo from Fakenham who
sang a variety of Christmas songs from the 1940’s and
1950’s.
The Speaker on 3rd January will be Robert Ferguson who
will talk about the ‘Fight for Africa’ and endangered species
such as rhinoceroses. ‘Wildlife Photography’ will be the
subject of a presentation by David Mason on 7th February.
The meeting on 4th April will be given by a representative
of the Nat West Bank entitled ‘Friends against Scams’. This
will be a presentation in conjunction with Norfolk Trading
Standards and the Police.
Wissey U3A members concluded their visits to Norwich
on 3rd December to see a re-enactment about the trial
of Suffragette Miriam Pratt in Norwich Castle. A visit to
the Fakenham Museum of Gas and Local History is to be
arranged for early 2019.
The Croquet group will hopefully re-start in 2019 with a
new leader taking charge. The Great Dunham Hand-bell
Ringers obviously inspired those interested in joining
a proposed new group since a list for interest was filled
almost immediately. The new group should be up and
ringing early in the New Year! A list for interest in ‘Line
Dancing’ was well supported so a Line Dancing group may
also take shape early in 2019.
By the time this Newsletter is edited, printed and
distributed, 61 members of the Wissey U3A will have
already enjoyed a delicious Christmas Lunch in The Pedlar
Suite of the George Hotel, Swaffham.
If you have a hobby or pastime which you would like to
share with others why not make enquires about joining
the Wissey U3A. Group leaders only need an interest in
a subject and be prepared to share their knowledge with
other like-minded members. There are currently 335
members who take part in a wide variety of activities such
as Meditation, Pub Lunches, Rambling, Table Tennis and
Ten-pin Bowling. The Science & Technology group are
liaising with the UEA on a project studying ‘Sleep, Genes
and Memory’ which could find a relationship between
sleep and the risk of Alzheimer’s.
The U3A is an international movement whose aims are
the education of retired members of the Community
or those in their ‘Third Age' of life. U3A membership is
open to any individual who by definition is not in full-time
gainful employment, so anyone working ‘part-time’ can
also apply for membership. Monthly meetings are held at
Holme Hale’s Pavilion on the first Thursday of the month
from 09.45 until 12.00 mid-day.
For more information about the U3A movement, go to
www.u3a.org.uk or visit the Wissey Homepage at www.
u3asites.org.uk/wissey. Annual membership of the Wissey
U3A is usually £10 but is currently only £7 until April 2019.
Iceni Youth Clubs
Youthie:
8 years to year 6 Mondays 5:30pm – 7:00pm .
Youth Voice:
Wednesdays 6:00pm – 7:30pm 2nd and 4th
Wednesdays of each month
Youthie Plus:
Years 6, 7 and 8 Thursdays - 5:30pm – 7:00pm
Youthie Hub:
Year 9 to 19 years Thursdays - 7:30pm – 9:00pm
Staff are happy to give information, guidance and
advice. Call us for further details on: 07772 852 284
https://www.facebook.com/groups/iceniyoungpeople
FREE drink at The Red Lion with
any main meal
when you show this voucher!
87 Market Place, Swaffham PE37 7AQ 01760 721022
87 Market Place, Swaffham, Norfolk. PE37 7AQ Tel:01760721022
EAT
come and enjoy our fresh homemade
food using local produce also
Swaffham Counselling and Psychotherapy
see our specials boards for more
made food using local produce also
home-
fresh our enjoy and come
choice. Please book for evening
more for boards specials our see
choice. Please book for evening
meals with our delicious menus
Barbara O'Hanlon is now working from her private
Have a warm relaxing and restful
practice in Swaffham. For more information SLEEP or an
sleep one of our newly completely
initial consultation contact Barbara on:
refitted and refurbished rooms
choice of Doubles, Twins or Family.
07516 Come and 917171 go as you please. / barbarann688@gmail.com
www.swaffhamtherapy.co.uk
Enjoy a refreshing cool drink with a
DRINK
great choice of draught beers and
great choice of draught beers and
a with drink cool refreshing a Enjoy
large choice of spirits and mixers.
a and ales real our try also lagers
sleep in one of our newly completely
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choice of Doubles, Twins or Family.
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refurbished and refitted
lagers also try our real ales and a
large choice of spirits and mixers.
www.redlionswaffham.co.uk E-Mail: redlionswaffham@gmail.com
PLEASE SEE OUR SPECIAL VOUCHER SOMEWHERE IN THIS EDITION
87 Market Place, Swaffham, Norfolk. PE37 7AQ Tel:01760721022
EAT
meals with our delicious menus
SLEEP
SWAFFHAM FLYER
A regular, fully accessible,
service for the Swaffham area.
DIAL-A-BUS
A fully accessible, door to door
service for the rural communities.
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DRINK
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PLEASE SEE OUR SPECIAL VOUCHER SOMEWHERE IN THIS EDITION
Please call 01760 720906,
email enquiries@wnct.co.uk
or visit www.wnct.co.uk
for all your transport needs!
15
The Hamond Educational Charity
reg no: 277789
The Charity is currently inviting applications
from individuals under the age of 21, living
in the Breckland District Council area,
seeking financial assistance in cases of need
for such items as books, tools, equipment,
instruments, outfits plus educational
trips; including assistance for those leaving
school, in preparation for taking up further
education or apprenticeships.
The Trustees will be meeting in October to
review and consider all applications received
and therefore look forward to receiving fully
completed forms, which can be found on
our website
www.hamondeducationalcharity.org.uk.
If further information is required please
contact the Clerk via email at:
contact@hamondeducationalcharity.org.uk
Offering a wide variety of affordable transport to get you on the move.
GO TO TOWN
A regular, local bus service,
operating in multiple locations.
VOLUNTEERS
A door to door service provided
by our volunteer drivers. Covering all kinds of
transport from GP, Hospital and Dental
appointments to social trips.
Registered Charity Number: 1069180

Age Concern Swaffham & District
At the end of November we had a terrific concert by a group of six male plus two
female singers, West End Waiters. Being shall we say of a fairly senior age themselves,
they connected strongly with our audience and a great time was had by all. They will
return. We would still be pleased to welcome anyone over 55 to join Age Concern.
The membership subscription is £5 per year. Our Membership Secretary Vicky is the
contact, see details below, or just turn up at one of our entertainment afternoons,
usually on the last Tuesday in each month, 2 pm in the Assembly Rooms (in house)
and join there.
We also organise trips out by coach, three or four per year, John Clarke (see below)
is the contact. Upcoming events are:
Lioness Club - The Pride Of Swaffham.
The Swaffham Lionesses had a busy time in December,
enjoying our socials as well as our fund-raising and
welfare. We had a fun time at the Thetford Lionesses
Christmas Quiz and Supper evening where we entered
two teams of four. Of course we didn’t win but we made
a valiant effort and were not far behind the winners.
Swaffham WEA
Two contrasting courses are on
offer from Swaffham WEA in the
New Year. On Monday evenings
from 28 January Our Star System … and Beyond is
an introduction to astronomy looking in particular
at our own star system – the sun and its planets.
Tutor Glen Barrett will also be exploring some of the
mysteries of outer space: black holes, pulsars, dark
matter and dark energy. And ultimately: what is the
future for our universe?
January 29th 2019 - New Year Party – “Pot of Gold”, Swaffham Shanty Crew (in house)
February 26th – Protecting the Royal Family – talk (in house)
March 19th – Talk on Oxburgh Hall (in house)
End April – Possible trip out / Theatre Show
For Swaffham Support Services, please see our advert below.
Our office in the Community Centre is open Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 9 am to 4 pm from
where an Information Pack for both Buddying and Befriending can be obtained. Please contact Lorraine
in the office, phone 07393 981 295.
We had our Christmas tree in St. Peter & Paul’s Christmas
tree festival, thank you to all who kindly put a donation
into our bucket.
For trips out, our contact is John Clarke. Acting Chair, Barbara White, 720756, Deputy Chair, Barbara
Clarke, 720140, Treasurer, Keith Nash, 724801 ; Trips Organiser, John Clarke, 720140; Membership
Secretary, Vicky Slater, 627031.
Befrienders & Hospital
Buddy Drivers Needed
In a more light-hearted vein, film and television
comedy is the subject of Laughing Matters, which
starts on 25 January on Friday mornings. Tutor Nigel
Herwin asks the question: What makes us laugh –
and why? We look for the answer while viewing clips
ranging from the golden age of silent film slapstick
through to TV sitcom classics.
You can make a difference
Befriending Client
"I really look forward to seeing my Volunteer
Befriender. He always cheers me up.”
Hospital Buddy Client
“Having someone with me at my appointment,
took away all the worry.”
We also ran our tombola stall at the Rotary Christmas
Fayre in the Assembly Rooms, the two events together
have raised a good amount for our charity fund.
16
We now have
our 2019
calendars on
sale, pop in for a
coffee! And pick
up a copy!
(suggested donation
£5.99)
EMAIL: swaffhamsss16@outlook.com
The Community Centre, Campingland, Swaffham. PE37 7RB
At the time of writing, we are doing our usual bit of
helping our Lions club with the Pensioners’ Christmas
Party held again at the Convent school.
A Happy New Year to one and all.
17
The venue for both courses is the Swaffham
Community Centre, Campingland, Swaffham, PE37
7RD. The fee for each seven week course is £52.
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. More
information is available at www.wea.org.uk where
you can also sign up in advance to attend. However
there is no requirement to book in advance: just
come along and you will be very welcome. For
further information please phone 01760 723558.

Celebrating 50 years of Rotary in Swaffham
Capturing the Essence of Swaffham throughout the Year.
12 months of capturing the ordinary and the extra-ordinary, the places,
the action & events and the people of Swaffham
Artist’s Name:…………………………………………………………………
Address:………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………….
……………………………………………………….
Telephone Number: …………………………………………….…
Email …………………………………………………………………….
Title Medium Date taken
Digital / print
Signed : …………………………………………
www.swaffhamrotary.org.uk
Age Group (based on 30 th June 2018):
+ 18 years
Less than 18 years and older than 11 years
Younger than 11 years old
Ring the one that is applicable
Digital / print
Parent/Guardian Signature ………………………………………………………………
(when appropriate)
The Rules.
1. The subject of any entry must be relevant to and reflect the life, activities, history, people of
Swaffham
2. Quarterly competition with the winners published in the Rotary section of the Swaffham Newsletter
3. A maximum of 2 entries per 3 months per person which can either be digital or print format
4. The entry form must be fully completed and readable
5. Parent/Guardian approval is needed for all entrants under 18 years old
6. All entries must be Still Photography, and taken with a camera, (film or digital), phone, polaroid – No
videos will be accepted as part of this competition
7. The entries can be Black & White or Colour
8. Print size: Minimum 4”x2” (100mm x 150mm); Maximum 10”x 12” (250mm x 300mm)
9. Prints must be mounted on board which will be no bigger than 30cm x 40cm.
10. Digital sizes: 1900 pixels x 1200 pixels; file size no greater than 2MB in jPeg format
11. Prints can be submitted at Swaffham Museum; Digital entries can be submitted via SD card to the
Museum or by following the instructions on the website www.swaffhamrotary.org.uk.
12. Please mark the envelop clearly “Capture Swaffham” and the competition quarter. Ensure the
envelope is sealed. The Capture Committee is not responsible for any loss or damage.
13. The photograph must have been taken within the 6 months prior to its submission
14. There is no entry fee.
15. Quarterly winners may be asked that their entries be used and included in any future publicity or
commercial art work (such as calendars, postcards etc)
16. Entry by the end of the Quarter (March, June, September, December) of the Quarters’ competition;
results by the 15 th of the following month and published in the Swaffham Newsletter.
17. Entry forms are available at Ceres Bookshop, Swaffham Town Museum & Rotary Club website
18. The Capture Swaffham Committee will judge the submissions and they reserve the right to refuse
entry without explanation.
CELEBRATING
President’s Corner
Swaffham 5
In 1969 The Rotary Club of Swaffham was given its Charter
and started its 50 years of service to the community of
Swaffham and district.
So from the first of this month we start to celebrate those
50 years with a year long programme of events that the
Club has devised spread out over that period.
To summarise as from 1st January our photographic
competition will start - called “Capture Swaffham" and
we will launch it officially on the 4th January. This is a
competition for all in the town, young and old, and its aim
is to capture the Essence of Swaffham throughout the
year of 2019. Twelve months of capturing the ordinary
and the extra-ordinary, the places, the action and events
and the people of Swaffham. The best photographs will
be displayed in the Museum, exhibited and compared
alongside Leslie Kendle’s old photographs that he
collected all his life and which are now in the Musueum.
The dates for this will be announced during the year.
Entry forms detailing the rules, categories and general
information are at The Museum and Ceres Bookshop
in Swaffham and these rules are shown in the panel
adjacent to this article.
All the annual events of the club will also have a 50th
anniversary theme. Our national President Donna
Wallbrook will visit the club for our 50th Charter Night
Dinner in November. We have already produced and
are selling a Cook Book with the profits going to my
President’s Charity this year, The Samaritans. We wish
to plant 50 trees/hedges in Swaffham and District with
the support of The Woodland Trust and are contributing
to the Swaffham Community Garden as part of that
initiative. We are planning a one-day charity exhibition
and conference. All the local, national and international
charities the club has supported over the years will be
invited to display information with an open invitation
to the public, schools, other Rotary clubs, service
organisations and community support groups. A town
trail is planned in conjunction with the Museum to show
the many important buildings and areas of Swaffham.
The Christmas Fayre last
month was again a great
success with the local
charities displaying their
wares and information
in the Assembly Rooms.
Again, Litcham School
ran their Christmas Cafe
and their musicians
entertained everyone so
well - all to raise money
towards a piano that the school needs. I am pleased to
say that they made enough money on the day to be able
to order that piano. Thank you all again for your support.
YEARS
19
We have continued to support the Burke family in their
necessary extension to their house to accommodate
Sophie’s needs. This should be completed by the time
you read this article. Sophie’s mother Jo came to talk to
our club in December to give us an update and to tell
us more about Sophie’s problems, the dreadful Ehlers-
Danlos syndrome, which Jo and also son Tom have to a
lesser degree. We were so moved by their strength and
Sophie’s courage, tenacity and bravery in coping with
this dreadful condition. Swaffham Lions and ourselves
have been so pleased to help the family.
At our recent 49th Charter Night Dinner the response
to the toast to the guests was given by past Rotarian
Chris Parsons. In his excellent speech he alluded to
the guest speaker of the night Veronica Sekules of The
Groundwork Art Gallery in King’s Lynn (who linked her
gallery’s work to the environment) and our club’s theme
for the year also the environment and linking the two
together. He went on to say that we live today in an
era in which human activity, for the first time, is the
dominant influence on climate and the environment.
Global warming is already 1 degree C above preindustrial
levels. The Paris Climate Agreement seeks
to limit global warming to below a further 1.5 degrees
C and yet major nations are busy withdrawing from
that agreement - we have about 12 years to limit the
climate change catastrophe. The climate problem has
a disproportionate effect on the most vulnerable in our
society. He said that much of our work internationally
is to respond to disasters across the globe, many
as a result of climate change, including wild fires,
droughts, tsunamis and other extreme events. So it
was appropriate with those words in our minds that we
arranged to display a Rotary Shelterbox in the Market
Place following the remarks I made about them in the
November Swaffham Newsletter. The tent was erected
and all the contents shown. The lovely Downham
Market Preparatory School Choir sang to support us
and a collection was made for Shelterbox.
On behalf of our Club we wish you all a very Happy,
Healthy and Peaceful New Year.
Malcolm Whittley

Swaffham Jazz Club
With the dreadful Brexit saga dragging on it
really does refresh the spirit to turn to the Arts
(or sport!). The Jazz Club is certainly a great place
to relax and unwind. We were all looking forward
to another visit from Eileanora for our December
meeting, but unfortunately she was ill and unable
to come. Nothing daunted, band leader/ drummer
Colin Mason at the last minute was able to book
another keyboard player, Ryan McCaffrey. Not
only is Ryan an excellent keyboard player, he
also brought along his tenor saxophone on which
he also excels. We were lucky that Ryan - who
usually plays in and around London - was back
in the area. As well as this, Colin also booked a
great young trombonist, Robbie Germeno. I was
very interested in his instrument which is not the
usual B flat narrow bore trombone used by most
jazz trombonists, but was a B flat and F trombone
used mainly by orchestral players as it has a more
mellow sound. The rest of the line up was Chris
Kirk - trumpet, Jeff Scullard - electric bass and
Tap Robinson - guitar and of course Colin Mason
on drums. One piece that stands out for me is
Georgia on My Mind which was played at a very
slow tempo. One of the great things about really
slow jazz numbers is how the players love to put in
lots of notes to each beat, rather than just playing
long notes. I think at a slow beat they have more
time to think about their improvisation as they
go along. This number really suited the beautiful
sound Robbie produces.
I really enjoyed the upbeat Horace Silver number
The Preacher which finished the first half, especially
Jeff’s clever bass solo which ended the piece. In All
the Things You Are Colin once again demonstrated
his exemplary brush work. The piece I enjoyed
most was Groove Merchant in which Ryan pushed
the Hammond Organ’s buttons and played his best
keyboard solo of the evening, and Chris showed
just how good he is at flutter-tonguing.
Tap really came into his own when he played the
Country & Western number San Antonio Rose
whilst Chris and Robbie took a well-earned rest.
The band concluded the evening with a jazzed up
version of Jingle Bells sending everyone home
with some much needed Christmas spirit! No
Session in January.
Next up: The Colin Mason Quartet with David
Taylor on Saxophone. Tues 12th February at 7.30
at Swaffham Conservative Club, London Street.
PE37 7DD Ticket price will be £8. Happy New
Year Everyone! Norman 01760 722 384 and Geoff
01366 328 730
Royal British Legion
Happy New Year!
The Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal has, at the
time of writing, reached £24,000! This is amazing as
we can continue to collect through fundraising until
the next Poppy Appeal begins. I know of people who
are going to have coffee mornings and perhaps a pub
quiz so why not join in?? My thanks to all who helped
in whatever way, with an especial thank you to
Ruffles Boutique who raised over £2,500 by holding
a fashion show. It was a fantastic evening enjoyed by
all, so thank you Mandy and all your 'girls', including
the D-Day Darlings. I know that both our veterans
enjoyed having a dance with some of them! My
thanks, too, to Swaffham Rotary Club, who held a
Silent Auction for a painting that had been donated
to the Poppy Appeal. After being on display in the
Arts Lounge for many months (my thanks to Colin)
the painting sold for £150, turning talent into cash.
We would like to thank the Air Cadets and Army
Cadets for all their help at Remembrance time. As
usual, they were a credit to this town and to their
generation. You might like to know that the Air Cadets
are affiliated to the Legion and the Army Cadets are in
the process of becoming affiliated too. We recognise
the importance of the younger generations taking
on responsibility for Remembrance.
We at the Legion are always seeking to 'grow ' our
membership, and with that in mind I would like to
just say that you need not have served in any of the
armed forces to become a member. It has become
apparent that quite a few people think that you do.
All are welcome, in fact the more the merrier because
others will have ideas on talks, outings, socialising. It
would be lovely to see younger members too.
At our AGM in December, Jim Holland, who had
been our Branch Treasurer for about twenty years,
stood down. He has done a great job in keeping our
finances in order and we would like to say, publicly,
THANK YOU, JIM. Thankfully we were able to fill the
positition by juggling jobs around. Dave Thorogood
is now Treasurer and Jo Scott has taken on the
role of Secretary. Our RAF Marham representative,
Dave Richards, is to leave the Air Force in the next
few months and he has already recruited two
replacements as representatives of RAF Marham.
Dave has been our station rep since around 2002
and has done a really brilliant job in poppy selling
on base raising in excess of £30,000 towards the
Swaffham Branch Poppy Appeal total. He will be
sadly missed but we look forward to working with
the new reps, one Royal Air Force and one Royal
Navy.
Ann Thorpe
Western Link options to join Norwich
NDR to A47
One of the election promises I stood on in May 2017
was that Norfolk County Council would finish the job
we started and link the Norwich Northern Distributor
Road to the A47. I am pleased to report progress is
being made, there is a long way to go but the Council
have now published four possible options for the
missing Western Link. Building this link will ensure that
Swaffham residents and residents within Breckland
are able to access to benefits of the NDR, ensuring
economic growth is spread across the County as well as
a reduction in journey times. The options will be subject
to a public consultation, which will run from November
26 until January 19, I urge you all to take part in this and
let the Council know which option you prefer. I firmly
believe delving this Road in the interests of the whole
of Norfolk.
What are the options?
Option A: Single carriageway upgrade to A1067 to
Lenwade and B1535 to A47 Wood Lane junction
at Honingham, using existing bridge at Attlebridge.
Length: 7.2 miles. Cost: £60m. Estimated to carry about
10,000 vehicles a day by 2040.
Option B: New dual carriageway and A1067 upgrade.
New route to east of Weston Longville linked to A47 at
Wood Lane junction. Two alternatives to link to A1067.
New junction at Attlebridge, using current bridge or
2,165ft long viaduct over Wensum, joining A1067
east of Attlebridge. Length: 5.2 miles. Cost: £155m.
Estimated to carry about 30,000 vehicles a day by 2040.
Option C: New dual carriageway and A1067 upgrade.
Link to A47 at Wood Lane. New junction to take route
between Weston Longville and Ringland, crossing
Wensum on 2,362ft long viaduct. Length: 3.9 miles.
Cost: £153m. Estimated to carry about 32,000 vehicles
a day by 2040.
Option D: New dual carriageway and A1067 upgrade.
New route west of Ringland, linked to A47 either at
Taverham Road junction or closer to the current Easton
roundabout junction, crossing Wensum on 2,165ft
viaduct. Second viaduct over Tud. Length: 3.6 miles.
Cost: £161m. Estimated to carry about 31,000 vehicles
a day by 2040. Any questions please email ed.colman.
cllr@norfolk.gov.uk or call me on 07940 406356.
Swaffham Spiritual Awareness Group
Meets in the Community Centre,
Beech Close, Campingland, Swaffham
at 6.30pm.
6 January Krys Godly Beachamwell
20 January Penny Francis Saham Hills.
We offer healing from 5.30pm prior to our Sunday services
Our trained healers can help with various types of pain and tension from
stress. This service is free although donations are gratefully received
Tel: 01553 616200
www.asklily.org.uk
Helping adults in west
Norfolk get involved in
their community
• Personal Alarms monitored
24/7 for £2.96 per week
plus installation
• Pendants can be
worn either around
the neck or wrist
• Keysafes allowing
relatives & emergency
services access
to your home
• Assistive
Technology -
including falls
pendants and
smoke detectors
Telephone information line
Online directory
Lily Advisor home visits
Community locations
in association with
DO YOU FEEL VULNERABLE OR
ISOLATED?
DO YOU HAVE MOBILITY ISSUES OR
ARE YOU PRONE TO FALLS?
DO YOU FEEL SAFE & SECURE IN
YOUR OWN HOME?
Please contact
the Careline
Community Service
team today on
01553 616200 or
visit our website
careline-cs.org.uk
1170-98-3SN
20
21

£180
£5,980 25
Deposit Month
Term
£8,119
Optional
Final Payment
BRITISH BRAND SINCE 1903
Westfield Vaux999 Road adr1
Vauxhall Thurlow Retailer Nunn Dereham 1
East
Vaux999
Dereham
city
NR19 1DG
v9999
www.google.com www.thurlownunn.co.uk
01362 01234 700587 567890
Official Government Test Environmental Data. Fuel consumption figures mpg (litres/100km) and CO 2
emissions (g/km). Astra SRi range: Urban: 37.7 (7.5) – 72.4 (3.9), Extra-urban: 61.4 (4.6) – 88.3 (3.2), Combined:
50.4 (5.6) – 83.1 (3.4). CO 2 emissions: 130 – 91g/km. #
3 trading as Vauxhall Retailer 1 are acting as a credit broker and not a lender . We can introduce you to a limited number of lenders. Commission may be received.
Offer subject to availability, on selected models at participating Retailers only. Personal Contract Purchase. Finance subject to status. Ts&Cs apply. Applicants must be 18+. Finance by
Vauxhall Finance, CF15 7YT. 25 month term. Monthly payment has been calculated using a price which includes Vauxhall and/or Retailer contribution where applicable. At the end of the
agreement there are three options: i) Retain: Pay the optional final payment to own the vehicle, ii) Return the vehicle, or iii) Replace: Part Exchange the vehicle, where equity is available.
Offer applies to private individuals, Vauxhall Partners and small businesses 1-24 units. Orders or registrations from 3 April to 2 July 2018. #Fuel consumption information is official
government environmental data, tested in accordance with the relevant EU directive. Official EU regulated test data is provided for comparison purposes and actual performance will
depend on driving style, road conditions and other non-technical factors. Vauxhall Motors Limited reserves the right to change, amend or withdraw this offer at any point in time. Correct
at time of going to print.
Benefits for the elderly
Many older people are entitled to claim benefits –
but not everyone is aware of what their entitlements
are, and how to claim. Age UK Norfolk is working
hard to raise awareness so that those in later life,
and their carers, can claim; and helping them along
the way to make those claims.
The awareness campaign begins in January and the
charity is aiming to ensure that the people concerned:
• Will be better informed
• Know their rights
• Are claiming their entitlements
• Are fully informed about attendance allowance,
pension credit, council tax benefit etc
• Get the help and assistance they need to claim
those benefits.
Age UK Norfolk hopes to achieve this by offering:
• Benefit entitlement checks.
• Free and confidential advice about home safety,
housing, care issues etc.
• Providing this service in a place of a claimant’s
choice, either in their own homes, at Age UK
Norfolk’s premises, in a care home, or any other
venue that is deemed suitable.
To find out more about
benefit checks, call the Age
UK Norfolk advice line on
0300 500 1217,
Monday-Friday 10am-4pm.
22
Swaffham Camera Club
The 5th of December saw members
and their guests enjoying a festive
meal in the Green Room of the
towns George Hotel for an evening
with surprisingly few camera's in evidence. This
dinner event was the last meeting for the club in 2018
allowing members time to plan, possibly capture
and prepare their competition entries around their
other seasonal
commitments, in
readiness for our
first meeting of
2019 on the 16th
The 5th of December saw members and their guests enjoying a festive meal
The 5th of December saw members and their guests enjoying a festive meal
in the Green Room of the towns George Hotel for an evening with surprisingly
in the Green Room of the towns George Hotel for an evening with surprisingly
few camera's in evidence
few camera's in evidence
January, with
images reflecting
favourite shots
of 2018. The club
which meets on the first and third Wednesday of
each month has a full program of events, speakers,
exhibitions and internal and inter-club competitions
planned. It is also pleased to offer tutorials at all
levels, concerning the many aspects of photography
and its associated equipment.
For further information please visit the club's
website: www.swaffhamcameraclub.com.
This dinner This event dinner was event the was last the meeting last meeting for the for club the in club 2018 in allowing 2018 allowing members members
time to plan, time possibly to plan, possibly capture capture and prepare and prepare their competition their competition entries entries around around
their other their seasonal other seasonal commitments, commitments, in readiness readiness for our for first our meeting first meeting of 2019 of 2019
on the 16th on the January, 16th January, with images with images reflecting reflecting favourite favourite shots of shots 2018 of 2018
The club The which club meets which on meets the first on the and first third and Wednesday third Wednesday of each of month each month has a has a
full program full program of events, of events, speakers, speakers, exhibitions exhibitions and internal and internal and inter-club and inter-club
competitions competitions planned. planned. It is also It pleased is also pleased to offer to tutorials offer tutorials at all levels, at all levels,
concerning
concerning
the many
the
aspects
many aspects
of photography
of photography
and its
and
associated
its associated
equipment.
equipment.
For further information please visit the Clubs website
For further information please visit the Clubs website
www.swaffhamcameraclub.com .
www.swaffhamcameraclub.com .

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.
Swaffham Spiritual Awareness Group
Swaffham
Branch
01760
725801
http://www.family-action.org.uk
building better families
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.
Linda White, chair of the Swaffham Spiritual
Awareness Group, was delighted to present a cheque
for £650 from monies raised during the year from
our Sunday services and evenings of clairvoyance
to Colin Houghton, chair of the Swaffham Cottage
Hospital League of Friends and Irene Gibbons, one
of their fundraisers. This money will go towards the
purchase of 2 specialised bedside chairs for the use
of the patients.
A big thank you to everyone who has supported us
during the year with our fundraising efforts, next
year's charity will be Swaffham Homestart.
We were also very pleased to donate £100 to the
Brambles Animal Sanctuary at Downham Market.
Linda White, our chair, presented a cheque to Sue
Duffield. Sue has been running this sanctuary for 15
years and specialises in caring for elderly cats, dogs,
horses, rabbits and those with problems that mean
they cannot be rehomed. No animal is put to sleep.
Sue would be very grateful for any old towels,
bedding or donations towards tombolas etc. These
can be dropped off at the Swaffham Vets at Tower
Meadows, Swaffham.
We would like to thank everyone who has supported
us this last year and helped us raise the monies
for this worthy cause and the Friends of Swaffham
Hospital League of Friends.
Tai Chi for health
Tai Chi has been found to be beneficial for:
• Helping relieve arthritis
• Improving balance & posture
• Toning muscles
• Improving mobility
• Promoting good health
• Physical & mental wellbeing
Our classes are relaxed, friendly, fun,
& a good way of meeting new friends.
01760 723102 or 07587 567406
e:academytaichi@yahoo.co.uk
East Dereham
Tuesday 11am
Swaffham
Wednesday 10am
Friday 10am
www.academytaichi.co.uk
“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
24 25

Welcome to Swaffham
Community Centre
Feel free to pop in and admire our
gallery of work by local artists
and then treat yourself to tea and
home made cake in Patisserie Iceni.
GALLERY
ICENI
OPEN WEEKDAYS 9AM - 5PM
www.iceni.info 01760 722800
The Campingland, Swaffham PE37 7RB
87 Market Place, Swaffham, Norfolk. PE37 7AQ Tel:01760721022
EAT
come and enjoy our fresh homemade
food using local produce also
see our specials boards for more
choice. Please book for evening
meals with our delicious menus
The Pink Box
If you need sanitary
products, there is now
a basket located in
the Community Centre,
please help yourselves.
Dog lovers
wanted
For short stays and holiday cover
Companionship, friendship
and fun are guaranteed!
• Dogs to suit your lifestyle
• Trial stays to ensure compatibility
• Full support and advice
• Join our local host community
01485 205715
Tania.Stowe@barkingmad.uk.com
BarkingMad.uk.com
• Acid Peelings -
for acne scars, spots & wrinkles
• Rejuvination treatments
• Facials
• LVL - eyelash lift
PROFESSIONAL DOG GROOMING
Qualified and Insured
Have a warm relaxing and restful
sleep in one of our newly completely
refitted and refurbished rooms
choice of Doubles, Twins or Family.
Come and go as you please.
SLEEP
For appointments and enquires
contact Donna Smith on
01760-336527 or 07905825333
9 Swaffham Road, Cockley Cley PE37 8AW
DRINK
Enjoy a refreshing cool drink with a
great choice of draught beers and
lagers also try our real ales and a
large choice of spirits and mixers.
www.redlionswaffham.co.uk E-Mail: redlionswaffham@gmail.com
PLEASE SEE OUR SPECIAL VOUCHER SOMEWHERE IN THIS EDITION
With the weather
turning cooler, please
consider making a
donation of ingredients
to the fridge to give
someone a hot meal.
TUTANKHAMUN’S
Tapas Bar
SSAFA in NORFOLK seeks VOLUNTEERS
to assist our work with Armed
Forces Veterans and their Families,
across the County.
We have vacancies for Case Workers,
Fund Raisers and other supportive
roles.
If you have time and interest to
spare, please contact:
SSAFA Norfolk on 01760 724261
ssafa.org.uk Registered Charity No.210760
Established 1885
Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families Association
EAT, DRINK AND
RELAX IN A
TREASURE TROVE
OF JEWELLERY,
GIFTS & ANTIQUES
4 PLOWRIGHT PLACE
SWAFFHAM 01760 724396
26
27

Swaffham Arts
After all the excitement and bright lights of Christmas
come the dark days of January, dark when we get
up in the morning and dark as we get home in the
afternoons. We have to make the most of the low
winter sun, nature in its dormant state, and take
cheer from the reappearance of winter jasmine,
scented vibernum and our loyal snowdrops.
January at Swaffham Arts means an event for children
and a return visit of our friends, the wonderful
Garlic Theatre puppets. This year the story they
are bringing is “Three Little Pig Tails”, a retelling of
an old favourite with a new twist. The show will be
suitable for children aged 3 years and upwards and
adults of all ages! There will also be scrumptious
refreshments! Garlic Theatre puppets will be at the
Community Centre on Sunday January 20th at 3 pm.
Swaffham Community Hospital LOFs
I hope you all had a relaxing holiday period. Do spare
a thought for all our emergency workers and care staff
who look after our ill and vunerable people. We are
continuing to maintain the newly revamped garden at
the rear of the Hospital. We have added some additional
planting and bulbs. Within our new gazeebo we placed a
Christmas tree and decorations. Thank you to those who
purchased “Friends” Christmas cards. I hope you liked
the designs. Thanks also to those of you who supported
our stall at the Rotary Christmas Fair on 2nd December.
Finally, thanks to Mrs Pegg and supporters who held the
craft fair in November and December in support of us.
All patients in over the Christmas period received their
presents as usual. I hope you enjoyed the “Christmas
Tree Festival” in church on the first week of December.
It's always a great display and draws in many visitors.
Looking ahead to next year, we hope to be assisting with
the purchase of some new “purpose designed” bedside
chairs for patients. Also we hope that the Health Trust
will support the idea of an extension to the existing main
day/dining room. In the new year, once the Methodist
church is fully back open, we will hold more of our coffee
mornings.
For more information or enquiries please contact Mr
Colin Houghton (chairman) on 07767 262108 or colin@
houghton789.plus.com
Even ironing!
Tracy 01362 820 966
Caroline 01953 882 154
Tickets are available from Ceres Bookshop (01760
722504) and The Green Parrot (01760 724704), and
on the door, priced at £7 members and £10 nonmembers,
and children come FREE. We look forward
to seeing you. Everyone is welcome!
Swaffham History Group
Members of the group enjoyed a festive afternoon
tea in the White Hart restaurant on December 10th.
It was an opportunity to mark 10 years since the
group was founded although only a few of its original
members are still with us. Over the decade we have
produced ‘The Book of Swaffham’ for the museum
and 25 individual booklets on various local topics, all
of which are still on sale in the museum shop.
The staff of the White Hart produced a selection of
mouth watering home made goodies for us, even a
special vegan savoury for one member. Our thanks
to all concerned.
The first meeting for 2019 will be on Monday 14th
January at the museum. We still welcome new
members. For any further details of the group please
contact: littlebethany7@gmail.com
SWAFFHAM
#COMMUNITY FRIDGE
370kg
28

Swaffham Heritage will be closed from 22nd
December until mid February. During this time
we will be cleaning the galleries, enhancing some
displays and preparing for a new exhibition
1st Swaffham Girl Guides Photo taken in Hospital
Week (Carnival) in 1932.
Can anyone name anyone, please?
The photo states that Emily Backhouse is the Captain
and a Miss Clark the Lieutenant. We assume that
Emily is the one with the lanyard.
Emily was matron of the Cottage Hospital before she
enlisted in the Territorial Nursing Service in 1915,
serving on HMS Mauretania. She had returned to
the Cottage Hospital again with her sister Alice by
1920 and left for London between then and 1943.
She died in 1963 leaving her husband John James
Marshall whom she had married in 1914 but seems
to have retained her maiden name until the 1940s.
From Feb 11th: Open 10am to 4pm Mon to Fri. Sat:
10am to 1pm Prices: adults £3. Concessions £2.50
Children 5 and over £1. Family tickets available.
Trending Now - visit us there for up-todate
news and events
Swaffham Museum, Town Hall, London Street,
Swaffham PE37 7DQ
Tel: 01760 721 230
www.swaffhammuseum.co.uk
Can you help?
Does anyone know of any
living family of George
Ward (1893 – 1975).
Born in Swaffham of a
longstanding Swaffham
family and a soldier in
WW1 in the Norfolk
Regiment and Royal
Field Artillery. We have
been approached by a
gentleman who has his
1914-1915 Star medal and
would like to return it to
his family.
His parents were James
and Lucy (nee Dixon).
He had an older brother
James William and two sisters Emma and Alice.
After James died in 1902 Lucy married John Blyth(e)
and George had 2 half brothers, Lesley and Arthur,
and a half-sister Amy.
George married Anna Alice Davison in Smallburgh
in 1930 and a son William Edward was born in 1931.
There may have been a previous marriage.
Please contact us if you have any information.
Thank you.
FoSM (Friends of Swaffham Museum)
We support the Museum financially.
Our 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. For more information
please contact Secretary James Dean 01760 720756
or jamesdean@uwclub.net
The 100 Club
Run by the Friends - 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. For more
information contact Stan Roberts Tel: 07825885254
or stanroberts4@icloud.com
November £100 prize – No.16
December draw - £40 No.67 / £20 No.18/ £10 No.56
Museum - Winter Closing
Swaffham Museum is closed for essential work, new
displays and cleaning. It will re-open on Monday
February 11 at 10am. If you would like to assist with
the cleaning, please contact us. The Museum Shop
will re-open on Friday Jan 4 and each Friday during
the ‘closed period’ from 10-3pm and on Saturdays
10-1pm.
Unique Computers Norfolk Ltd
Sales Upgrades Repairs
Home Calls For Tuition
Broadband Installations
and General Maintenance
Tel 01760 751218 or 01362 685447
Personal Service
Professional Technician
25 Years Experience
SWAFFHAM
A simple solution to wasting less through
the sharing of good quality food.
Iceni Partnership
Community Centre, The Campingland,
Swaffham, PE37 7RB
A different sort of accountant
• Sole trader accounts
• Company accounts
• Management accounts
• Buy to let returns
• VAT returns
• Tax returns
• Payroll and wages
• Business plans
• CIS returns for building trade
• Business consultancy and recovery
Come and see us for a free chat and advice session -­‐ no obligation
www.gybea.co.uk
email info@gybea.co.uk
7a Corn Exchange, Market Place
Next to War Memorial
01760 723830
30
31

Andrew Francis
Award Winning Family Owned Funeral Service
01760 720200 (24hrs)
afrancisfunerals.co.uk
Pre-paid and pre-planned funerals available
01760 336029
W J CLARK & SON
Painters and Decorators Est. 1970
Call us today for a free quote and experience the difference.
We offer competitive quotes on all interior and exterior jobs
TEL: 01760 - 722511
MOBILE: 07902 013785 or 07789 906854
52 Filby Road, Swaffham, Norfolk PE37 7SX
From the Mayor’s Parlour
Again, much to comment on this
month. Firstly, I hope you all
enjoyed a healthy and peaceful
holiday period. A new year
dawns and I hope it is going to be
prosperous for all. A final word on
our Remembrance displays of Poppies; I want to
thank everyone who contributed again as it was
such a wonderful response.
The Buttercross is now complete and I hope
you like the finished project. The brick structure
housing the new electricity supply has caused
a lot of comment however it was a UK Network
Power requirement and the location and size was
dictated by them. The Council are however looking
at ideas to make the exterior more attractive, so
it will blend in better.
I hope many of you got to our Christmas Lights
Switch On event with market and funfair last
month. A lot of time and effort goes into the
planning and we seek to make it attractive and
interesting for all age groups. We were very lucky
with the weather and I feel the day went well for
all involved: traders, entertainment and Santa was
kept busy, so thanks to him and his supporters.
The Christmas lights certainly brighten up the
town and encourage visitors to stop. The town
seems to be getting more of the “Thursford” buses
stopping and this is great for local businesses.
It is always sad to see long established businesses
leaving, however as they say, “as one door closes,
another opens”. Our vacancy rate for shops is very
good compared with most and so we can look
forward to new businesses coming into the town.
I hope many of you have taken the opportunity
to visit the “Community Garden” at the north
end of the Campingland. It has taken more
shape recently; our thanks go to all the volunteers
and benefactors who have made this happen.
Unfortunately, there has been some minor
vandalism, so please do report these to the police
Regarding the “Blindfolded Walk” around Town,
which I mentioned last time. I would like to ask
all shop owners and cafes etc to remain aware of
the problems associated with advertising boards,
outside seating etc as these can be hazardous to
navigate around.
Still no further news on the future of the Green
Britain Centre. As you recall this is owned
by Breckland Council and they are currently
considering its future use. The Town Council has
33
expressed an initial interest in the site however it
is still early days as to what may happen, but we
do understand there is a lot of interest in the site.
On 1st Dec I was pleased to get to see Swaffham
Town football Cub play at home against
Stowmarket. I had the opportunity to meet both
teams and officials and whilst our team played
well the result was a “draw” which means a replay.
Turning to Leisure facilities in our town. We have
long known that existing town leisure facilities are
totally inadequate for our needs however the good
news is that Breckland Council is now undertaking
a “feasibility study” examining what future
provision the town should have. Consultations
have started, and I am sure that a wide range of
ideas will be forthcoming. This is long overdue
and we will await with interest any findings or
ideas for the future. More news, hopefully, soon
on this.
Our Neighbourhood Plan discussions have moved
on, please see the article in this newsletter
entitled “In my back yard” You may recall that in
our plan we did identify a number of “Community
Action Projects” that don’t fit into the main plan,
but were identified as important issues for the
town. So that these do not get forgotten, the town
Council, at its December meeting, considered a
proposal to set out how best these projects might
be progressed. The intent is to involve interested
groups and individuals who have a desire and
interest in the respective projects. More info
available soon.
The Council's early ideas on the future of the land
known as “Days Field” have caused some interest
and concern with many residents and there have
been articles in the press. Following the public
meeting in October we have updated our list of
“Frequently Asked Questions”. On the council
website to help explain our thinking and answer
many of the initial questions posed to us. Please
take the opportunity to look at the FAQ’s at www.
swaffhamtowncouncill.gov.uk. Work is being
undertaken on further detail and, as promised,
another public meeting will be organised.
Finally, local elections are coming up in May
2019. In preparation an open session was held on
12th December at the Town Hall and prospective
councillors were given the opportunity to learn
more about what is involved in being a Town
Councillor. Another open session is planned for
February 2019 - it’s still not too late if you want
to get involved and put yourself forward for
consideration.

In Touch With Your Town
'In Touch with your Town' is put together
by the Town Clerk Richard Bishop or
occasionally by the Deputy Town Clerk
Claire Smith. 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.
TOWN CENTRE WORKS
Quinn Construction Ltd have finished the main contract
for works in the Town Centre: -
• overhauled the electrics - to enable sockets for events,
these were used for the first time at the Christmas Lights
Switch On and now each week by Market traders on a
Saturday
• levelled the raised ridges of the cobbles - to take away
trip hazards and make the area more usable for the
public, a great improvement
• new seats and light bollards – located around the
Buttercross, all seats face in towards the Buttercross, this
hasn’t pleased everyone, and the subtle lighting now
shows off this Grade 1 listed building
• new street lights - now light up the car park
• new electric car charging points - at either side of the
car park, these are for electric cars, it will be an offence
for an ordinary car to park in these spaces. These spaces
are now hatched green to encourage drivers of ordinary
cars to park elsewhere.
• new car park meters – to enable Breckland Council to
manage the 2-hour free parking - there are no plans to
charge, but everyone will need a ticket, otherwise you
will receive a different type of ticket and a fine. Trial
scheme starting in the new-year, Breckland Council will
launch this.
• Free WiFi - will be available in the Town Centre,
there has been problems caused by BT in installing a
new broadband line. We hope to announce full details
next month, this will be
a free service, but with a
download limit.
Please note there will be two
further car park machines
installed in the new-year,
but this will involve re-siting
of any builders’ compound
away from the Central area,
as the ticket machines will
be located in the Town
Pit and the Pedlars Car
Park respectively, this is a
separate contract being
carried out for Breckland Council. Breckland have also
decided to reline the whole of the car park, this will be
done in January too!
CHRISTMAS LIGHT SWITCH-ON & CHRISTMAS MARKET
The Christmas Light Switch-On and Christmas Market
took place on Sunday 2nd December, and we did such
a good job in booking the mild fine weather. It was a full
afternoon of entertainment, with a visit from ‘Father
Christmas’ and Live Reindeer, with 36 stalls booked in for
the Christmas Market, what could possibly go wrong?
We needed the public to turn out and support the event
and how they did in their thousands. The atmosphere
was great and how good that so many of the town’s
34
shops stayed open, with Plowright Place needing a
special mention here. Everything built up during the
day working towards the Christmas Lights Switch On at
5pm, just imagine what would be said if after all the work
that had gone on in the Town Centre for the town to be
plunged into darkness, but no Swaffham has its lights for
another year and the event was a great success. The date
has just been confirmed for 2019, so please put Sunday
1st December in your diary.
Light up Swaffham Christmas Raffle
And the winners were....
1st prize - £200 - Ticket No 0823 – Mr Colin Cromer
2nd prize - £50 - Ticket No 0827 – Mr Alex Duck
3rd prize - £25 - Ticket No 0557 – Mrs Stibbon
4th prize - £25 - Ticket No 0096 – Mrs Johnson – donated
to next year's event
5th prize - Food Mixer - Ticket No 0873 – Mr Bennett
6th prize - Baileys Hamper - Ticket No 0691 – Mrs Bartram
7th prize - Waitrose Hamper - Ticket No 0205 – Mrs Allen
8th prize - Magnum of Demi Sec - Ticket No 0278 – Mr
Adcock
9th prize - Meal for two at The Red Lion PH - Ticket No
0114 – Mr Bolton
10th prize - Santa breakfast for two at the White Hart PH
- Ticket No 0855 – Mrs Chatlin
11th prize - Xmas Eve personal visit from Santa - Ticket
No 0746 - Rachel
12th prize - Chocolate mint collection - Ticket No 0788 –
Mr/Miss Gibbon
Thank you to…. ALL that helped in any way to make this
a very special event for the Town. We will give a shout
out to some of the key people involved below, in the
hope that others wont be offended if they are not on
this list, they are all on Santa’s nice list and a big thankyou
must go the Santa himself for turning out during
his busiest time of the year and staying until every child
had seen him, complete with his own elf. Our Town Crier
Nigel Wilkin did a sterling job as MC for the day under the
Buttercross, did any of you hear the extra ‘Oyez’ cry Nigel
did live on Radio Norfolk as the event kicked off around
midday. Radio Norfolk’s Treasure Quest Queen Sophie
Little found the treasure in Nigel’s hat.
We had signs and barriers to put out and dismantle, roads
to close and re-open, stalls to put up and take down, a
Grotto to create and put away until next year, stalls to
manage, raffle tickets to sell, things to happen at certain
times, toilets to clean, litter to pick and floors to sweep.
Our special thanks to the following: -
• Jill Creed, Just Hair - The Red Lion – Waitrose – TK
Drakes and CJ Electrical
• Kurt Oliver and his security team from the White Hart
• Swaffham Councillors for braving the weather
throughout November on the Market
• Charlie, Christmas Trees - for supplying the Christmas
Reindeers in the grotto.
• Santa’s helpers for setting up his Grotto – open from
1pm for visitors to see Santa
• Santa’s helpers wrapping Xmas presents.
• Arnie’s Attic and Bell’s funfair
• Fakenham Town Band - Thursford Organ - The Oasis
Centre – Chrissy & John (Timescape)
• St John’s Ambulance and the local Fire Brigade
• Stewart & Debbie Bell – for the Christmas flags around
town
• Our team of volunteers, especially Eddie Godden,
Andrew Francis and Nigel Wilkin
• Town Councillors and Town Council staff, up at the crack
of dawn and there clearing up at the end
“Do you want to be a Councillor?”
TOWN COUNCIL ELECTIONS
The Town Council will be running the second of two taster
events “Do you want to be a Councillor?” as we get a
little nearer the election date on Thursday 28th February
2019 at 6.30pm-8pm. If you are thinking about standing
for election but would like to know a little more about
the Town Council before they take the final step. How do
we operate? What services do we run? What land and
property do we manage? What are we responsible for?
What exactly does a Town Councillor do? What is the
role of the Town Council within the community? How
does the Town Council fit in with Breckland Council and
Norfolk County Council?
All the things you ever wanted to ask about a Town
Council???
With an early deadline for the newsletter copy this month,
the Town Council will have co-opted a replacement for
Cllr Steve Allen who resigned at the November 2018
meeting. At the time of writing there are at least two
expressions of interest in filling the casual vacancy. In
the meantime, we will give our grateful thanks to Steve
Allen for the three and a half years he has served on the
Council.
IN MY BACK YARD
The Swaffham Neighbourhood Plan is a communityled
document for guiding the future development of
our Town. It is about the use and development of land
over the next 20 years. The plan will set out a vision and
aspirations for the future development of the Town and
will be an important document that will help influence
and control the way our Town changes in the future,
including any new housing developments.
This is the 11th article designed to give you the latest
information.
During September our task was to go through comments
received and see how we could update/review the draft
plan. This took some time and thanks to the working
group for all their analysis and consideration.
In October work continued on the background
“supporting” documents that have to accompany the
35
main plan and these are now ready
The draft plan was finalised and the full Town Council
signed it off, at its Nov meeting. The plan has been
submitted formally to Breckland District Council with
the supporting documents. We now have a period of
waiting until an “independent examiner” is appointed
and reviews the plan.
As you may also know, Breckland Council themselves
are in the stages of developing their own “Local Plan”.
Work on this continues until into the new year. The
timing of this is helpful in many ways to us as our Towns
Neighbourhood plan has to sit alongside Breckland’s
Plan and cannot be contradictory to it.
Please have a look at our documents as they very much
set out the local scene for many years to come.
It will be great in 2019 to have an adopted plan to help us
guide the future of our Town.
Keep up to date on the Town Council Website
www.swaffhamtowncouncil.gov.uk
Contact details Rachel Leggett, project manager
swaffhamplan@gmail.com
Town Council Dates
Wednesday 9th - Full Town Council meeting
6.30 p.m. - 9.00 p.m. Council Chamber, Town Hall.
The Town Council
Mayor – Cllr Colin Houghton 01760 336 025
Deputy Mayor – Cllr Jill Skinner 01760 336 121
Cllr Steven Allen
07825 801 605
Cllr Robert Bartram
01760 721 022
Cllr Wendy Bensley
01760 722 524
Cllr Brenda Bowler
01760 788 519
Cllr Jan Buckley-Stevens
01760 722 604
Cllr Paul Darby
Cllr Terry Jennison
01760 720 608
Cllr Sheila Lister
01760 720 114
Cllr Shirley Matthews
01760 723 205
Cllr Les Scott
01760 720 465
Cll Anne Thorp
01760 722 611
01760 622725
Breckland Councillors:
Cllr Paul Darby, Cllr Shirley Matthews and
Cllr Ian Sherwood 07795 236878
twitter@ CllrIanSherwood (your.cllr@breckland.gov.uk)
Your County Councillor is Cllr Ed Colman
07940 406356 / email ed.colman.cllr@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 722 922
www.swaffhamtowncouncil.gov.uk
Town Hall Opening Times
Monday 9.30am-1pm and 1.30pm-4pm
Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday & Friday : 9:30am-1pm

HUGE DISCOUNTS ON THE BIGGEST CHOICE
OF TRUSTED BRANDS IN THE AREA
SUPER
SAVINGS
ON SOFAS &
RECLINERS
WE WON’T BE
BEATEN ON PRICE
*
BIG
DISCOUNTS
ON BEDS &
MATTRESSES
THE BIG
WINTER
SALE
FOR ALL YOUR HOME NEEDS!
PRICES
DOWN
ON DINING &
BEDROOM
EASY
PAYMENT
OPTION
SPREAD
THE COST!
ASK IN STORE
FAB
SAVINGS
ON CARPETS
& FLOORING
STARTS
10am BOXING DAY
IN ELY
STARTS
9am THURSDAY 27 DECEMBER
IN DOWNHAM STORES
WITCHFORD, ELY
FURNITURE & BED CENTRE
Lancaster Way Business Park
Ely CB6 3NX
T: 01353 669754
CLOSED Fri 21st - Tue 25th Dec
Open Boxing Day 10.00 - 5.00
DOWNHAM MARKET
HOMESTORE
Bridge Street, Downham Market
PE38 9DS
T: 01366 382213
Open Christmas Eve 9.00 - 4.30
CLOSED Boxing Day
DOWNHAM MARKET
TOY STORE
Wales Court, Downham Market
PE38 9JZ
T: 01366 383429
Open Christmas Eve 9.00 - 4.30
CLOSED Boxing Day
reedshomestore.co.uk
find us on facebook
Normal hours 9.00 – 5.00 resume Thursday 27th December. All our stores will be open 9.00 – 4.00
on New Year’s Eve. Ely will be open 10.00 – 4.00 on New Year’s Day.
* Reeds will beat any competitor’s price within a 50 mile radius. Internet sales excluded.