Swaffham Newsletter

Beachamwell WI
The January meeting of Beachamwell
W.I saw an in depth and lively
discussion about the proposed
national WI resolutions for 2020. We looked at the
lack of regulations in the UK for using female crash test
dummies in car safety tests; the need to encourage
more people to register as potential stem cell donors;
a national campaign to end modern slavery; the need
to encourage people to talk more openly about death
and dying as well as protecting the earth’s rapidly
diminishing helium deposits, a gas which cannot be
produced artificially. We all learnt so much about each
of the subjects and came away with the urge to learn
yet more.
On February 6th our speaker will be Michael Willett who
will be giving a talk and demonstration on the Magic of
Making and Playing Period Musical Instruments. March
5th sees Simon White giving a presentation on the
Gardens of East Anglia. Even if you are not thinking of
joining the W.I, visitors are always warmly welcomed
on the first Thursday of each month at Beachamwell
Village Hall starting at 7.30pm. There is a small charge
of £3.50 per visitor (refreshments are included). Any
enquires, please contact Maggie on 01366 327023 or
Helen on 01366 328589.
Swaffham WI
We held our first meeting of the
new year in January at 2pm at the
Methodist Church Rooms as a social
gathering. Two new members joined us and were
made very welcome. Many discussed the Christmas
events and festivities held in the town in December.
Future dates were given for the various sub-groups,
ie. tenpin bowling, knit and knatter and theatre trips.
A vote was taken on which Campaign Resolution
members thought should be selected and sent to the
WI Federation. Number 4 "time to talk about death
and dying" had a slight majority, with Number 3 "End
modern slavery" a close second.
Programmes for 2020 were given out with details of
monthly speakers. The next one being entitled "Her
knitted Majesty" to be held at 2pm on Wednesday
5th February in The Methodist Church Rooms on
London Street. Come and join us, better still, bring a
friend. For more information phone 01760 336049.
The Pickenhams' WI
On 10th December we held our
Christmas Party (Bring and Share
lunch). Carolyn, our President,
started with a warm welcome to everyone to our first
party at the new Pickenham Hub (formerly the village
school). Following a short business meeting we all
signed a joint Christmas card, which was circulated,
together with a collection box for donations to
the Leeway Trust (a local Women's Refuge). Our
afternoon continued with a Christmas Quiz as well as
Christmas Dingbats. Then as a secret surprise we were
entertained by David Harper playing the bagpipes at
2pm! David played a wide selection of music and it
was a very enjoyable and truly festive occasion.
On 14th January our New Year meeting was held
at 11am at Broom Hall, Saham Toney. There were
3 birthday posies to be given out. Our programme
of meetings and speakers for 2020 was handed out.
Members rejoined for the coming year. We considered
and voted on the WI
Resolutions, which
cover several serious
issues for us to assess
which would be of
the most relevance
to us all. We also
considered events
that we had hosted
or attended in
December, including
the WI Carol Service
at St Andrew's
Church, North
Pickenham, the
Norfolk Federation Centenary Celebrations at King's
Lynn and our group outing to the Thursford Christmas
Spectacular! We then reviewed the correspondence
and our WI finances. Our competition ('Your favourite
Christmas Card') was won by Ann, with Christine
coming 2nd. Carolyn finished by saying that our WI
meetings are about Fellowship, Fun and Food, as well
as community involvement. We remember women
who are greatly troubled by problems that might
seem insurmountable.
Our meeting was followed by our delicious Broom
Hall lunch, which was greatly enjoyed!
Future Plans:
• Cinema Club -"Little Women" - check on venue and
times;
• Hotter Shoes, King's Lynn - visit planned for Monday
20th April at 6.00pm;
We now have a refreshments team for any future
events.
Enquiries welcome - Carolyn Vincent - 01760 755089
Melanie Cousins - 01760 440456
CELEBRATING
Swaffham 5
YEARS
President's Corner
Christmas is now over, and I
hope all of us have enjoyed
the warmth and company of friends and relations and
are now recovering from the excesses of the holiday
period.
Needless to say, the Rotary members enjoyed their
Christmases with a party which was split in two events
this year starting off at the End of the Pier show on
Cromer Pier. I have never laughed so much in the
middle of a December afternoon! Then it was back
to an excellent evening dinner at the George when
the president (or was it Father Christmas?) came and
cheered everyone up with presents and the odd “ho
ho” .
The evening also offered the occasion to welcome a
new member, Mike Dwyer . Its great to see the Club,
now in its 50th year still attracting members.
The next big event that we are now planning is our
Annual Charity Golf Day on Monday 20th July 2020
at Swaffham Golf Club. The event is now open for
entries from teams of 4 - gents, ladies or mixed in
an 18 hole stableford competition. The entry fee will
include a 2 course meal. The day will include all the
usual on course prizes with a raffle and quality auction
to round off the event. A great day’s golf for great
LOCAL Charities!
Contact and entry form from: W: www.swaffhamrotary.
org.uk. E: denis.bishop@btinternet.com.
The final entries have been received and have now
been curated in one of the Swaffham Museum rooms.
First of all, many thanks to all the people who entered
and went about capturing the essence of what
Swaffham is today.
The overall winners, best in show, are:
• Swaffham Reflections by Mike Gattuso
• Swaffham Buttercross by Derek Pinner
• Swaffham Churchyard by Malcolm Whittley
Highly recommended:
• Swaffham Buttercross and Market by Andrew
Stephen
• Church Door by Alan Pegg
• Market Cross at Night by Stephen Ward
The Show is being assembled during January and will
be open when the Museum opens in February. The
Collection will remain on display until April when it
will make way for the VE reflections in May.
Swaffham Methodist Church
Sat 1st February 9.30am-12noon. Coffee Morning
organised by Swaffham Scouts.
Sun 2nd February 10.45am. Morning Worship led by
Rev Philip Butcher, followed by refreshments.
Tues 4th February 10am- 12noon. The Meeting Place
drop in, with Traidcraft stall.
Thurs 6th February 10am- 12noon, The Meeting
Place drop in. 7pm, Talking Jesus, exploring sharing
your faith. (Session 5)
Fri 7th February 9.30am. Power of Prayer
10.15-11am. Talking Jesus. (Repeat of Session 5)
Sat 8th February 9.30am-12noon. Coffee Morning in
aid of Church funds.
Sun 9th February 10.45am. Section Service led by
Rev Jacqui Horton. Followed by refreshments.
Tues 11th February 10-12noon. The Meeting Place
drop in.
Thurs 13th February 10-12noon, The Meeting
Place drop in. 2.30pm-4pm, Thursday Group. Guest
speaker Deacon Jen Woodfin.
Thurs 13th February 6pm-7pm. Talking Jesus.
(Session 6)
Fri 14th February 9.30am. Power of Prayer followed
by repeat of Session 6 Talking Jesus.
Sat 15th February 9.30am-12noon, Coffee Morning
in aid of The Leprosy Mission. 6pm, Half-Term Family
Film Night. Free admission to the screening of a
popular Disney U-rated film. Call in at the Church to
find out what's showing.
Sun 16th February 10.30am. Morning Worship led
by Aileen Fox and followed by refreshments.
Tues 18th February 10-12noon. The Meeting Place
drop in.
Thurs 20th February 10-12noon. The Meeting Place
drop in.
Fri 21st February 9.30am. Power of Prayer.
Sat 22nd February 9.30am-12noon. Coffee Morning
organised by the Royal British Legion.
Sun 23rd February 10.45am. Morning Worship. Local
Arrangement led by the Worship Leaders.
Tues 25th February 10-12noon, The Meeting Place
drop in. 11.30am-1pm, Soup & Pancakes.
Thurs 27th February 10-12noon, The Meeting Place
drop in, with Green Pastures Christian Bookstall.
2.30pm-4pm, Thursday Group. Talking about our
favourite Bible verses.
Fri 28th February 9.30am. Power of Prayer.
Sat 29th February 9.30am-12noon. Coffee Morning
organised by 2nd Swaffham Guides.
Swaffham Methodist Church extra
The Meeting Place drop in is 1 year old on 4th
February. How time flies! Just to remind everybody
that our drop in is a warm, safe, friendly place to
be. Also EVERYBODY is welcome. Drop in for a free
cuppa next time you're passing.
Susan Jones, a new member of our Church is a yoga
instructor and has formed Yoga4Breath, a class that
meets each Wednesday 10am -11am in the newly
refurbished Church. Aimed at older people, this is
chair yoga. Susan charges £5 per session and at the
end of each term a percentage of what she makes
is donated to charity. Last term just under £40 was
donated to MIND.
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