Swaffham Newsletter

SN

March 2020

Your free town newsletter published by Iceni Partnership

SWAFFHAM

newslet ter

NEWS EVENTS INFORMATION

Signs of Spring emerge in

Swaffham Community Garden

Find details of how to be a garden volunteer on p.23

Photo taken in Swaffham Commmunity Garden, March 2019

REGULARS

Nicholas

Hamond

Academy

p.7

Merle

Boddy

Centre

p.11

Swaffham

Camera

Club

p.26

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Swaffham Newsletter

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Contents

4 Upcoming Events / Regular Events

7 School Speak

9 WI Groups/Magpie Centre

10 Church News

11 Merle Boddy Centre

12 Swaffham Lions

14 SCALGA/Gardening Club

16 Age Concern

18 Rotary President's Corner

20 Swaffham Jazz Club/W.Acre Bowls

22 Swaffham WEA

24 Museum Matters

25 Hospital LOFs

26 Camera Club/Swaffham Arts

28 Iceni Rural Writers/Dementia Cafe

30 U3A/Home Hospice/History Group

32 Library News/Houghton Church

33 Mayor's Parlour

34 Town Council

Special donation to Home Start

Community spirit remains strong in Swaffham,

with local organisations continuing to support one

another wherever they can.

Swaffham Spiritual Awareness Group has a dedicated

fund that they use to support a nominated local

charity each year. In 2019 their charity of choice was

Home Start, who were thrilled to receive a cheque

for £500 to help them deliver their invaluable service

to the residents of Swaffham.

1

Upcoming Events

Pickenham Hub Quiz With Grub Friday 28th February, 7pm

Pickenham Hub (formerly the Primary School opposite Brecklands Green),

South Pickenham Road, North Pickenham, PE37 8LG. Teams of up to six people,

£7 per head including a Ploughman’s Supper. Bar available. Plenty of parking

space. To book, please telephone Melanie Cousins on 01760 440456.

Save the Children Coffee Morning Saturday 7th March, 9am - 12pm

at Swaffham Assembly Rooms. Take some time out and come along to enjoy

one of our coffee mornings with exciting stalls.

‘Knit it. Hook it. Stitch it’- a new group for knitters , crocheters and

stitchers who would like to meet on the 2nd and 4th Monday of the month –

next meeting on March 9th and March 23rd 7pm-9pm. £3 per session to cover

room hire at The Church Room, Church of Our Lady of Pity, 31 Station Road ,

Swaffham PE37 7HP. Contact Caroline Partridge on 07880 742657

The Ella McCready Trio Swaffham Jazz Club Tuesday 10th March.

Swaffham Conservative Club, 23 London Street, PE37 7DD. Starts at 8pm. £8

on the door. Information from Geoff 01366 328730 or Norman 01760 722384.

Poetry Writing Workshop Iceni Rural Writers invite you to join a

workshop with Richard Lambert on Friday 13 March 12.30 – 2.30pm Swaffham

Community Centre. Cost £10.00 Numbers limited. To book a place contact Leah

Spencer on 01362 681896.

Sound Bath With Sally Carter - Friday 13th March - 2pm – 3.30pm

- A soundbath is a way of relaxation while listening to healing instruments such

as crystal bowls, singing bowls, chimes, drum rattles and many more. These are

played around you and the room, immersing you in a range of sounds creating

a feeling of peace and harmony. You can lay back, close your eyes and enjoy

the benefits of sounds and vibration, including helping with anxiety, depression,

sleep and general wellbeing. Suitable for all. Cost £10. Bring a mat, cushions,

blanket or anything to lay down on, or we can provide a chair if needed..

Pickenham Hub (formerly the Primary School), South Pickenham Road, North

Pickenham, PE37 8LG.

BINGO Wednesday 18th March - Doors open from 7pm for 7.30pm start. £6

a book. Pickenham Hub (formerly the Primary School), South Pickenham Road,

North Pickenham, PE37 8LG.

Quiz & Chips 7pm, Friday 20th March at Great Dunham Village Hall. Fish

and Chips or Chicken and Chips served at the interval. To reserve places contact

Mike Upton on 01328 701 533.

Necton Primary School Quiz. 27th march, doors open 6.30 for 7pm

start. Held at the school £2 per person, max 6 per team. Bring your own drinks

and nibbles. Adults only

A Celebration Of The Paston Dynasty In Dance Join Norwich

Historical Dance as they recreate scenes from the Paston family history over

the 15th, 16th, 17th & 18th Centuries. There will also be a song or two, and

readings from letters of this the most famous of Norfolk families.

Sunday 29th March, 3pm at Swaffham Assembly Rooms. Tickets £12 / £9

members, under 18’s free. Tickets available on the door for every event or in

advance from Ceres Bookshop (01760 722 504) and The Green Parrot (01760

724704) in Swaffham.

Enquiries: 01366 328648 www.swaffhamarts.co.uk

Gamekeeping and Conservation an illustrated talk by Nar Valley

Ornithological Society (NarVOS). Tuesday 31st March 2020, 7.30pm at the Barn

Theatre, Sacred Heart Convent School, Swaffham. Access and parking from

Sporle Road.

Retired gamekeeper, Gerald Gray, worked on the same Breckland estate for over

25 years. He won an award for working for a better public understanding of the

role of gamekeepers in sustaining a countryside rich in wildlife. Gerald has been

particularly involved in the conservation of Stone Curlews and Grey Partridges.

Do come along to Gerald’s talk.

Visitors most welcome. Admission £4 on the night if you are not a NarVOS

member. For more information about this meeting or NarVOS call Ian Black on

01760 724092

Quiz with Hog Roast Supper Saturday April 4th at Stowbridge Village

Hall, Downham Road, Stowbridge PE34 3PE. In aid of the Magpie Centre. Teams

of four to eight are usual, but singles and couples are welcome to compete

individually or make up teams on the night. The price, £11, includes a Hog Roast

supper, with vegetarian option, plus a selection of salads and desserts, as well

as a very convivial evening. There is also a cash bar serving beer, wine, cider and

soft drinks Doors open at 7pm for a 7.30pm start. To secure your places, call

01553 828935 or email c.dudley@success-in-english.co.uk.

Westacre Theatre www.westacretheatre.com 01760 755800

4 March at 2pm for £9: On screen with The Wednesday Film: ONCE UPON A

TIME IN HOLLYWOOD (2019) [18] 172 mins

11 March at 2pm for £9: On screen with The Wednesday Film: SORRY WE

MISSED YOU (2019) [15] 101 mins

Friday 13, Saturday 14, Friday 20, Saturday 21 March at 7:30pm for £15 adults

and £10 under 21s: A HAROLD PINTER DOUBLE BILL: The Dumb Waiter and

Victoria Station

25 March at 2pm for £9: On screen with The Wednesday Film: OFFICIAL

SECRETS (2019) [15] 112 mins

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 07745 714249 or group Secretary Ali Plomer on 01760 441175

Art Class at The Old Art Room 93 Market Place. Techniques, tutoring

and tips, Inspiration in a modern equipped Art Studio. 10am until 12.15 £10

Tel.01760 337181 je.clark176@btinternet.com

Carpet Bowls - Pickenham Hub (formerly the primary school), South

Pickenham Road, North Pickenham, PE37 8LG Mondays 2.30pm – 4.30pm £10

joining fee, then £3.00 per session. Contact Keith Saunders 07771 936 686

Central Norfolk Dog Training Club Hilborough Village Hall, Westgate

Street, Hilborough, Norfolk IP26 5BN. 4 classes available, from puppies to

intermediate. Every Monday from 6.30pm. Tel: Chris 07745 892417

Crochet Lessons 10.30am - 12.30pm at The Tea room, Ceres Book Shop.

Booking essential. ‘Circle in a Square’ March 9th 10.30- 12.30 and a new

Beginners evening course commencing on March 2nd 7-9pm. For prices and

all relevant information contact Caroline Partridge on 07880 742657 or email

caroline@thepartridges.net.

Hi-5 Allsports 5.30pm - 6.30pm Hi-5 Allsports kids club (5-14 years old) ALL

different types of sports at Swaffham Rugby Club.

5.30pm - 6.30pm RABBLE for adults all different types of sports at Swaffham

Rugby Club.

Kickboxing Club Juniors 5+ 5pm – 6pm, Inters 6-7pm, Adults 7pm – 8.30pm

Plowright Place. Call Trevor on 07585707196

Knit it. Hook it. Stitch it- a new group for knitters , crocheters and stitchers

who would like to meet on the 2nd and 4th Monday of the month , starting

January 27th 7pm-9pm. £3 per session to cover room hire at The Church Room,

Church of Our Lady of Pity, 31 Station Rd, Swaffham PE37 7HP. Contact Caroline

Partridge on 07880 742657.

Phoenix Singers Meets every Monday at 7.30pm in the Methodist Church

school room.

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. Call 01842 879140 or email jbaz@

go-plus.net

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

Swaffham Voluntary Stroke Group meet on the 3rd Monday of the

month at The Maltings on Cley Road, 10:30am until 12:30pm. Call Sarah Neall

on 7507 494103 for further details.

Junior Snooker & Billiards 4-7pm @ The Norfolk Snooker Academy, West

Acre 01760 755337 for details and to book, 9 -16 years

Table Tennis – Mondays 7pm – 9pm. Membership £10 with first session free.

£4 per session members, £5 for non-members. 07780 000 278 Pickenham Hub

(formerly the Primary School), South Pickenham Road, North Pickenham, PE37

8LG.

TOSH community drama group meets 7pm - 8.30pm at Great Cressingham

Village Hall. More details Fiona 07768211087

Youthie 5.30 - 7pm, 8 -11 yrs. Swaffham Community Centre. Contact 01760

722800 for more info. Holiday times announced on Facebook

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

Alcoholics Anonymous Swaffham Weekly 7pm - 8pm at Swaffham

Community Ctr. The Campingland, PE37 7RB. Fully wheelchair accessible.

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

Arts & Crafts, Textiles and Dressmaking at The Old Art Room

93 Market Place. Techniques, Tips, Inspiration in a modern equipped Art &

Textile Studio. 9.30am until 11.45am, and, 12.30pm until 2.45pm. £10. 01760

337181

Beginners Modern Line Dance Swaffham Assembly Rooms, Tuesdays

10.45-11.45 £5 Contact Nikki on 07851 350704

Bounce and Rhyme Time 10-10.30am at Swaffham Library. Fun with

songs and rhymes for pre-school children and their parents/carers. Stay and chat

afterwards. Contact 01760 721513 for more info. Breckland Customer Services,

10am-1pm at Swaffham Library. IT Support, 10am-12noon at Swaffham Library.

Help with getting online with our IT Support volunteer. Contact 01760 721513

for more info and booking.

Breckland Customer Services 10 -5pm at Swaffham Library.

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

Carpet Bowls - Pickenham Hub, North Pickenham, PE37 8LG Tuesdays 7 –

9pm £10 joining fee, then £3 per session. Contact Keith Saunders 07771 936 686

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 723175

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.

Jive and Lindy-Hop Swing-dance Classes - Every Tuesday at Swaffham

Community Centre with Jump, Jive & Swing. Doors open 7.45pm - Classes and

practice 8pm-10.30pm. Come and learn this fun vintage dance genre - Authentic

1930's and 1940's style swing dance, great music and cool moves. Make new

friends, keep fit and learn a new skill. Partners useful but not essential. More

details on our website: www.jumpjiveswing.com

Karate Club Every Tuesday in Swaffham Assembly Rooms 6pm-7pm, this is

open to everyone aged 6+, first session is free! Contact details are as follows,

Mob: 07767 721558 Email: officetskr@gmail.com

The Meeting Place 10am - 12 noon, Swaffham Methodist Church.

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

Royal British Legion, Swaffham & District Branch 8pm, 3rd Tuesday

Swaffham Conservative Club. Tel: Jo Scott 01760 721277.

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. Contacts for further information are: W Rogers Tel: 01760

720632 or D Winner Tel: 07787 927691

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 9.30am, 11.30am, 5.30pm & 7.30pm at Stanley's. Use

Asda's carpark. Edyta 07428 516814

SNAP (Safer Neighbourhood Action Partnership) Meetings held

quarterly 3rd Tuesday at Town Hall, 7pm. Next meeting in 2019 15th October.

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 11am 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

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

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.

Café at The Pickenham Hub Every Thursday, 9.30am - 4pm, with hot

food 10am - 3pm. In the former primary school, South Pickenham Rd, North

Pickenham PE37 8LG.

Conservative Party, Swaffham Branch meets every 3rd Wednesday

every other month. The only consecutive months are Jan, Feb and August,

Spet. Meet in Salisbury Room in Shirley House, London St. 10am for 10.30am

start. Coffee served. Entry £3. All welcome.

Swaffham 1894 Squadron Air Training Corps 7:00-9:30pm.

TA Centre, Sporle Road, Swaffham. Ages 12 (yr8) to 18 years. Tel: 01760724617

Dementia Café first Weds of month, 10am-12noon. Swaffham Assembly

Rooms. Support, information and social activity. Refreshments provided. 01603

763556

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). Nonmembers

30p entry.

Swaffham Camera Club 1st and 3rd Weds of every month, 7 for 7:30pm

at Lydney House, Norwich Road. All abilities welcome! lynibbitson@gmail.com

Dementia Café Free cafe offering support, information for those living with

dementia and their families/carers. Assembly Rooms. Call Celia 01362 687316.

Swaffham WI Methodist Church on first Wednesday at 2pm during winter

months. 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

Knitting, Crochet And Sewing Group - Pickenham Hub (formerly the

primary school), South Pickenham Road, North Pickenham, PE37 8LG. Tuesdays

2pm – 4pm. £3 a session. Contact Treasure Kipping 01760 441150

The Swaffham and District Branch of the Labour Party

meets in the Community Centre at 7.30 pm, last 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 11.30am Swaffham Community Centre 01760 723102

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 from 7pm to 9pm at the Methodist

Rooms in Swaffham More details Fiona 07768211087

Whist Drive Bradenham Village Hall, 7:30pm. All welcome. 01760 440038. £3

Youth Club - Pickenham Hub (formerly the primary school), South Pickenham

Road, North Pickenham, PE37 8LG. For ages 11 – 18 years old. Every Wednesday

6pm – 7.30pm. Tuck shop. Come and chill. Contact Cherry Cook 01760 440 544

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


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

Arts & Crafts, Textiles and Dressmaking at The Old Art Room

93 Market Place. Techniques, Tips, Inspiration in a modern equipped Art &

Textile Studio. 10am until 12.15pm, and, 12.45pm until 3pm. £10. 01760

337181

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

Swaffham Countrysiders Every second Thursday of the month. 7 -

8.30pm. Part of the Young Farmers for 10 - 16 years old. At Pickenham Hub

(formerly the primary school), South Pickenham Road, North Pickenham, PE37

8LG. https://norfolkyfc.co.uk/countrysiders.php for more information and

programme of events.

Games and Colouring Afternoon 2-4pm at Swaffham Library. Join us for

a friendly chat and a cuppa with board games and colouring materials available.

Contact 01760 721513

4

5

IT Support 10am-12noon at Swaffham Library. Help with getting online with

our IT Support volunteer. Contact 01760 721513 for more info and booking.

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 PE33 9NP Contact

Colin McCallum on 07905 278857 or www.happidojomarhamjudoclub.btckco.

uk for details.

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

Just a Cuppa Every Thursday 2-4pm. Come along for a friendly chat and a

cuppa every Thursday at Swaffham Library. Colouring materials and a selection of

games and puzzles are also available

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

The Meeting Place 10am - 12 noon, Swaffham Methodist Church.

RAF Marham Food and Craft Market 1st Thursday 12am to 5pm.

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 Julia 720041

Move it or Lose it Club Exercise classes for the over 60s. Thursdays from

11am till 12.30pm in the Ball Room at Swaffham Assembly Rooms. Starting

Thursday 5th September. You can book your place, or just turn up. Contact Jo on

07941 086603 or Sam on 07925 602862 for more information.

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.

Slimming World 5.30pm & 7.30pm at Necton Village Hall.

Swaffham Rugby Football Club Seniors 17+ training 7:30-9,

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, 11 - 13 yrs, Swaffham Community Centre. Free entry.

Contact 01760 722800 for more info. Holiday times announced on Facebook.

Youthie Hub 7.30 - 9pm, 14-18 yrs, Swaffham Community Centre. Contact

01760 722800 for more info. Holiday times announced on Facebook.

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. Methodist Church

Rooms. 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


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 7pm, eyes-down

7.45pm Contact Brenda 01760 337916

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 6.30pm 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

Embroidery with Brenda Sortwell at The Old Art Room. 93 Market

Place, Swaffham. Techniques, tips, and inspiration. 10am until 2pm. £18. 01760 337181.

Games Evening & Social 2nd Friday/month Swaffham Baptists Church Hall

- 7:30. All welcome

'Get Online' Free drop in sessions for anyone requiring help with emails,

online job searches, form filling etc. 11am - 12pm, Swaffham Community Centre.

Swaffham’s Green Gym Friday 8.30am Recreation Ground, Haspalls Rd

Henchmans Friday 7pm – 11pm. Friday Night Magic & other trading card /

collectible card games. Refreshments available. 01760 788427. Henchmans, 13

Station Street, Swaffham PE37 7LL.

Hi-5 Allsports 5 - 6pm Hi-5 Allsports kids club (5-14 years old) ALL different types of

sports at Swaffham Rugby Club. 5 - 6pm RABBLE for adults.

Iceni Lunch Club Swaffham Community Centre, £6.50 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

Quiz Night last friday of the month from 7-7:30ish at the Red Lion, Swaffham.

In aid of Prostate UK. For more info call 01760 721022.

Rise and shine Baby & Toddler Group: 10am - 12noon. Large play area.

£1.50 per adult/chld. 50p any extra persons. Incl drink & a biscuit.

Screen Printing Session 10am-2pm. The Old Art Room Swaffham. Learn

how to design, make and print your own screen on many different surfaces.

£20 the session additional cost for materials. Tel 01760 337181 or email jane on

je.clark176@btinternet.com

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

Swaffham Bingo Club Community Centre last Sat in month, 7pm for 7:30pm

start. £2.50 annual membership, 50p for visitors.

Paul Darby 01760 622725

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

Code Club 2-3pm at Swaffham Library. Have fun learning to code, for 8-12 yr

olds. Contact 01760 721513 for more info and booking.

Comedy Club every 2nd and last saturday of the month 4/5 acts for an evening

of laughter at The Red Lion, Swaffham. In aid of prostate UK. For more info call

01760 721022.

Karaoke every 2nd and last saturday of the month after comedy club at The Red

Lion, Swaffham. For more info call 01760 721022.

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

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

The Nicholas Hamond Academy

A 7am start on a cold and rainy Sunday

did not deter our TNHA rugby fans who

were given the opportunity of visiting a

Leicester Tigers

Match recently.

Visiting the

home ground

of the rugby

union side at

Welford Road,

students were

given the

opportunity to take part in a masterclass with the

team’s coaches and to be ‘flag wearers’ on the pitch

before the game. They also were able to have a

photograph with the team as a memento of their

visit.

Meanwhile in a warmer setting, we have been

delighted to welcome visitors to the academy

inspiring our students, the first of which was

Baroness Hayman GBE who spoke to students on

the nature of the House of Lords and House of

Commons.

She is certainly well qualified to do so, being the first

elected Lord Speaker of the House of Lords, serving

on the privy-council committee and being the

youngest ever MP (one of only 27 female MPs in the

House of Commons at that time)! She encouraged

students to pick an avenue that they are passionate

about and argue for it (e.g. the environment and

climate change) and answered some excellent

questions on Brexit, Cancer Research UK and the

Privy Council (who advise the Queen on the carrying

out of her duties, including the exercise of the Royal

Prerogative and other functions assigned to the

Sovereign by Acts of Parliament). Students joined

her afterwards in a more informal setting enjoying

refreshments and being able to ask her questions

on a one-to-one basis.

Also visiting us were The Breckland Youth Advisory

Board (YAB) who are a body of Young Commissioners

aged 11 to 19 who work with professionals, to

identify issues impacting young people. Their focus

is on personal development, consulting other young

people, campaigning for change, lobbying decision

makers, funding projects and much more.

They gained views from our Student Council on

a number of issues including mental health and

well-being, bullying, youth voice and participation

and careers, learning how they too could become

involved. Regular TNHA Youth Advisory Board

Meetings are held weekly with all students welcome

to attend and have their ‘voice heard’.

Still on the subject of

‘listening and ensuring

students are heard’ February

saw the re-launch of our

Anti-Bullying Ambassador

Programme where a group

of volunteer students are

available at break and lunch

for those who may have

worries or issues and find it

easier to talk to their peers.

Ensuring a quick and effective

response is the goal of all at

TNHA and these excellent

students are helping in this endeavour.

Celebrating their success, are two of our VI Form

students, who been offered a place on the Senior

Health & Care Academy Programme at the Queen

Elizabeth Hospital in Kings Lynn. The Programme

which will run from late January until June will offer

an insight into the various skills and experience

required to apply for apprenticeships in the Health

Sector. They are certainly a credit to TNHA and we

wish them every success in taking the first steps

towards their career goals.

Finally, we bid a fond farewell

to Judy Anscombe who has

tirelessly worked for many

years to support our academy,

firstly as a governor and latterly as Chair of our Local

Governing Committee.

On behalf of students, staff and governors we wish

her well in what we are certain will be a very busy

retirement and look forward to continuing our

contact via many community based projects.

6

7

Swaffham Primary Academy

Swaffham Primary School Library Gets New Books

Boost From Festive Book Fair

Children at a Swaffham primary school have a whole

load of new books to read – after a Book Fair held

before Christmas raised over £700.

Organised by Swaffham Primary Academy librarian

Angela Sharman, aided by three enthusiastic pupils,

the Fair saw a range of books on sale to children and

parents at the school, with profits being used to add to

the school’s growing library.

“We are really grateful to parents, carers and students

for supporting our latest Book Fair,” said head teacher

Nicola Kaye. “Not only were they able to find lots of last

minute Christmas presents, but by buying books they

were also helping us to purchase new titles for all the

children in the school to enjoy.

“We work very hard to promote a love of reading

among all the children at the school, and a dynamic and

constantly-refreshed selection of books in the library is

a key part of this.”

Swaffham Primary School Chooses Young Carers

Charity As 2020 Good Cause

Children at a Swaffham primary school have chosen

a charity which supports young carers as the school’s

nominated good cause for 2020 – and are now

embarking on a year-long programme of fundraising

activity to support the work it does.

The decision to support Caring Together was made by

the school council at Swaffham Primary Academy – a

body made up of representatives of each class in the

school.

Caring Together fundraising manager Nicky Newton

attended a meeting of the school council to thank the

children for their decision to support the charity – and

together with colleague Belinda Jones addressed a

whole-school assembly about the challenges faced by

young carers.

The charity supports family carers of all ages across

Cambridgeshire, Peterborough and Norfolk, including

offering one-to-one support for carers in schools,

operating after-school clubs for young carers, and

helping bring a measure of normality into their lives.

“The last ten years have seen an 83 per cent increase

in young carers of primary school age,” said Ms

Newton. “On average there will be six young carers

in every classroom, although many would not identify

themselves as such.

“Having caring responsibility at that age can have

a profound effect on a young person, and our role is

to offer support to try and make their lives as normal

as possible. Often carers of primary school age slip

under the radar, so a big part of what we do is raising

awareness of what it is like to be a carer at such a young

age.

“If we can lay the foundations for support for young

carers at the primary school stage, then we can lessen

the negative impact of having caring responsibility

throughout that young person’s childhood and beyond.”

Swaffham Primary Academy deputy head teacher

Louise Wright said, “It is really positive that the decision

to support Caring Together came from the children

themselves via the school council, and we are very

much looking forward to a year of activity to raise both

funds for the charity, and awareness of the issue of

young carers within the school community.”

Swaffham WI

We were very pleased to have a

number of new members joining us

at our February meeting. We started

with a very amusing poem by Pam Ayres on ‘Knitting’

which fitted in well with our speaker’s topic this month.

This was a very interesting & enjoyable presentation

given by Lois Gill entitled ‘Her Knitted Majesty’. This

was concerning an amazing life-size figure of our Queen

dressed for her Coronation in 1953. The whole figure

from head to toe was made by knitting. The gorgeous

dress, copied from the original, was decorated on the

skirt with emblems of the Commonwealth Nations.

There was also a beautiful Crown & long cloak

decorated in gold leaves. This was also to be displayed

at future weekends in February at the ‘Maker’s Event’

in the Forum Norwich.

Various forth-coming events & dates were given for

members who would be interested i.e. a knit & natter

group, a ten-pin bowling outing, a card making gettogether.

Our next meeting will be on Wednesday 4th.March at

2pm in the Methodist Church on London Street. The

speaker will be Peter Goodrum on ‘Norfolk Broads.’

Do come & join us, if just for a visit, you will be welcome.

For more information phone 01760 336049.

Pickenhams WI

Our afternoon began with our speaker

- Francesca Shearcroft, with her talk

'Reminiscences of a Pharmacist'.

What an interesting career she had; she worked at

the Kent & Canterbury Hospital and also worked for

Pfizer, for Boots and for the Clinical Commissioning

Group. We learned interesting facts about the herbs

some medicines are obtained from, eg white willow

(aspirin), foxglove (digitalis), poppies (morphine),

crocuses (saffron) to name but a few. Francesca also

judged our competition for 'your own "go to" recipe or

item for a headache or stomach ache - the most bizarre

the better' - the winner was Angela for her ginger and

lemon drink.

Then it was time for our meeting, including birthday

posies for Iris, Denise and Carolyn. Our President,

Carolyn welcomed 2 visitors to the meeting, and

reminded us that we will all need to re-join for the year

2020. The winning Resolution voted on last month was

"A call to increase potential stem cell donor registration"

(11 votes). Carolyn has set up a Refreshment Team and

an inaugural meeting had been held. Iris told us of her

proposal to host our WI garden party on 14th May to

commemorate the end of WWII as well as a celebration

of our WI's 70th birthday! Iris is finding some wartime

recipes to use (updated a little!). We will all bring some

food and dress up in wartime clothes. Under discussion

of our finances it was agreed to support the Swaffham

Community Hospital as the charity for this year. Under

'other matters' Carolyn proposed that we borrow high

viz jackets and little pickers and carry out another litter

pick of the village. We also noted that carpet bowls is

held at the Hub on a Monday afternoon (2-4pm) and a

Tuesday evening (7-9pm) for £3. Quiz Night at the Hub

- Friday 28th February - a few WI members are going

along. Carolyn then thanked us all for the fellowship

and friendship shown at our meetings and Iris closed

our meeting by reading two of her own poems: 'Being

a 1950s Teenager' and 'Friendship'.

Future Plans -

Next Meeting: Tues 10th March 2.00pm in the church.

Our speaker will be Georgie Bell - 'Merle Boddy Centre

Past and Present'. Competition: A photo of you in the

70s.

Annual Federation Meeting - Wed 8th April at the Theatre

Royal, Norwich; 8 of us going.

Hotter Shoes - Mon 20th April at 6.00pm - numbers to

be confirmed next month.

Women Walk the World 2020 - Sat 2nd May; meet at

2pm at the church for a walk to St Mary's Houghton on

the Hill and back; £2 each for charity + a raffle and tea

& biscuits back at the church.

WI Birthday Tea - Thurs 14th May in Iris's garden at

2.30pm.

Thursford Christmas Spectacular - 22 seats booked for

Monday 21st December at 7pm.

Enquiries welcome - Carolyn Vincent - 01760 755089 -

Melanie Cousins - 01760 440456

Beachamwell WI

The February meeting of Beachamwell

W.I saw a number of visitors attending

along with our members to hear a

very interesting talk and demonstration of period

musical stringed instruments by local musician

and instrument maker Michael Willett. He brought

with him a wide array of beautiful wooden stringed

instruments with designs dating back to the medieval

period all made by himself. We saw how they were

made and then Michael played each instrument so

we all got a real feel for the music of the time.

On March 5th our speaker will be Simon White

giving a presentation on the Gardens of East Anglia.

April 2nd sees Brenda Packman of the Associated

Country Women of the World talking about how the

organisation supports urban and rural communities

around the world. New members are always welcome

but even if you are not thinking of joining the W.I

but are interested in one of our talks them please

come along 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.

Debbie Roberts

The Magpie Centre

West Norfolk Riding for the Disabled Association

welcomed a new Chairman at the Annual General

Meeting, held on January 28 at the Chequers Inn,

Wimbotsham. Mr Colin Perriss, the new incumbent,

thanked his predecessor, Mrs Rosie O’Grady, for leaving

the charity in ‘very good shape’, and expressed his

enthusiasm at taking the helm for the coming year.

The Magpie Centre, home of WNRDA, now has 90

volunteers, who give up their time on a regular basis

to help with the running of the yard, pony care and

assisting with riding and carriage driving lessons.

However, more able-bodied volunteers are still needed

on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays to help with

carriage driving lessons. Duties would include loading

the participants’ wheelchairs on to the carriage and

following behind in a buggy to escort the carriages.

No previous experience is required as training will

be provided. If you can help with this, please call the

Centre on 01553 810202.

8

9

The Parish Church of St Peter & St Paul

The 2020 March services in Swaffham parish church will be

as follows:-

Sunday 1st First Sunday of Lent

8.00am Holy Communion

9.30am Sung Eucharist

3.30pm Evensong (BCP)

Wednesday 4th

10.00am Holy Communion (BCP)

Sunday 8th



Wednesday 11th


Sunday 15th


9.30am United Benefice Sung Eucharist

Wednesday 18th


Sunday 22nd Mothering Sunday


9.30am All Age Sung Eucharist

(when there will be posies for the ladies)

Wednesday 25th


Sunday 29th


9.30am Sung Eucharist (followed by the

Annual Parochial Church meeting)

NB

Wednesday April 1st


Sunday 5th Palm Sunday



6.00pm Evensong (BCP)

Mothers’ Union

The Swaffham branch of the MU usually meets on the

2nd Thursday of the month and the next meeting will

on Thursday 12th March at 10.00am. This will be a

Corporate Communion in the parish church, that will be

presided over by the vicar, the Revd Janet Allan. Coffee/

tea is served afterwards. Enquiries to Julia on 720041

Buzzbox

Buzzbox is 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.

However, the meeting in March has been cancelled, and

all ages are warmly invited to take part in the Mothering

Sunday service at 9.30am on Sunday 22nd. Therefore the

next Buzzbox meeting will be in church at 10.00am on

18th April. All parents and children are most welcome.

Parish Church 2020 Flower Festival: Soup & Sweet Lunch

There is to be a Soup and Sweet Lunch in the parish

church on 17th March, from 12 noon to 2.00 pm @ £6.00

ea. This is to be in aid of the fund to provide the working

capital for this year’s summer Flower Festival. Do please

come and give us your support which is always much

appreciated.

2020 World Day Of Prayer

The 2020 World Day of Prayer service is a Churches

Together event and will be held at 2.00pm on Friday 6th

March in the Swaffham Methodist Church, when those

present will be part of a great wave of prayer encircling

the globe. All are most welcome!

Churches Together Lent Meetings

Lent is the period of 40 days beginning on Ash Wednesday,

which this year began on 26th February, and comes

before Easter in the Christian calendar. Lent is a season

of reflection and preparation before the celebrations of

Easter and by observing the 40 days of Lent, Christians

replicate Jesus Christ's sacrifice and withdrawal into the

desert for 40 days. Members of the congregations of

the churches that are involved in Churches Together in

Swaffham and District hold additional evening meetings

during Lent. All these meetings, beginning on 4th March,

will be held in the Methodist Chapel, and each week the

leader is from one of the contributing churches. Please

watch out for further details. Everyone is invited to the

meetings.

Operation Christmas Child - Where our Shoe Boxes went

Shoe Boxes sent from St Peter & St Paul church were

part of a consignment of 52,451 boxes

delivered to very needy children in

Central Asia. Because of political

sensitives within Central Asia and for the

safety of the ministry partners working

for Samaritan's Purse living in restricted

areas, Samaritans Purse cannot disclose details of the

specific countries where our shoe boxes were delivered.

The total number of shoe boxes sent to children in need

by S.P. around the world was 398,664 all bearing gifts to

bring some much needed joy in their lives. On behalf

of our church I thank everyone with sincerity, all who

supported the 2019 Operation Christmas Child Shoe Box.

Linda Burton

The Children's Society

I am pleased to inform you that following the yearly

opening of the Children's Society home money boxes, I

have sent the charity £892. On behalf of the Children's

Society I thank all the box holders for their donations,

support and co-operation.

NB The coffee morning held in the parish church on St

Valentine’s Day, also for the Flower Festival fund, was

very successful – thank you to all who made it possible

and those who attended."

Swaffham Methodist Church

Sun 1st March 10.45 Morning Worship followed by

refreshments.

Mon 2nd March 9.30 - 10am Lent Meditation.

Tues 3rd March 10am - 12noon, The Meeting Place

drop in with Traidcraft stall, also with five minute

"Pause for Thought " at 11am.

Wed 4th March 6pm-7pm Sing a New Song.

Thurs 5th March 10am-12noon, The Meeting Place

drop in. 7pm, Churches Together Lent talk.

Fri 6th March 9.30am, Power of Prayer followed by

Lent Bible Study at 10.15 am. 2.30pm, World Day of

Prayer. All welcome.

Sat 7th March 9.30am-12noon, Coffee Morning in aid

of the RNLI.

Sun 8th March 10.45 am, Morning Worship followed

by refreshments.

Mon 9th March 9.30am - 10am, Lent Meditation.

Tues 10th March 10am-12noon, The Meeting Place

drop in with Pause for Thought at 11am.

Wed 11th March 6pm - 7pm, Sing a New Song.

Thurs 12th March 10am- 12noon, The Meeting Place

drop in. 2.30pm, Thursday Group. Playing board

games. 7pm, Churches Together Lent Talk.

Fri 13th March 9.30 am, Power of Prayer followed by

Lent Bible Study at 10.15am.

Sat 14th March 9.30-12noon, Coffee Morning

organised by Swaffham Hospital League of Friends.

Sun 15th March 10.45am, Morning Worship followed

by refreshments.

Mon 16th March 9.30am-10am, Lent Meditation.


drop in with Pause for Thought at 11am.

Wed 18th March 6pm-7pm, Sing a New Song.


drop in. 7pm, Churches Together Lent Talk.



Sat 21st March 9.30-12noon, Coffee Morning

organised by Swaffham Scouts.

Sun 22nd March 10.45am, All Age Service with

Swaffham Guides and Brownies. All welcome.

Mon 23rd March 9.30am-10am, Lent Meditation.


drop in (in School Room) with Pause for Thought at

11am.

Wed 25th March 6pm-7pm, Sing a New Song.


drop in.

Thurs 26th March 2.30pm-4pm, Thurs Group Quiz.

Thurs 26th March 7pm, Churches Together Lent Talk.



Sat 28th March 9.30-12noon, Coffee Morning

organised by TOSH.

Sun 29th March 10.45am, Morning Worship followed

by refreshments.

Mon 30th March 9.10am - 10am, Lent Meditation.

Tues 31st March 10am-12noon, The Meeting Place

drop in with five minute Pause for Thought at 11am.

10 11

Merle Boddy Centre

How we celebrated Burns: The day started

with cheese and oatmeal biscuits and

progressed to haggis neeps and tatties and

of course a trifle with whiskey toffee in the

afternoon! Between all the goodies came some Scottish

poems and facts on Scotland with a bit of Nessie for good

measure.

Our thanks goes to Sharon and Steve for monies raised

from their pop up pub. For details of the next one

contact them on 01760 338551.

Valentine's Day: We are really

into the swing of this romantic

and one especially for me.

day. Cards have been made,

as well as a beautiful pom

pom heart for display on the

wall. We also indulged in some

heart shaped pastries and heart

shaped pudding, what else do

you need?!

This very young looking

man celebrated a special

birthday,he has turned

80 while managing to

look 60! Happy birthday

David.

I am always being

surprised with the lovely

things that our ladies

make, but this has got to

be one of the nicest gifts,

a heart full of pretties

Tunstall

CLEAR

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Help

Swaffham & District Lions

Swaffham Lions continue to

support local youth groups with a

donation of a portable Dugout for

the youth teams at Swaffham Town

Football Club. The club run four youth groups under

16-10- 9- and 7-year olds, they train every Saturday

at their home ground in Shoemakers Lane and play

friendly games. The portable Dugout will house

the trainers and substitutes during matches. Kevin

Williams, from the club, said how wonderful it was

that the Lions supported local youth and that the

dugout will give the young people pride and a sense

of professionalism when they go out on the pitch on

match days.

Swaffham Lions were only too happy to purchase

a £400 shed for the Heartwood Forest School at

Swaffham Infant and Nursery School. Cara Butters,

the teacher in charge, said that

at a time when funds for community groups and

charitable organisations are becoming more difficult

to access, we are incredibly grateful to Swaffham Lions

for this opportunity to make a real difference to the

children of Swaffham and surrounding villages. The

shed will enable us to keep our tools and equipment

safe after four mindless vandalism attacks.

Tel: 01553 616200

www.asklily.org.uk

Helping adults in west

Norfolk get involved in

their community

COMMUNITY SERVICE

Providing peace of mind at the

push of a button;

Careline alarm

1

2

3

4

5

A

Supra

OPEN

KeySafe

6

7

8

9

0

B

Telephone information line

Online directory

Lily Advisor home visits

Community locations

BuddyButton

(GPS tracker)

Tunstall Lifeline

in association with

Supporting you to live safely and

independently in your own home.

Following changes in the Guides and Brownies

programme, Swaffham Lions were asked if they

would fund the new material that the 1st Necton

Brownies would need to comply with the new system.

Swaffham Lions were only too willing to help the

group and were invited by the Brownies leader, Julie

Faiers, to their Australian themed evening where

the Lion President handed over a cheque for £250.

The Brownie pack, which has 20 members, decided

to theme the evening in support of the animals that

had been affected by the fires in Australia.

Following a request for funding, members from the

Iceni Youth Group gave a short presentation to the

Lions on the benefits the group would gain from a

visit to the Spring Fair being held at the Norfolk

Show Ground. The benefits included career advice,

confidence building, raising self-esteem, as well as

knowledge to help with Swaffham’s Community

Garden. Lion President, John Collins, handed over a

£335 cheque to the group to cover the cost of the

trip.

T: 01553 616200 W: careline-cs.org.uk

E: careline.operators@west-norfolk.gov.uk

We are the

champions

At The Paddocks Care Home, we

believe in a healthy, active lifestyle

– one in which our residents can

feel like winners. That’s why we

personalise each day to meet the

individual activity needs of our

residents and their families.

And hearing their laughter

is music to our ears.

2:09/3:10

WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS – QUEEN

The Paddocks

45 CLEY ROAD, SWAFFHAM, PE37 7NP

CALL 01760 722920 TO ARRANGE YOUR VISIT

www.castlemeadowcare.co.uk

12

RESIDENTIAL CARE | DEMENTIA CARE | RESPITE CARE | SHORT BREAKS

Ashill & Holme Hale Garden Club

Website: ashillgardeningclub.wordpress.com/

Email: ashillholmehalegardenclub@gmail.com

Jewels in the Clouds (Alpines Flowers) - Presented by

Rosemary Ward

For the first monthly meeting of the Ashill & Holme Hale

Garden Club in 2020, held on a bleak and misty Thursday

afternoon, members were treated to a delight of colour

in Rosemary Ward’s presentation of Alpine flowers.

Rosemary, who hails from Norwich, de-lighted the 60

members present by her wonderful slides showing

where Alpines are found in their natural surroundings

as well as how to grow them in our own gardens.

Rosemary explained that Alpines grow between the

coniferous tree-line and below the permanent snow

line. They include a wide variety of plants including

woodland and shade loving plants. They are often

found in high mountain valleys such as in the Pyrenees

and regularly populate crevices in rocks and on slopes

where they can access wa-ter from snowmelt higher

up. Alpines include such species as muscari, lilies,

tulips, anemones, orchids and aquilegias to name but

a few. Surprisingly, despite their natural habitat being

on higher ground many will thrive well in our gardens

and in pots if given the correct growing conditions and

location. If Alpines are planted in garden beds they are

best grown on south or west facing slopes in the garden

to capture the sun. They also like good drainage so when

planting use a fine gravel. For woodland alpines use

both gravel and humus. When first planted alpine plants

should be given a good watering but after establishing

will rarely require additional watering. When growing

alpines in pots the specialists recommend terracotta

pots, rather than plastic, as it helps to protect the plant

against wide temperature fluctuations. For anyone

interested in seeing a range of alpine plants a good

introduction would be to visit the East Anglian Alpine

Garden Society’s annual show at Framingham Earl High

School on May 2nd, 2020.

Our next monthly meeting is on February 27th at

2.30pm at Holme Hale Pavilion when our speaker

Jonathon Carrie will demonstrate “The Art of Willow

Weaving” and show members how they can produce

their own baskets from hedgerow material

New members are always welcome so come along and

join us.

SCALGA

Greetings from the Allotments.

Well 2020 is with us and what a start to the year. Rain,

and high winds culminating in the tail end of Hurricane

Ciara. Our 25ft x 12ft Poly tunnel was picked up and

flung across 5 plots, landing in the car park. Others

had similar damage; luckily no person or animal was

hurt. Now begins the big clear up, numerous fence

posts, shed roofs etc. will all have to be replaced or

repaired. What a pain. Never mind spring is round the

corner and as I write we have snowdrops, Aconites,

daffodils all bursting with life. The days are getting

longer giving indication of better things to come.

Our Ebden geese are now looking for a nesting place,

not for them the lovely warm shed provided, the

roughest old bit of broken twigs will do for them out

in the full elements. It is only when I keep moving the

eggs and corral them in a smaller area do they get the

idea. When the goose finally sits on her eggs, (usually

after laying about 17) beware of the Gander, he turns

into a hissing monster ready to nip you should you

stray too close. The dogs have learned by painful

example what a nipped bottom feels like.

We still have 2 starter plots available on Shouldham

Lane. The pricing is as follows:-

1st plot £2 per month, Second plot £1.00 per month

and if you require a 3rd it is free, so for £3.00 per

month you can grow a good amount of veg. Not bad

value?

5 Worst things about spring gardening.

1. Slug invasion

2. Packed garden centres

3. Late frosts.

4. Back breaking work for a month or so.

5. Realising in early summer that you have

forgotten to sow or set certain plants!!

All easily forgotten when we sit in the sun surveying

all our produce, or better still eating it.

If you are interested in taking a plot or a starter plot,

please call Graham or Jennifer Edwards on 07919

888870.

87 Market Place, Swaffham, Norfolk. PE37 7AQ Tel:01760721022

EAT

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.

DRINK

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

SLEEP

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

01760 336029

The Pink Box

If you need sanitary

products, there is now

a basket located in

the Community Centre,

please help yourselves.

Even ironing!

Tracy: 01362 820 966

Caroline: 01953 882 154

Mobile: 07927 161 201

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

14

Age Concern Swaffham & District

At the end of January we had a visit to our New Year Party by ELVIS PRESLEY or maybe it was

someone impersonating him? Yes, it turned out to be Barry Tone who gave a packed house a

most entertaining afternoon with one or two couples inspired to get up and have an impromptu

dance. If you haven’t been to one of our “do’s” before, they are held in the Assembly Rooms on

the last Tuesday each month, starting at 2 pm (in house). Just turn up, there is no charge on the

day although we do pass round collecting boxes for voluntary donations. Sometimes an outing

is planned instead (see below), normally organised by John Clarke. You can also join our Group,

a registered charity, by contacting Membership Secretary Barbara Clarke, see details below. The

annual subscription is £5. Upcoming events are:

www.stovesman.co.uk

• March 31st (in house) Dr Eric Sommerville – a talk, “Quacks and Quackery”

• April 28th (in house) 21st Birthday Party of Age Concern Swaffham with entertainment from Kyle

• May 26th (in house) AGM with a Musical quiz organised by John Clarke

For outings our contact is John Clarke, 720140. Chairman is Barbara White, 720756, Deputy Chairman & Membership

Secretary, Barbara Clarke, 720140, Treasurer, Keith Nash, 724801, Secretary, James Dean 720756

Please note – all 50 seats are now sold for our trip to see the King Tut Exhibition in London on April 8th– but a

waiting list is being kept for any cancellations – please contact Barbara White.

Special Notice – Our committee are seeking one or two volunteers for our committee (meets once per month),

especially anyone newly retired with business / fund raising interests. Please contact Barbara White. Our Swaffham

Support Services group (see below) would also like to recruit more volunteer drivers to take people to surgeries

and hospitals, under our “hospital buddy” scheme. Please use the contact below in the advert for any initial enquiry.

Do y

Befrienders & Hospital

Buddy Drivers Needed

Do you have 1-2 hours free a week?

Do you enjoy driving, or maybe just visiting a lonely

elderly person near to you?

Are you caring, compassionate and a good listener?

If YES, we NEED you to join our team of fantastic

Volunteers…

We are here to improve the quality of older

people’s lives in Swaffham & the villages nearby

EMAIL: swaffhamsss16@outlook.com

www.swaffhamsupportservices.co.uk

The Community Centre, Campingland, Swaffham. PE37 7RB

16

17

CELEBRATING

Swaffham 5

YEARS

President's Corner

The Club has now moved

into its second half of the

year and very pleased to continue in supporting the

community. So, after various fund raising activities

during 2019 including the Visual Arts Festival that

ended in October, £1000 including £500 from

Rotary’s District funds, has been donated to The

Nicholas Hamond Academy, Swaffham to increase

the range of instruments available for GCSE students

and others by the Club. The School bought several

electric guitars and amplifying equipment to be used

by the 20 plus members of the GSCE music students.

It is great to see the enthusiasm of the students

and hopefully these instruments will give more and

more students the opportunity to develop skills and

provide the chance to take part in music activities

and performance at school and beyond.

Jade Bailey TNHA Music Teacher responsible for

the GCSE group and for developing the provision of

music in the Academy said," We are so grateful for

the new funds which has enabled us to renew both

the equipment and instruments necessary for this

year’s GCSE group."

The Smalls For All charity, the international

committee are supporting this year, has another day

on the Market Place on Saturday 9th May. Last year’s

event was a tremendously well supported event with

Radio Norfolk’s Wally Webb turning up and being

flabbergasted by the public’s response.

The Club has followed up by inviting Wally’s producer,

Kirsteen Thorne who came recently to one of our

meetings and can gave us all an insight into how local

radio “works” with the community and how hands

on everyone has to be to produce Radio Norfolk’s

output. With the recent discussions the government

has been having about the license fee, let’s hope

non-commercial local radio doesn’t die as a result of

a thousand cuts!

Get help applying

for Universal Credit

Call us for free:

0800 144 8 444

Advisers are available 8am to 6pm,

Monday to Friday.

Visit us

Swaffham Community Centre

Tuesdays 9am-12pm

For online advice visit:

citizensadvice.org.uk/helptoclaim

We can help with the early stages

of a Universal Credit claim, from the

Help to Claim is a dedicated service from Citizens Advice.

The Golf day on 20th July now has a confirmed Charity

it will be supporting. I am please to announce that

we will be supporting Alzheimer Society, which is my

Presidential Charity for my year. It is something that

at some stage in our lives, each of us are affected by

in some means or other. We will be encouraging as

many golfers to take part, to make it a really successful

so we all can make a difference.

Monday 20th July 2020 at

Swaffham Golf Club

The contact and entry forms can

be found on the website www.

swaffhamrotary.org.uk or by

contacting the Club’s organisers via

their email addresses bill.muir13@talktalk.net and/

or denis.bishop@btinternet.com

18

Rotary are looking forward to helping the Town

Council with its celebrations on VE Day 75, May 8th.

As Bruno Peek LVO OBE OPR, the Pageantmaster

for the day says” It will be an opportunity for us

all to remember the enormous sacrifices that were

made at home and abroad and to joyously celebrate

as people did 75 years ago, the arrival of peace in

Europe.”

Swaffham

Branch

01760

725801

http://www.family-action.org.uk

building better families

West Acre Carpet Bowls Club

West Acre Carpet Bowls Club is growing strong

with currently 20 members and always welcomes

anybody that wants to come and join us. We meet

every Tuesday and Thursday afternoon 2 – 4pm in

West Acre Village Hall. £2 each afternoon which

includes refreshments. No equipment needed as

supplied just need a comfortable pair of shoes.

We have recently had some good wins in competitions

and have had to add another shelf to display them

on. The Brian Parry Shield was won at Mundford and

the Charity Rose Bowl at Dersingham.

Left – Right. Mick Turpin, Belinda Bush, Gordon Coulting & Ken Dunton

Left – Right. Gordon Coulting, Jenny the Dersingham Organiser,

Belinda Bush, Mick Turpin, Ken Dunton.

And then our own Internals

competition winner 15

year old Matthew Boughen

won the doubles (with

his partner Brian Roberts

who is unfortunately ill

in hospital and who also

won the internal singles

competition). We are

hoping to try and get

more youngsters to play

this sport and hopefully in

the next few months will be having an open day and

if successful will add an evening so that youngsters

don’t have to wait till the holidays to play.

For any further information feel free to email me

Belinda_Bush@hotmail.com or leave a message on

my phone 01760755184 and I will be happy to return

your call.

Swaffham Jazz Club

For our February session we welcomed back the

Colin Mason Quartet: Colin Mason drums, Chris Kirk

trumpet and flugel horn, Mark Ferguson piano and

Jeff Scullard bass, along with guests Mike Williamson

guitar and George King saxophone.

A big thank you to Mark who drove all the way from

Lincoln after work in terribly windy conditions, picking

up his mother in Boston on the way. When I thanked

him personally at the end of the evening, he smiled

and said “No problem, I love coming here to play.”

I spoke to Jeff during the evening and he told me

he was born and brought up in Surrey. He started

piano lessons at the age of ten and at fourteen was

playing regularly in local bands. Whilst training to be

a teacher, a band in Croydon wanting a bass player

approached him, so he took up the instrument and

joined the band. They called themselves The League

of Gentlemen and were soon playing five or six

nights a week. In 1965 EMI offered them a recording

contract, so he turned professional, playing in clubs

all over the West End, The Cavern Club Liverpool and

Top Ten Club in Hamburg. They also played live on TV

shows, mostly backing American soul singers.

Eventually the band split up and he went back to

teaching ending up as a Head Teacher in West Norfolk,

where he still lives. He got into jazz in about 2000 and

says his favourite jazz artists are Oscar Peterson, piano

and Ray Brown, bass.

For such a cold and windy night Norman and I thought

our numbers might well be down. However, although a

few regulars didn’t make it there were a good number

who came for the first time. One I spoke to on her way

out said she thought the band was brilliant and she

and her friends would certainly be coming back.

Next up -

Tuesday 10 March 7.30. The Ella McCready Trio: Ella

vocals, Ian MacGregor, piano and Ivan McCready,

cello.

Tuesday 14 April 7.30. The Melody Brooker Quartet.

Swaffham Conservative Club, 23 London Street. PE37

7DD. £8 on the door.

Information from: Geoff 01366 328 730 and Norman

01760 722 384 .

JOIN THE MOVE IT OR LOSE IT CLUB

Exercise Classes For The Over 60s

with Jo & Sam

All Exercises Can Be Done Seated or Standing

Regency Room in Swaffham Assembly Rooms

Every Monday 2pm - 3pm & Thursday 11am - 12pm

£4.50 per class or 5 classes for £20

(price includes tea & biscuits after class)

You can book your place or just turn up on the day

For more information call:

Jo: 07941 086603 or Sam: 07925 602862

CARPET CLEANING

Viruses and bacteria

live in your carpet

To improve air quality in your home and to create

a safe environment for your family your carpet

should be cleaned professionally every year

Call us today for a FREE QUOTE

and to find out more on 01760 337762

Covering the whole of East Anglia | www.xtraclean.co.uk

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

FUNERAL SERVICES

INDEPENDENT FAMILY

FUNERAL DIRECTORS

CHAPMANS &

THORNALLEY

FUNERAL SERVICES

Lynn Road, Swaffham, Norfolk PE37 7AY

24 Hour Caring Personal Service

Pre-Paid Funeral Plans

Private Chapels of Rest

Memorials

01760 721305

www.tfs.co.uk

OWNED &

MANAGED BY THE

THORNALLEY FAMILY

20

Swaffham WEA

Most people know

that the reign of

the Tsars ended

with the execution

of Nicholas II

and his entire

family in the 1918

revolution. The

Tsars actually ruled

Russia from as

early as the 16th

century. Swaffham

WEA are hosting

a day school

entitled “Russia

of the Tsars” on Saturday 28th March, 10am to 4pm.

We invite you to come with us on a journey back in

time with tutor David Prynn and learn about Russia’s

landscape, people and the Tsars that ruled them.

The fee is £20 and should be booked in advance.

The venue for this day class is Swaffham Community

Centre, Campinglands, Swaffham, PE37 7RD. Booking

and further information is available at www.wea.org.uk

or tel. 0300 303 3464. Booking and further information

is also available tel. 01760 723558

Jennifer Juniper Booksigning

Do you remember the hit song by Donovan called

‘Jennifer Juniper’? The inspiration for the song was

Jenny Boyd who was immersed in the fashion and

pop culture of the Swinging 60s. Her sister Pattie was

married to George Harrison and later Eric Clapton.

She has now written her autobiography aptly called

Jennifer Juniper. After working in The Beatles shop,

Apple, the first of its kind, Jenny attended Maharishi

Mahesh Yogi's ashram in India to study meditation

with her sister and the Beatles, witnessing their

creativity and the genesis of songs that would later

appear on the White Album.

Jenny’s two marriages to Mick Fleetwood, founder

member of Fleetwood Mac, brought her to the

forefront of the world of rock and roll - and its

fame, money, drugs and heartache. She later

went to college, achieving a Masters in Counselling

Psychology and a PhD in Humanities. Jenny has

spent her life in the company of some of the greatest

musical and cultural influencers of the last 50 years

and so her autobiography and the journey she takes

to finding her own sense of self and creative ability is

a truly captivating and inspiring story.

Come and meet her in Ceres Bookshop on Saturday

February 29th, from 10am till 1pm when she will be

signing copies of her book.

@ the Connie

23 London Street

Swaffham

Norfolk

PE37 7DD

01760 721353

15th March — Black Sox

April—Cockney Jock (date tbc)

9th May—VE Day Tea Party

20th June—Gin & Vodka Taster

11th July—Caribbean Day

Under

65 yrs

Single

Over

65 yrs

Single

Under

65 yrs

Joint

Over 65

yrs

Joint

1st year initial joining fees £5.00 £5.00 £10.00 £10.00

1st year initial Association £2.00 £2.00 £4.00 £4.00

joining fees

Total 1st Year £24.00 £22.00 £42.00 £38.0

Thereafter Annual

membership fees

£17.00 £15.00 £28.00 £24.00

Newsletter Delivery Volunteers

We are currently looking for new volunteer

Newsletter deliverers in your area. Would you

consider doing a smaller round, maybe just a street

or two? Do you have

between 1 and 2 hours

to spare once a month?

Do you like walking and

keeping yourself active?

If this is something

you may be interested

in, please contact

Swaffham Town Council

on 01760 722922.

Calling all

budding artists

Gallery Iceni

needs you!

At the Iceni Partnership, we are always looking

for new art groups, or individuals who would

like to showcase their work in our

gallery in the community centre.

If you or someone you know would be

interested, then please call us on

01760 722 800 or pop into the office and speak

to our gallery co-ordinator Jelena

22

Also available on application

Guided walks and talks

School Activity Day - Carter meets Tutankhamun

Loan Boxes for schools, groups or families

In the Ben Emmerson Room we have included a

cabinet focusing on Plowrights, the Agricultural

Engineers. I know that there are many people who

worked there over the years and welcome any

memories or photographs that workers or users

might have.

Were you too happy to

take photos?

We are working with the Lynn News

on stories on VE Day and both of us

are hoping that somewhere in a dusty

cupboard or perhaps in a prized album

you may have a photograph of the day

in Swaffham that we could scan and

use.

We know that there was a football

match, a parade, flags flying, dancing

and a bonfire. What else can you remember?

Don't forget to pop into the Tourist

Information Centre to find out

what's going on in the town and

villages. Buy a pre-loved book from

our used book collection or even a

new one on local topics and written

by our local History Group or local

residents.

Have a wander round the shop. You will find that it

has changed a bit over the Winter break

Although we have had to put up our entrance

charges very slightly Swaffham Heritage is very good

value for money for adults and children.

Plus - Every 1st Saturday in the month is Donations

Day.

Our Conflict and Consequences Project continues

with trained memory makers ready and enthusiastic

to collect memories of any conflict. We are currently

concentrating on World War 2 and particularly if you

experienced VE Day or your memories of VJ Day.

Come and see the Rotary Capture Swaffham

CELEBRATING

photographs in the Butters

Room. They will be there

Swaffham 5 until April.

YEARS

Artefacts from ancient Swaffham and Sporle can be

seen in the Slaven Gallery. The flint core is one of the

best in the country.

No change in the Carter Connection Gallery,

However, although we

have plenty of photographs

of Howard, as well as Harry

Carter and Ben Ripper, we

wonder whether anyone

has any photos of Howard's

brothers Samuel, William,

Verney, Horace, Ernest or

Edgar, or his sister Amy.

If you would like to donate an artefact, or lend an

item for an exhibition.

Many apologies – but we have needed to tighten up

our security arrangements and can now only take

these in on Monday, Wednesday mornings between

10 and 12 and Saturday mornings between 10am

and 1pm.

And a reminder that we no longer take in artefacts

for identification. These need to be taken to The

Shire Hall in Norwich.

Swaffham Museum,

Town Hall, London Street,

Swaffham PE37 7DQ

Tel: 01760 721230

Open 10am to 4pm Mon to Fri.

Sat. 10am to 1pm

Prices:

adults £3.

Children 5 and over £1.

Family tickets available.

1st Sat of each month –

Donation Day

To keep up to date join us on our website:

www.swaffhammuseum.co.uk or follow us on facebook

FoSH (Friends of Swaffham Heritage)

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

Museum Opening

The Museum will reopen on Monday Feb 17. Our

opening times will be: Mon-Fri 10am-4pm. Sat 10am-

1pm. Last admission 30 mins before closing. A small

admission charge applies.

FoSH 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

Barbara White Tel: 01760 720756 or jamesdean@

uwclub.net

Prize winners: February draw - £40 No.47 / £20 No.32

/ £10 No.61.

WANTED – Volunteer Stewards

For ‘front of house’ – to welcome visitors, explain

Museum, work in shop and TIC. Steward sessions are

3 hours – 10am-1pm, and 1-4pm

Contact Steve Gregory – Volunteer Co-ordinator – on

(01760) 721230 or 755596

Paperback books required

Please bring any paperback

books no longer required on your

bookshelves to our Museum

shop during opening hours. They

will be sold and all proceeds go to

the Museum funds.

24 25

Swaffham Community Hospital LOFs

The NHS Trust has recently set up what is called a

“Patient Environment Group” which is designed

to bring together representatives of charities like

ours with appropriate staff of the Trust to look at all

matters linked to the support and practical facilities

and environment for patients across all the individual

health care sites that it owns. I have been able to

attend one of its early meetings to put forward issues

that we consider important in Swaffham.

I feel this group will be an improved channel of

communication to ensure our voice is heard. At the

meeting we discussed aspects related to equipment

and local facilities. This group has agreed to look at the

feasibility and cost of a major extension to the existing

dining room/day area at Swaffham. It might include

looking at the space of the existing rear conservatory

as many of us consider it is currently under utilised .

The down side is that the project could lead to a small

loss of Garden area, it's early days so we will await

developments. The Friends here at Swaffham will of

course be consulted over any new ideas.

As previously reported we have had delivery of 4 of

our new electric bedside chairs.

These should prove to be of major benefits to patients

and staff. Once we have had a little experience of

these, we will consider supporting more.

There are also some “toilet walking aids” that we

wish to purchase. These provide extra security for the

patients and help the staff.

We have booked in 2 dates for coffee mornings at the

Methodist Church. They are Saturday 14th March

and Saturday 19th Sept

We also propose to hold another “Garden Party” in

the summer. Date to be confirmed.

We are always open to ideas that the public might

have for improvements that we could help with at

the Hospital. Do contact us to share any thoughts you

might have.

As ever if you are interested in joining our small

committee, do ring me for an informal chat. It would

be helpful to have a few new people, I promise it is

not too onerous! Why not give us a try by attending

one of our committee meetings?

Colin Houghton (Chairman)

01760 336025

Swaffham Camera Club

Swaffham Camera Club had a terrific

evening in mid-January, with our Open

competition (finally a win for Stuart) and

Altered Images, the night’s theme. These are photographs

Swaffham Arts

Norwich Historical Dance has been to Swaffham on

several occasions, each time creating a beautiful

programme of dances. Who can forget the moving

poppy dance commemorating the fallen of the First

World War. We are delighted that the dancers will be

that may have been manipulated, by merging several returning to the Assembly Rooms on Sunday 29th March

The photos clubs or skilfully new programme creating a fantastical of events piece of and artwork. meetings was at 3 pm launched with “Pastime with a with well the Pastons”. The Pastons

received The technique evening of of altered stunning images photographs is often used of African in wildlife, were a notable presented Norfolk by family who, over a period

Steve advertising, DeRoeck where The a mouth shots watering left many 'ice cream' members, sundae who are

of several

well versed

generations,

in

rose from farming, through

(mashed potato doesn’t melt under lights) can be education and “good” marriages, to great wealth and

photographing British wildlife, glad that animals in the

artificially created alongside the tumbler of fizzy pop -

positions UK do of not importance generally close to the monarch, before

have complete the teeth with acrylic or demeanour ice cubes - and and the built icy frosting in ability on to plan eventually to kill you. losing We their soon position in society. At the height

of their wealth a painting was commissioned to portray

realised the glass a that camera makes lens it look does so inviting? not offer That much might just protection from a determined

subject. might be spray on deodorant. Few of us would complain

when a photographer air brushes our photo so we look

ten years younger; but we may be easily fooled by fake

news photos distorting events.

the treasures they had collected. The treasures are

now dispersed but the painting can be seen in Norwich

Castle Museum. The reason the family is historically

important is due to the wonderful collection of letters

written between members of the family and others

over a period of time in the fifteenth century. The

family story is complicated and fascinating.

Inspired by the painting of the treasures, Norwich

Historical Dance created a programme of dances from

the period which they took to the Edinburgh Festival

and now bring to Swaffham to share with us. Tickets

are priced at £9 members and £12 non-members

are available in advance from Ceres Bookshop 01760

722504 and The Green Parrot 01760 724704, and

on the door. Children under 18 come free.It will be a

beautiful afternoon – we hope you can come!

THE SOLICITORS THAT CARE

Expert legal help and advice from

Swaffham’s most recommended solicitors

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Talk face to face with your local lawyers, at our

London Street office, who are here to help by

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wardgethinarcher.co.uk

Chatteris • Dereham • Downham Market • Ely • Heacham • King’s Lynn • Swaffham • Watton

The Thankfully, next meeting no one at was the SCC our was yearly out to deceive photography the judge competition with the &

Lakenheath from Beccles, club, who displaying was impressed talents with the in both very projected high and printed images.

.Lakenheath standard of entries triumphed across by the a board. small With overall many margin really at the end of the evening.. present

The

good

series

photos

is

it

now

was

scored

a close run

as

thing,

one

making

all, with difficult

both clubs looking forward to next

to choose from the best of the rest. The judge said Derek

year's event.

Pinner’s 'Double Bubble', as shown above, wouldn’t look

out of place on the cover of a bird book, praise indeed.

May meeting Highlights were an evening of Tips and Hints followed by a quiz

The club, which meets on the first and third Wednesday

and of "Prints each month of Norfolk has a full programme Wild Life" of the events, theme speakers, of the externally judged

competition.

exhibitions and internal and inter-club competitions

planned. It is also pleased to offer tutorials at all levels,

Our concerning First June the meeting many aspects will of be photography an illustrated and talk its by Chris Bell on "Storm

Chasing", associated at equipment. which members If anyone is of interested other clubs in dipping are cordially invited to join us.

their toe in the water and joining the camera club, email

‘A celebration of the Patron Dynasty in dance’

For richardludlow@compuserve.com.

further information on the club's activities, or membership enquires please

as seen at the Edinburgh Festival

visit the clubs website www.swaffhamcameraclub.com

Swaffham Spiritual Awareness Group

Meets in the Community Centre,

Beech Close, Campingland, Swaffham

at 6.30pm.

15 March, Wendy Barnard, Swaffham

29 March, Sue Hind, Kings Lynn

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.

26

Pastime with the Pastons

9.00 12.00

3pm, Sunday 29 th March

and under 18s: FREE

9.00 12.00

Tickets: Members: £9.00 and Non-members: under 18s: FREE £12.00

Accompanied children and under 18s: FREE

Box office: Ceres Bookshop....01760 722504

GreenParrot...01760 724704

Enquiries...01366 328648

Swaffham Assembly Rooms,

Swaffham Assembly Rooms,

Swaffham Assembly Rooms

Market Place, Swaffham PE37 7AB

enquiries@norwichhistoricaldance.org.uk

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Open 8am - 6pm Monday - Friday & 8am - 12pm Saturday



Swaffham Dementia Café

The Dementia Cafe opened again on Wednesday

5th February, when we had our usual quiz,

word searches, jigsaws, books etc for visitors

entertainment. We also painted some wooden

hearts, ready to decorate on Valentine's Day.

New people came along and enjoyed the morning.

Some were carers who just needed a friendly face

and someone to talk to, we have all been in their

situation.

Sometimes we have entertainment when singers

come along, in May we have Careline and Assistive

Technology coming to talk to us and in July the

charity Lily. All of these organisations you may find

helpful, I know I did.

We are a friendly bunch and we do have a lot of

laughs, so do come along and join us on the first

Wednesday of the month in the Assembly Rooms

for a cup of tea/coffee and a biscuit, or sometimes

cake! For more information you can call Iceni

Partnership on 01760 722800.

Celia

Poetry Writing Workshop

Interested in writing? Iceni Rural Writers invite you

to join a workshop with Richard Lambert on Friday

13th March 12.30 – 2.30pm Swaffham Community

Centre. Cost £10.00

Richard Lambert was born in London in 1971. He

writes poetry and fiction. His debut novel The Wolf

Road is published by Everything with Words in April

2020.

His poetry pamphlet The Magnolia was published

in 2008 and his debut collection Night Journey was

published in 2012. He was the recipient of an Arts

Council award to write a second collection The

Nameless Places, which was published in 2017 and

shortlisted for the East Anglian Book Awards.

Numbers limited. To book a place contact Leah

Spencer on 01362 681896.

Swaffham Climate Action

Hope you saw our introductory article in last month’s

edition but we are now set up as an organisation

dedicated to doing what we can locally to...Save

The Planet And Maybe Your Cash Too!

We are planning to do a Tip Of The Month in

the Newsletter from now on, so here is our first

one, which is actually in three parts as they are

interconnected:

• arrange to alter your electricity tariff to Economy

7 (originally offered for night storage heaters). This

means that any electricity you consume at night

will cost less than one third of the daytime cost,

typically 7.5 p at night and 24 p during the day.

• If you have a fairly modern washing machine and

also perhaps a dishwasher, set these on delay so

they switch on during the night. The cheaper tariff

is usually available between half past midnight to

half past seven in the morning.

• For clothes washing, try

setting the machine to run at

a low temperature, instead of

60 degrees, drop it right down

to 30 or even 20 degrees if the

machine provides for this. It

is desirable to pre-treat any stains though. Check

the results and if happy, continue to wash at a low

temperature in the future. Have a look at your next

electricity bill – you should be pleasantly surprised!

Should anyone have a view about Global Warming

or anything related such as what we can do locally,

why not write to the Newletter editor and we can

have some public debate. It is also our intention to

assist in arranging one or two public meetings in

conjunction with our local authorities so that this

important issue can be gone into in a little more

depth.

Our committee would like to encourage anyone

interested to join our Group; there will be no

subscription; all we ask is that we have a record of

membership which will be kept confidential. For

more information, do, please, contact either:

Colin Abbiss (Chairman) Tel: 01760 723118, email:

jancol.abbiss@gmail.com or James Dean (Secretary)

Tel: 01760 720756, email jamesdean@uwclub.net.

Iceni Youth Clubs

Youthie:

8 years to 12 years Mondays 5:30pm – 7:00pm .

Mind-Full:

13 to 18yrs Thursdays 5pm – 6:30pm

Youthie Hub:

13 to 18yrs Thursdays - 6:30pm – 8:30pm

1-2-1 support and referrals can be arranged for young

people aged 11yrs - 19yrs. Staff are happy to give

information, guidance and advice.

Call us for further details on: 01760 722800

or email iceniyouth@gmail.com.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/iceniyoungpeople

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• Garden maintenance & jet washing

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28

Wissey U3A

The Wissey U3A is part of a national

organisation whose aim is to

encourage people in the ‘third age’ of life, that is, no

longer in full time employment and thus mainly those

now enjoying retirement, to meet and share their

knowledge. We are a friendly group of people who like

to have a laugh as we learn and to live life to the full.

We would love to welcome new members.

Our monthly meeting takes place on the first Thursday

of each month in The Pavilion at Holme Hale. We have

excellent speakers to talk on a very wide range of topics.

Last month we learned a great deal of local history from

an intriguing talk by Andy Moore who spoke on ‘The

Rôle of Bexwell Aerodrome (near Downham Market) in

WW II’.

On Thursday 5th March at 10.30am Neil Storey will talk

to us on ‘The Lost Coast of Norfolk’. Why not attend

as a visitor and ‘test the water’? Please make yourself

known at the Welcome Desk. (Doors open from 9.45am

for refreshments and socialising.)

However, the monthly meeting is only part of our

activities. We also have many Activity Groups who

meet to share their expertise on all manner of subjects.

The idea is that we learn from each other and everyone

is treated as an equal. No lecturing and no testing!

If you would like to know more, please contact our

Chairman, David Moncaster by emailing him at:

d.moncaster@btinternet.com or telephone him on

01760 724755.

Swaffham & Litcham Home

Hospice Support Ltd

Our next fundraiser is our annual Quiz which is being

held at Swaffham Conservative Club on the 20th

March at 7.30pm. The cost is £5 per head and we are

looking for teams of up to 6 people. Entries to Adrian

on 01760 724304 or 07741418781 or by e-mail –

adrian.adcock@talktalk.net.

On the 10th May, the gardens at Holme Hall will be

open with our charity benefitting from the proceeds

of the day. The gardens will be open between 11am

and 4pm, admission £6 with children free. Light

refreshments will be available in the tearoom. The

walled kitchen garden was designed in 2000 and

replanted in 2016/17. Wheelchair access is available

to the front garden, the kitchen garden and tearoom.

Our thanks to Mr & Mrs Simon Broke for giving us

this opportunity to raise funds for our organisation.

The gardens at the Hall will also be open on the 31st

May and the 2nd Aug as part of the National Gardens

Scheme.

Our annual Street Collection in Swaffham will take

place on Saturday 30th May between 8.30am and

1pm.

We have a team of 40 plus volunteers helping us to

provide the wide range of services we offer. To find

out more about volunteering with us, then please ring

the office on 01760 722937 or call in at our premises

at 17-19 Brocks Road, Swaffham – 50 yards up to road

from the entrance to Tesco.

Adrian Adcock

Treasurer

Pictured above: Wissey U3A Art Group, one of many Activity Groups

sharing knowledge.

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 8am -- 4pm 5PM

www.icenipartnership.info www.iceni.info 01760 01760 722800

The Campingland, Swaffham PE37 7RB

30

Swaffham History Group

Our first new booklet for 2020 is now in the Heritage shop

offering another fascinating insight into Swaffham during

Tudor times.

The author, Michael, has

already produced one

very popular booklet

on Tudor Swaffham

women. This one

redresses the balance

and is called "Farmers,

fields and flocks in Tudor

Swaffham", where men

were in the forefront

(although women were

not excluded.)

With contemporary

illustrations and much

detailed information on

the way of life in our town, it is not to be missed.

At our February meeting Michael gave members an

interesting report of his researches, concentrating on

Tudor wills in Norfolk Record Office and the writing of this

new booklet.

For further details on the History Group please phone

01842 879140 or email jbaz@go-plus.net.

31

Swaffham Library News

Hosted by the Swaffham Library Friends, an

informative illustrated talk was recently given by

Philip Bray on the story of Percy Hunter and his

boatyard on the Norfolk Broads from 1932 to the

present. The event was very well attended and

everyone enjoyed learning more about our local

Norfolk history. A good night was had by all!

The Library Friends will be hosting their next

Films from the Archive event on Friday 13th

March at 7.15pm, with the theme this time being

Norfolk Food. The event is free, but donations

are requested to support the work of the Friends.

Booking essential.

The Library Friends are planning various other talks

and meet the author events as well as children’s

activities. All are welcome to come along to the

Friends meetings to find out more about how you

can help support your local library. Meetings are

held at the library every first Tuesday of the month

4-5pm.

Swaffham Library Open Times

Staff available: Tuesday 10am-7pm, Thursday

10am-7pm, Friday 1-7pm & Saturday 10am-4pm.

Open Library allows Swaffham Library to be open

longer: Monday-Friday 8am-7pm, Saturday 8am-

4pm & Sunday 10am-4pm. Registration is required

to use the library during Open Library sessions.

Speak to a member of staff for more information

and to register.

Swaffham Library, The Pightle, Swaffham PE37 7DF.

Tel 01760 721513

32

St Mary’s Church, Houghton On The Hill

Spring Opening Event

The beautiful 11th century church of St Mary’s,

Houghton on the Hill, launches its spring season at the

end of March with a special event. St Mary’s is only a

few miles from Swaffham, but deserves to be far better

known by everyone. It is an architectural and historic

gem of national and international importance. The

story of the church is breathtaking in itself: left to decay

in the last century when the village of Houghton, and

its parishioners, disappeared, the church was restored

through the efforts of Bob and Gloria Davey. In the

course of that restoration the remains of extensive wall

paintings were discovered, described by the historian

Nicholas Pevsner as ‘of extraordinary importance’.

Today the church of St Mary’s and its beautiful garden is

looked after by its trustees and a band of volunteers. It

is completely dependent on donations from the public

to survive. That is why we want to encourage you, your

family, friends and visitors to come to St Mary’s and join

us for our special events now that the spring season is

starting. St Mary’s Church is open every weekend of the

year between 2pm and 4pm, and from 28 March every

afternoon between the same hours.

To start our season we are hosting a special event

to mark the installation of the Church bell and the

launch of a brand new guide to the Church. At 2pm

on Saturday 28 March, the bell will be rung after a

dedication by the Rev Stephen Thorp. Visitors will be

encouraged to tour the church and garden, examine

the collection of historic books, marvel at the paintings

and even have a go at ringing the bell themselves (for

a small donation!). And we hope that our visitors will

contribute to the running of the church so that we can

preserve its magnificent 1000 year old history.

We will organise further events at St Mary’s during the

spring and summer. If you would like to join our mailing

list for news of what is happening, please contact us

on email houghtonstmary@gmail.com or on 01760

720070. The location is St Mary’s Church, Browns Lane,

Houghton on the Hill, North Pickenham, PE37 8FB or

PE37 8DP. We can be found on Facebook: St Mary’s

Church, Houghton on the Hill, and our website is www.

houghtonstmarys.co.uk.

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33

Mayor's Parlour

Dear All, We are in a cold snap at

the moment but that’s not unusual.

It’s always bitterly cold as the Mart

arrives in Kings Lynn for half term.

At this time, I’d like you to give

our Saturday market a thought,

most stall holders are there religiously every week

regardless of the weather - they need our support.

Going around the stalls the biggest cry is the lack of

footfall. They’d love you to use it more. We do know

that markets have declined in lots of towns and ours

isn’t as big as it used to but our marketplace comes

alive on Saturday, let’s use it, don’t let’s lose it.

The Green Britain Centre has been very much to the

fore in the council during the last few weeks. You might

already know we are considering swapping Days Field

for the Green Britain Centre and its land with a view

to developing this as sports and leisure facility for the

town. This really has to be decided upon and hours

of time are being given to considering the possibility

of this transaction and how it could work for you all.

We originally approached Breckland who own the GB

Centre. They, as our District Council, saw this as a very

good move for the town and obviously not a bad one

for themselves. Our District Councillors Sherwood ,

Colman and Wickerson are very supportive of the idea

which is good, if this does go ahead they will be in a

position to lobby Breckland for this very important

facility that Swaffham so badly needs. Personally,

I’m all for it! We have never had a proper sport and

leisure facility and I’ve lived here 44 years now!

Recreation or shall I say ‘well being’ is an important

part of how we live our lives and the last thing we

want is to have to travel for this. I’m on my soap box

now because Swaffham needs what most other towns

already have. I see this as a golden opportunity to take

the town forward, I believe and hope I’m right that

Breckland would not want us to fail and will give us all

the assistance it can for this to be achieved.

Preparations for the VE Day on May 8th are coming

along with many people giving their time to Volunteer

and help, many thanks for that. I’ve spent time going

to see, air cadets, guides and scout troops as they will

be involved in the day, it will be really good to have

them along. As you all probably know these groups

operate on a shoe string and are run by dedicated

volunteers. Therefore, I am making them my Mayoral

Charity for my year in office. If anybody has ideas to

help me in supporting this worthwhile cause, I’d love

to hear from you.

I’m off to walk the dogs and take in the snow drops

which are an absolute delight at this time of year.

Despite the hail and snow of the last few days, there

are little glimpses of the joys that lie ahead - until next

time. . . Jill

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.

Green Britain Centre/Days Field

It has all gone quiet, so the ‘rumour mill’ is currently

doing overtime at the moment. The proposed ‘Asset

Swap’ remains on the table of ‘Days Field for the

Green Britain Centre’ and your Town Council are doing

what you would expect of them, they are doing their

‘due diligence’ and much more behind the scenes.

All the necessary preparatory work, leaving no stone

unturned, before they ‘consult’ with the Town.

There is no point discussing issues of this magnitude

with the Town, until all the facts are collated, all

the options are fully worked up and all the possible

pitfalls addressed. There are many meetings still to

be had, more information to analyse and professional

advice to take. We are hopeful that there is not much

longer to wait, but at the same time your patience

would be appreciated, as clearly whether for, against

or indifferent, what exists is a unique opportunity to

deliver something very special for the Town. This fact

is something that all your Councillors agree upon,

BUT…

It is certainly not a ‘done deal’, as your Town Council

are not on a path that will lead to any particular

conclusion, this has to be right for Swaffham. So, the

debate continues, watch this space…

Christmas Light Switch-On

The ‘Christmas Light Switch On and Christmas Market’

will be on Sunday 6th December later this year, so

please put the date in your Diary and we will bring

you up to date with further details nearer the time.

If any volunteers want to put themselves forward to

help out on the day, please do get in touch. It is a

great event to be a part of and the more volunteers

we have the better. Just drop a line to us at the Town

Hall, reception@swaffhamtowncouncil.gov.uk

Annual Town Assembly

The Annual Town Assembly this year will be held on

Wednesday 29th April 2020 at 6.30pm in the Council

Chamber at the Town Hall. There will be annual

reports from various community groups as well as

your Town Council at the end of their first year since

the local council elections last May. Look out for the

agenda which will be available on our website www.

swaffhamtowncouncil.gov.uk

Allotment Vacancies & The Benefit Of Having One

Why do we have allotments? It is generally accepted

that connecting people to their environment will

also improve their health and well-being. There is a

growing awareness of the role that gardening plays

in both preventing and alleviating mental ill-health.

Many allotment gardeners will tell you that a spell

on the plot nurturing plants and contemplating

nature makes them feel calmer and more hopeful.

There have been recent studies that have measured

this benefit. Working a plot year-round means that

allotment holders experience the seasons, the fresh

air, witnessing the behaviour of birds, insects and

other animals and gain an understanding of the ecosystem.

Plot-holders are also part of a community of

like-minded people, many of whom are eager to share

their knowledge and spare produce. In Swaffham

we also have our local allotment association in the

name of SCALGA, so if anyone wishes to join, do

ask for contact details at the Town Hall, also please

note that we have some allotment vacancies at our

Shouldham Lane site. Any enquiries please to Kerry

at the Town Hall 01760 722922 or e-mail reception@

swaffhamtowncouncil.gov.uk All allotment holders

have been given the news that Allotment Rents have

been frozen for the forthcoming year 2020-21.

Photo courtesy of SCALGA Facebook page

Swaffham Town Council invites

you to come and celebrate the

75th Anniversary of VE Day

Everyone is welcome to join the parade from the Buttercross

to St Peter & St Paul Church for a Service of

Commemoration at 1.45pm.

Bring a picnic, dress in 40s style, or just come along to

enjoy the music, dance and family entertainment in the

Market Place.

The Town Council

Mayor – Cllr Jill Skinner

CllrSkinner.SwaffhamTC@gmail.com

Deputy Mayor – Cllr Keith Sandle

CllrSandle.SwaffhamTC@gmail.com

Cllr. Judy Anscombe

CllrAnscombe.SwaffhamTC@gmail.com

Cllr. Lindsay Beech

CllrBeech.SwaffhamTC@gmail.com

Cllr. Stewart Bell,

CllrBell.SwaffhamTC@gmail.com

Cllr. Wendy Bensley

CllrBensley.SwaffhamTC@gmail.com

Cllr. Paul Darby

CllrDarby.SwaffhamTC@gmail.com

Cllr. Graham Edwards

CllrEdwards.SwaffhamTC@gmail.com

Cllr. Brendan Holmes

CllrHolmes.SwaffhamTC@gmail.com

Cllr. Colin Houghton

CllrHoughton.SwaffhamTC@gmail.com

Cllr. Shirley Matthews

CllrMatthews.SwaffhamTC@gmail.com

Cllr. Ian Pilcher

CllrPilcher.SwaffhamTC@gmail.com

Cllr. Les Scott

CllrScott.SwaffhamTC@gmail.com

Officers:

Richard Bishop – Town Clerk

townclerk@swaffhamtowncouncil.gov.uk,

@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 – 1.00pm. 1.30pm – 4.00pm

Tuesday - Friday – 9.30a.m – 1.00pm.

Town Council Committee meeting dates

• Tue 3rd - Transport, Access & Environment – 4- 5.30pm

• Wed 11th - Full Town Council - 6 – 8.30pm

(streaming live on Facebook – @SwaffhamTownCouncil)

• Mon 16th - Market, Events & Tourism - 6 – 7.30 p.m.

• Mon 23rd – Recreation & Community Services – 6 –

7.30pm

•Tue 31st - Planning & Built Environment - 4 – 5.30pm

Your Breckland District Councillors:

Cllr. David Wickerson

01760 725 741

david.wickerson@breckland.gov.uk

Cllr. Ian Sherwood

07795 236 878

ian.sherwood@breckland.gov.uk

Cllr Ed Colman - also your Norfolk County Councillor

07940 406 356

ed.colman@breckland.gov.uk / ed.colman.cllr@norfolk.gov.uk

Breckland District Council

www.breckland.gov.uk

01362 656 870. For all enquiries regarding: Planning,

Refuse Bins, Housing, Recycling, Licensing & Benefits.

Highway issues

Norfolk County Council – www.norfolk.gov.uk

– 0344 800 8020

For Highway issues & faulty street lights:

- Highways - please give the location of the issue and

a telephone number where further information can

be obtained.

- Faulty streetlights – please give the precise location

of the light and the number on the column.

Alternatively visit the website and search for

Highways or Street Lights to report your concerns.

34

35

WE WON’T BE

BEATEN ON PRICE

*

A FANTASTIC

RANGE OF

DESIGNS FROM

CONTEMPORARY

TO CLASSIC

A WORLD OF CHOICE AT REEDS

SOFAS | CHAIRS | FURNITURE | BEDS | MATTRESSES | FLOORING | CURTAINS | BLINDS

reedshomestore.co.uk | find us on facebook

REEDS Furniture, Bed Centre & Homestore, Bridge Street, Downham Market PE38 9DS T: 01366 382213

REEDS Furniture, Flooring & Bed Centre, Lancaster Way Business Park, Ely CB6 3NX T: 01353 669754

* Reeds will beat any competitor’s price within a 50 mile radius. Internet sales excluded.

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