Swaffham Newsletter

SN
June 2021
Your free town newsletter published by Iceni Partnership
SWAFFHAM
newslet ter
NEWS EVENTS INFORMATION
Swaffham children shine
See p.4 to read about Swaffham CE Primary Academy's activities
Read about on p.7
REGULARS
Swaffham
Rotary
p.11
Swaffham
Men's
Shed
p.14
Swaffham
Rugby
Club
p.14
published by

Your monthly magazine is published by:
Contact the editor:
01760 722 800
swaffhamnewsletter@gmail.com
Swaffham Newsletter
Iceni Partnership
Swaffham Community Centre
The Campingland
Swaffham
PE37 7RB
Registered in England Company Number 4257830 Charity Number 1101814 VAT Number UK800057775
Comments or queries welcomed - we are a
resource for all of the community to enjoy.
We are always open to new contributors from
Swaffham and surrounding villages.
Deadline for editorial and advertising is the
12th day of the previous month.
Advertisers - We operate an industry standard
pre-paid system of billing. The rates were subject
to a small increase beginning April 2020, in line
with production costs.
1
Contents
3 Swaffham Climate Action
4 School Speak
5 Church News
6 History Group/ Hospital LoF's
8 Museum Matters
11 Swaffham Rotary/Magpie Centre
12 Swaffham Lionesses
13 Swaffham Lions
14 Men's Shed/Rugby Club
17 Mayor's Parlour
18 Town Council
Swaffham Climate Action
The graphic below shows how the
global temperature has changed
from 1850 to 2019, a dramatic picture
of warming in more recent decades
(from showyourstripes.info)
We have been really pleased to see the Breckland
District Council Sustainability Strategy. A wide
range of plans are afoot including ongoing street
light replacement, electric vehicle charging
points, improvements in the natural environment
and carbon auditing. The appointment of an
Environment and Climate Change Officer will
hopefully move the district in the right direction
and provide a chance for us to interact positively
to reduce our carbon footprint in the district.
Likewise, the Sustainable Swaffham initiative is a
great step forwards.
Have you ever wondered how you can work out
your carbon footprint?
The social enterprise Giki zero have a tool on
their website which shows how you can improve
your carbon footprint through different lifestyle
choices. After logging your current details, a range
of over 120 actions can be chosen with a possible
goal of reducing your footprint by a tonne in 2021!
Their website makes this simple and fun with
options to compete as a family or a workplace. For
maths enthusiasts details of how the estimates are
calculated can be accessed on the website too.
https://zero.giki.earth/about explains how you can
get involved, and encourage your friends, family,
and work colleagues to do the same.
Climate Change: Ade on the Frontline
This is a great thought-provoking programme with
some beautiful filming from around the world
about how climate change is already impacting
vulnerable people and animals, and how they
are trying to mitigate the problems. The three
programmes are available on BBC iPlayer.
If you are interested in joining our informal
group, please contact Colin Abbiss on 01760
723118 or Cathy Mumford on 01760 721847 or
cathyjmumford@gmail.com
3
Book Group at West Acre Theatre
The First Wednesday of
the month at 7pm
What can the book group
do for you?
• Introduce you to authors
you've never heard of and
a variety of books that you
haven't tried before.
• Re-introduce you to old
favourites.
• The opportunity to
discuss your ideas (and lots of other things too!) with
people who have read the same book.
• A chance to make new friends.
• A reason to get out of the house - and let's face
it, we all want to do more of that! All of this can be
yours in a safe, friendly environment.
• The book group links in closely with the Lit events
held at West Acre Theatre and provide an opportunity
to meet authors face to face.
Books We Have Read This Year To Date:
• 'Hamnet' by Maggie O Farrell
• 'Girl, Woman, Other' by Bernardine Evaristo
• 'Where the Crawdads Sing' by Delia Owens
For more information, please contact Lynette
Brinsdon: e: lynettesa@aol.com t: 07900 570765
National Women's Register
Space to be You
NWR is a social organisation for women;
with groups across the UK that connect women who
are interested in everything and talk about anything!
Join us for lively discussions, to share ideas, meet
other women and make new friends
New to Swaffham? Recently retired? The friendly
ladies of Dereham and District NWR could be for
you. We meet fortnightly, usually during the day in
each other's houses (covid restrictions allowing) or
gardens as well as paying visits to places of interest
and meeting up socially for coffee and a chat. If you
would like to give us a try (no obligation), then please
contact Anna on 01362 850433. Check out the NWR
website - https://www.nwr.org.uk to see what this
country-wide organisation is all about.
Swaffham Dementia Café
Swaffham Dementia Café is pleased to announce they
will be restarting on Wednesday 7th July from 10am
- 12pm in the Regency Room of Swaffham Assembly
Rooms. The Café will then run monthly on the first
Wednesday of the month. For more information
contact Jonathan Reed on 01760 722800.

Swaffham CE Primary Academy
Our Reception Class and Year 3 Class have almost
been at Swaffham Primary Academy for a whole year
now - as their very first year is drawing to a close we
have been thinking about "how we shine".
Harry (Year 3, Curlews), recalls, "I shined when
I created a biography in class." Jessica (Year 3,
Curlews) explained, "I shine when I create art work as
it inspires me to do more art at home." In Reception
Class, our Little Terns, Abbi spoke fondly about how
her family make her shine because "I love them so
much." Alyssia-Rose was in awe at how far she had
come in less than a year. Alyssia-Rose explained,
"I just can't believe it. When I started Reception I
couldn't read and now I read books and I can write
sentences! I can write an actual sentence! I shine at
sentence writing." At Swaffham Primary Academy
we are incredibly proud of our resilient learners who
have continued to shine and strive to give the very
best of themselves in all they do. We would like to
share how proud we are of every single learner at
Swaffham Primary Academy and say a big thank you
to their continued dedication and commitment to
learning. At Swaffham Primary Academy we believe
that, with knowledge, anything is possible. Every day
we shine. We believe in ourselves, we feel like we
belong and we learn new things and discover more
about ourselves and the world around us. Together
we shine, we learn, we believe and we belong.
4
Sacred Heart Catholic Primary
When we returned after the Easter break we had an
exciting arrival of our own baby caterpillars. They
were really little at first but over the week they have
already changed so much. We read the story The
Very Hungry Caterpillar and looked at the life cycle of
a caterpillar. The children are very excited to watch
our caterpillars go through the metamorphosis
stages and change into butterflies, then we can
set them free. The children made pattern pillars
and created their own symmetrical butterflies. The
children investigated doubles to replicate the idea
of using the same number of counters on each wing
in a symmetrical pattern. They also investigated the
fruits from the story, took part in tasting activities
and mud pie making in our new mud kitchen to
develop language of describing words.
We spent lots of time outside as the weather
improved. We walked around the school grounds
looking for signs of Spring. The children found lots
of flowers: daffodils, primroses, snowdrops and
crocuses. We also found blossom on the magnolia
and apple trees, catkins on the hazel trees as well
as leaves beginning to emerge from their buds. We
heard birds singing and saw some bird nests too. The
children used iPads to take photographs and charts
to mark off each of the signs of spring that they
found. Back in class, we have used these photos as a
stimulus for writing and art activities.
We will continue our investigations to see what else
lives on our school grounds and go on a minibeast
hunt in the coming weeks. We hope to find worms,
ants, earwigs, spiders, bees and ladybirds and look
forward to learning more about different bugs
throughout the summer term.
If you are interested in joining our Reception Class,
we still have a few spaces left for our September 2021
intake. Due to current restrictions we are unable to
offer school visits but are happy to talk to you and
answer any questions you have. Please contact the
school office to secure your place 01760 721330.
story time at our Forest School for
Heartwood CE VC Primary and Nursery School
parents and carers with children aged 0-3 years
old. Please follow us on Facebook or Twitter for
We were excited to open our doors to welcome back all our families on as
updates and information on how to book a place.
Heartwood CE VC Primary and Nursery School.
We have missed our families and children dearly over the COVID-19 closure.
The children have enjoyed being back in school, seeing their friends and
learning.
Heartwood CE VC Primary
At Heartwood we are passionate
about connecting with and serving
our community. We are hopeful
in June to open up our library for
5
St Peter and St Paul's Swaffham
The June services in Swaffham parish church will
be as follows, and are still subject to the Covid-19
restrictions: -
At Heartwood we love outdoor learning. We have a wonderful forest school
Sunday 6th June 1st Sunday after Trinity
where our Forest School teacher plans exciting learning
9.30am
in. The
Parish
children
Eucharist
love
CW
taking part in their weekly forest school session.
6.00pm Evensong
In Heartwood Forest school sessions, our children Sunday will 13th achieve June 2nd and Sunday develop after Trinity
confidence and self-esteem through hands on learning 9.30am experiences, Parish Eucharist trying CW
more risky activities such as tree climbing, building Sunday 20th fires, June using 3rd real Sunday tools after and Trinity
den building.
9.30am United Benefice Eucharist CW
Sunday 27th June 4th Sunday after Trinity
9.30am Parish Eucharist CW
Is your Please child starting visit our school website in September to find out next more about our 6.00pm wonderful school Evening Service (at which
year, 2022? www.heartwood.norfolk.sch.uk
If so, we would like to invite you to a we will welcome the Reverend Victoria Venmore-
Heartwood open morning on Tuesday 22nd June Rowland as Assistant Curate.)
at 10am. We will welcome you on a tour of our PLEASE NOTE
stunning school and for you to take part in some At the time of writing, we are pleased to report
activities, whilst having a drink and getting to know that limited choral singing has resumed, and we
the staff and other parents.
look forward to restarting congregational singing as
soon as it is permitted. Updates on services, both
in church and virtual (streamed on Facebook), will
be advertised each week under ‘Services’ on the
Swaffham Parish Church website https://www.
swaffhamparishchurch.org/ and notified via the
Swaffham Parish Church Facebook site. Similarly,
opening the church for private prayer and for
visitors will be announced there.
We would be glad to hear from anyone who would
be interested in assisting with stewarding during
visiting hours, in the hope of maximising the
opening of the church building in the summer –
contact by email, by website, or ring 622241 and
leave a message. Many thanks.
If you are interested in booking a place, please email
office@heartwood.norfolk.sch.uk with your name,
your child's name and a contact number. We will
be risk assessing in line with the COVID guidance
and will let you know if extra measures need to be
put in place or the event needs to be virtual. Places
are limited so we may open up on another occasion
too. We look forward to meeting you all.
Emily McMillen
Headteacher
Swaffham Methodist Church
Swaffham Methodist Church continues to hold weekly
Sunday Services at 10.45am. These have been well
attended, so again we ask that you let us know if you'd
like to attend, so we can make sure that everyone is
kept covid safe. Please contact Anne (01760722611).
Do have a look on our website for latest information.
www.swaffhammethodistchurch.org

Community Hospital L of F's
I hope many of you may now have had your second
dose of the vaccine. The situation in care homes has
improved and it is good news that at least more direct
contact with loved ones is now possible.
Our NHS colleagues, as ever, are doing a great job
with current patients and the situation at the hospital
has improved a little.
Still awaiting update on the hospital plans to be
obtaining more local washing machine facilities so
that more can be handled in-house. We will see if we
can help this in any way.
There is still little sign of us being able to commence
any immediate fundraising activities so I continue
with my suggestion that if you would like to help, a
good way is to participate in our coin collection. The
idea is to ask you all to consider whether you would
like to have a jam jar or tin at home in which you
might donate any spare change over the coming
weeks. It would be a small way of recognising the
fantastic service our NHS colleagues are giving over
this difficult period. If you would like to do this the
donations could be left at hospital reception or if you
ring me I can arrange collection. We have had some
continuing response to this and I would like to thank
those of you who have already contributed.
The Rotary Club in Swaffham have advised us that
they plan to hold a Charity Golf Day on Monday 19th
July. The proceeds are to be split between us and
another local charity. So...all you budding golfers...
if you would like to participate, put this date in your
diary and contact Rotary to express your interest. To
help Rotary with this event we would welcome any
items that you would like to donate for raffle prizes
etc. If so, I am happy to collect.
We are starting to think about ideas for starting some
new events over the coming months. Do any of you
have any special skills/knowledge etc that you think
would interest a wider following? If so, could you give
me a call and we could consider if it would be possible
to organise an event around it...don't be shy!
Nothing further to report at the moment on any
capital schemes. We will hold an AGM this year and a
date will be announced.
As spring is upon us we are looking to refresh plants
in our garden so as to keep it as attractive as possible.
We are really keen to attract new people to join
our small committee (especially after the loss of a
member). Do ring me for an informal chat, I promise
it won't be too onerous so why not give us a try?
It is important that we all follow the latest Government
guidelines, so stay safe and well. Let's hope the
June date is followed and we regain almost all our
freedoms.
Colin Houghton (Chairman)
01760 336025
Swaffham History Group
A trip back to Victorian Swaffham where Robert
Dunthorn Nichols was the proprietor of the R.
Nichols, Boot and Shoe warehouse in the Market
Place of Swaffham. The shop was double fronted and
situated where 'Raffles' trades from today. Robert
was born in 1840 in Necton. He married Sarah
Ann Leader in 1864 at St Peter and St Paul Church,
Swaffham, and they had a family of eight children of
which three died young.
Robert John Nichols joined his father in the trade
and his younger brother Earnest Arthur was a
watch maker (possibly at Bones, next door and also
at home). Robert's daughter Florence Maud was a
pianist and taught music. With a number of outlets
trading in the sale of boots and shoes in Swaffham
business must have been extremely difficult as Robert
Nichols was declared insolvent in 1905. However he
must have kept his head above water as by 1911 he
was still trading on his own account with the family
home above the shop. Robert Dunthorn Nichols died
in 1923, aged 83 years in Swaffham. His wife, Sarah
Ann predeceased Robert and died in 1914, aged 73
years. For more details regarding the Group please
phone 01842 879140 or EMail jbaz@go-plus.net
R. Nichols Boot and Shoe warehouse, Market Place,
Swaffham, Norfolk.
Do y
Office currently
closed to visitors,
please contact us
on 07393 981295
instead.
NOTICE OF AGM
We haven’t been able to meet for some
time but we are now planning our AGM for:
Tuesday, 27 th July, 2 pm in the
Assembly Rooms, Swaffham
Will all our members who wish to re-join and
any new members please come along. For the
future, we are expecting to meet at 2 pm on
the last Tuesday each month for a talk or
entertainment in the Assembly Rooms, unless
we have planned a trip out.
We also welcome members who would like to
help on our committee.
Telephone
befriending only
at present
RECRUITING NOW
Eligible patients live within a 10 - mile radius
of Swaffham–
• GP Surgeries, Flu, Diabetes, Asthma Clinic etc
• The Queen Elizabeth Hospital Kings Lynn
• The Norfolk & Norwich University Hospital
• Community Hospitals
• Other NHS appointments
AGE CONCERN SWAFFHAM
HOSPITAL BUDDY TRANSPORT SERVICE /
BEFRIENDER
‘To improve the quality of life of older people in Swaffham and
the villages nearby’
Join us Make a Difference
Could you be our Next Committee Member!
Swaffham Support Services
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Enquire 07393 981295 _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Are You….
. Car owner/driver essential (Fuel
expenses paid)
• Can provide patients with a safe,
comfortable & timely transport
service to and from a clinic
appointment
• Good communication skills
• Caring and empathetic
• Enjoy meeting new people
IF SO, THEN WHY NOT JOIN US..
Induction training provided
DBS & Reference checks
FOR AN INFORMATION PACK, CONTACT: ‘Having someone to take me to my
appointment, took away the worry’
Brad Stein – Befriending Service – 07412 775574
Donna Adcock– Hospital Buddy Coordinator – 07393 981290
SERVING THE LOCAL COMMUNITY
SINCE 1999
Befrienders & Hospital Buddy Drivers Needed
In the current pandemic it is amazing how many people
have volunteered to help those that have had to shield
due to age or health. Hopefully, lots of you have found
this extremely rewarding and may like to continue as the
restrictions lighten. If you have enjoyed helping others
and have an hour or two to spare a week or enjoy driving,
we would love to hear from you. We need caring
compassionate people like yourselves to join our
fantastic team of volunteers to help elderly people to get
to medical appointments or just to stop an elderly person
from being lonely. Please call us for an informal chat to
see how you could help. Thank you.
We are here to improve the quality of older
people’s lives in Swaffham & the villages nearby
Tel: 07393 981 295
EMAIL: swaffhamsss16@outlook.com
www.swaffhamsupportservices.co.uk
The Community Centre, Campingland, Swaffham. PE37 7RB
6

A big thank you for everyone who has
donated and bought paperbacks over
the year. They have provided a lifeline
for us over the year and hopefully
one for you too. Enjoy the Summer
staycation relaxing and reading.
Swaffham Heritage, Town Hall, London Street,
Swaffham PE37 7DQ. Tel: 01760 721230
Email: swaffhamheritage@gmail.com
Open 10am to 4pm Mon to Fri. Sat 10am to 1pm
Prices: adults £3. Children 5 and over £1.
Family tickets available.
To keep up to date join us on our website:
www.swaffhammuseum.co.uk
or follow us on facebook
Museum open at last!
What’s New
• Updated Shop with a wider selection of items
• Updated Gallery – Conflict and Consequences.
This gallery has evolved from The Military
Remembrance Trail because of the impossibility of
working it throughout COVID. The Heritage Lottery
Fund generously agreed to both extend the grant
for a year and change the emphasis to include
the conflicts of 2020/2021. We are still working
on the display materials for this and welcome any
donations of T-Shirts or other memorabilia that
have come from these years.
We also have a new replica model of HMS Victory
– kindly donated by James Dean. It took him three
years to build this wooden model from a kit.
Also in this room we have almost completed the
window display background for the rare bunting
grave marker from World War 1. Come and see it!
Tell Us about 2020-2021
“Tell us what it was like to hug again?”
Photos, videos and stories of things that you have
done or made, new hobbies, ways in which you
may have helped; things that have been different,
good things, not so good things – funny or sad. Just
Tell Us! website www.swaffhamheritage.org.uk
Find us on Twitter and Facebook. Drop in and chat.
Friends of Swaffham Heritage
As we (fingers crossed) leave Covid-19 lockdown,
two dates for your diary.
First of all we will be holding our Annual General
Meeting on Friday 16th July at 7pm in the Swaffham
Community Centre. This is a formal notice for
all existing members, but new members are
welcome too. We need to elect a new leadership
team: Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Secretary and
Treasurer and other committee members to run the
organisation; we are a registered charity.
Secondly, we are planning to have our annual summer
barbecue on Sunday afternoon, 29th August. This
will be held at the Community Centre in the Buxton
Hall and adjoining patio. Further details will follow.
As mentioned in last month’s Swaffham Newsletter,
we have a problem in having insufficient committee
members to enable us to carry out our duties. The
committee meets 5 or 6 times a year for an hour or
so to conduct business, so if you have some time to
spare and are interested, we would like to hear from
you (contact friendsofswaffhamheritage@yahoo.
com).
Friends’ 100 Club
The April draw is as follows
1st – no 49, 2nd – no 92 and 3rd – no 95
Cheques will be on their way to our lucky winners!
Finally, we bid a fond farewell to Barbara and James,
who will be leaving Swaffham and on their way
to their new home in the middle of this month.
However, we hope they will still find time to visit us
on occasion.
John Zielinski
Acting Secretary, Friends of Swaffham Heritage
email: friendsofswaffhamheritage@yahoo.com
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
01760 336029
8

1
2
3
4
5
A
OPEN
CLEAR
6
7
8
9
0
B
With a little help
from my friends
1170-120-6
from my friends
At The Paddocks Care Home, we’re not just
1:58/2:45 WITH A LITTLE HELP FROM MY FRIENDS – THE BEATLES
carers, we’re friends – and sometimes our friends
need a little help. That’s why we personalise
each day to meet the individual needs of our
1:58/2:45 WITH A LITTLE HELP FROM MY FRIENDS – THE BEATLES
residents and their families.
With a little help
from my friends
At The Paddocks Care Home, we’re not just
carers, we’re friends – and sometimes our friends
need a little help. That’s why we personalise
each day to meet the individual needs of our
residents and their families.
And hearing their laughter is music to our ears.
With a little help
The Paddocks
45 CLEY ROAD, SWAFFHAM, PE37 7NP
CALL 01760 722920 TO ARRANGE YOUR VISIT
With a little help
from my friends
Keysafe
1:58/2:45
And hearing their laughter is music to our ears.
www.castlemeadowcare.co.uk
WITH A LITTLE HELP FROM MY FRIENDS – THE BEATLES
Swaffham 5
CELEBRATING
YEARS
President’s Corner
Every year Rotary Youth
Services includes a number
of competitions for young people from musicians
through artists and photographers to writers. Many
need the active participation of schools to be a
complete success. Thus it has not been a good year,
with everyone preoccupied with the changes to life
necessitated by the Covid pandemic.
We were delighted to receive some entries to the
2021 Young Writer competition which encouraged
young people to write with imagination and creativity
on the title “My Happiest Day.” I am delighted to say
that one of the entries was runner up in the regional
heat and received a gift token to accompany the
certificates awarded to all participants.
Whilst the impact of Covid on
youth services was foreseeable,
we were not prepared for the
havoc it would cause to our
final collection of gently worn
underwear for Smalls 4 All on
the Market Place last October.
We had made the changes to
comply with the regulations then in force and had a
very successful collection. Our plans to transport the
donations to the charity’s depot in Scotland were
almost instantly ruled out by the new controls on
movement etc.
No one will thank me for reminding them of all
The Paddocks
the tough but necessary restrictions we have had
to endure. Fortunately, the recently announced
relaxations in England (and corresponding changes in
Scotland) means the donations have at last completed
their journey to the charity’s depot near Edinburgh.
The early confirmation that the planned easing of
restrictions listed in Step 3 of the Government’s
45 CLEY ROAD, SWAFFHAM, PE37 7NP
CALL 01760 722920 TO ARRANGE YOUR VISIT
With a little help
RESIDENTIAL CARE | DEMENTIA CARE | RESPITE CARE | SHORT BREAKS
At The Paddocks Care Home, we’re not just
carers, we’re friends – and sometimes our friends The Paddocks
from my friends
need a little help. That’s why we personalise
each day to meet the individual needs of our
45 CLEY ROAD, SWAFFHAM, PE37 7NP
residents and their families.
CALL 01760 722920 TO ARRANGE YOUR VISIT
And hearing their laughter is music to our ears.
The Paddocks
1:58/2:45 WITH 1:58/2:45 A LITTLE HELP WITH FROM A MY LITTLE FRIENDS www.castlemeadowcare.co.uk
HELP – THE BEATLES FROM MY FRIENDS – THE BEATLES
RESIDENTIAL CARE | DEMENTIA CARE | RESPITE CARE | SHORT BREAKS
At The Paddocks Care Home, we’re not just
carers, we’re friends – and sometimes our friends
need a little help. That’s why we personalise
each day to meet the individual needs of our
residents and their families.
And hearing their laughter is music to our ears.
www.castlemeadowcare.co.uk
Last year we received
over 62,000 alarm
calls, and 97% of them
were answered within
60 seconds.
We are here to help.
Careline
alarm
Buddy
Button
(GPS tracker)
To find out more, call us on 01553 616200
or visit careline-cs.org.uk and careandrepair-wn.org
45 CLEY ROAD, SWAFFHAM, PE37 7NP
CALL 01760 722920 TO ARRANGE YOUR VISIT
RESIDENTIAL CARE | DEMENTIA CARE | RESPITE CARE | SHORT BREAKS
At The Paddocks Care Home, we’re not just
carers, we’re friends – and sometimes our friends
Supra
Vibby
Fall
Detector
road map will go ahead on 17th May as planned plus
the indication that the country remains on track to
move to step 4 on 21st June is really good news for
our Charity Golf Day which takes place on Monday
19th July. The event is able to go ahead anyway, but
removing the remaining restrictions will resolve the
potential hospitality issues we faced.
I am delighted that we have already had a really
positive response from golfers who have supported
us over the years. So much so that at the time of
writing this there is only space for two more teams.
If you and your golfing partners would like to join us,
don’t delay! Full details are on our website:– http://
www.swaffhamrotary.org.uk
If you want to find out any more about our Club,
please mail me club_president@swaffhamrotary.
org.uk.
John Wallace
11
Magpie Centre Reopen for Summer
After more than a year of
having activities severely
curtailed as a result of
lockdown, the Magpie
Centre, home of West
Norfolk Riding for the Disabled Association,
welcomed its first riders back on 12th April. Numbers
will be increased gradually, according to the level of
assistance that each participant needs.
West Norfolk RDA Chairman Colin Perriss said: ‘I
feel that the return to riding and carriage driving
will mean that our riders and carriage drivers will
once again be able to experience the significant and
therapeutic benefits of interacting with horses. The
Magpie team is looking forward to seeing the joy on
the faces of the participants and their families and
returning to what we do best, making sure that “it’s
what you CAN do that counts”.
The start of Equine Assisted Learning Therapy
(EALT) sessions, expected to begin in March, was
delayed until 21st April. Each of these courses, run
in association with mental health charity MIND, runs
for three sessions, and the second course should start
in June. Meanwhile, the sensory garden, designed
primarily to benefit people living with dementia, is
becoming well established, and we are very grateful
to everyone who has donated such a huge variety
of plants. The gazebo is now up and painted and as
soon as restrictions are lifted fully, Magpie Centre
volunteers will contact care homes to promote the
Tea With a Pony programme, in which care home
residents, and others, plus their carers, can visit to
enjoy tea and cakes, spend time with some of the
ponies and enjoy the variety of experiences provided
by the wheelchair-friendly garden.
Ashill & Holme Hale Garden Club
Website: ashillgardeningclub.wordpress.com/
Email: ashillholmehalegardenclub@gmail.com
With the government’s roadmap out of the current
lockdown still on track the Garden Club is finalising
plans to have our first monthly meeting of 2021 on
Thursday June 24th. We have sufficient space at Home
Hale Pavilion to apply social distancing measures and
still accommodate all members, so put the date in
your diaries and come along.

Swaffham Lionesses
The Pride of Swaffham
We are at last looking forward to our next face to
face Lioness meeting in the form of an Afternoon Tea
Party in our President Nicola’s garden in June.
We continue to support our local foodbank
collections and have been visiting our Hon Lioness
Rosemary at her care home.
Five of us carried out
our planned litter
picking session near
Tesco and around
the duck pond in
Swaffham, collecting 5
bags of rubbish in just
over an hour. We then
spent another hour
having tea and biscuits
and a chat in Lioness Janet’s garden!
We had our first stall in the Assembly Rooms on
17th April at the Indoor market. This will be good
publicity for us and we can sell a few items of bric-abrac
to cover the cost of the stall and put the excess
into our charity account. We are looking to try and
attract potential new members to our club.
Swaffham Lionesses
ADVERTORIAL FEATURE
Swaffham & District Lions
Swaffham and District Lions Club
is part of Lions Clubs International
which, as the name suggests,
is a worldwide organisation with Clubs in over
200 countries and geographical regions. In 1968
the organisation established its own charitable
Foundation known as Lions Clubs International
Foundation. This is a non-profit making Foundation
which collects monies from Lions Clubs and
individuals and distributes it in terms of donations in
response to national emergencies and disasters. The
monies are always donated to a Lions Club(s) based
in the area of need and never given to governments
or spent in war zones. Every penny donated to the
Foundation is used to fund its responses and it is
the duty of Club(s) receiving donations to provide
the Foundation with receipts and details of how the
monies have been spent – such transparency is an
integral part of the organisation.
Lions Clubs across Europe are celebrating Lions Clubs
International Foundation Day on Saturday 12th
June. This is an opportunity for Clubs to publicise
themselves as well as their Foundation and the
tremendous work carried out on its behalf by Lions
Clubs across the world.
Although Swaffham and District Lions Club uses the
majority of the monies it raises to worthwhile causes
in the local community (at least 80% is donated
locally) the Club is proud to support the Foundation
on a regular basis. It is pleasing to note that the UK
receives a fair share of the Foundation’s donations.
In the last 3 years severe flooding in the North West
and the Somerset levels has led to Clubs in these
areas receiving financial support and just last year
the Foundation donated in excess of £160,000 to
provide PPE for each Air Ambulance based in the UK,
and some £40,000 was for the Air Ambulances based
in East Anglia.
To find out more about Swaffham and District Lions
Club and the work it does to support those most in
need both locally and further afield, please contact
John on 01760 332403.
As part of looking after the environment, Swaffham
Lions are asking local residents which areas they
would wish the Lions to litter pick. Once the areas
have been selected, following any safety concerns,
a team will be allocated to an area with the view of
looking after the area on a regular basis.
The Lions nationally are trying to collect 2022 bags
of litter before the start of the 2022 Commonwealth
Games that are to be held in Birmingham. They will
be displayed at the opening ceremony; its aim is to
highlight the need to look after the environment.
For info contact Dennis Tallon on Swaffham Lions
Facebook page.
Swaffham & District Lions
As part of looking after the
environment, Swaffham Lions are
asking local residents which areas
they would wish the Lions to litter
pick. Once the areas have been selected, following any
safety concerns, a team will be allocated to an area with
the view of looking after the area on a regular basis.
The Lions nationally are trying to collect 2022 bags
of litter before the start of the 2022 Commonwealth
Games that are to be held in Birmingham. They will
be displayed at the opening ceremony; its aim is to
highlight the need to look after the environment.
For info contact Dennis Tallon on Swaffham Lions
Facebook page.
With over 1 million ink cartridges going into land fill
each day, causing contaminates to pollute the water
table and taking up to 1,000 years to decompose,
Swaffham Lions have launched an ink cartridge
recycling scheme as part of their commitment to look
after the environment. The cartridges (no toners)
can be handed in at Swaffham Community Centre or
on Sunday morning between 10-12 at the Assembly
Rooms. Swaffham Lions also collect spectacles,
hearing aids and food for the Foodbank.
Swaffham & District Lions have been impressed with
the work that West Norfolk Riding for the Disabled
do at the Magpie Centre. The centre, which has been
running for 30 years, has just reopened following
lockdown and has welcomed a small number of clients
back, before lockdown up to 130 attended both riding
or on carriages. The centre manager, Natalie Dade,
explained they have 15 horses, 5 staff and up to 100
volunteers. The cost of running the centre, which
relies heavily on donations and fundraising events, has
still had to pay for hay, vets, staff and general running
costs during lockdown without the ability to fundraise.
Lion President Tony Lakey and Lion Pam Tallon
presented a cheque for £500 on behalf of Swaffham &
District Lions to Natalie Dade with Buddy a 13-year-old
Dark Bay Irish Cob.
• Are you interested in
helping in the community?
• Do you enjoy
meeting new people?
• Whether it's helping with
food collections, putting on
events, or enjoying the social
programme, why not join the
Swaffham Lions?
• Membership is open to all
Give John a call on
01760 337403
for more info
12
13

Swaffham Men’s Shed Now Open!
Swaffham Men’s Shed was finally able to open its
doors from May 17th when the COVID restrictions
allowed up to six people to meet indoors. The Shed
is now open for members on Tuesday and Thursday
mornings from 10am to 12 noon and Thursday
evenings from 7.30 to 9.30pm.
Apart from a few meetings back in 2019 and early
2020, Swaffham Men’s Shed has been unable to
meet during the COVID restrictions but huge strides
have been made in finding premises; our thanks
goes to Swaffham Rugby Union Football Club for
inviting us to use an existing shed together with
their clubhouse facilities. A lot of work in clearing
this out, refurbishing the old Pigeon Club shed and
building an outside work area has been led by Colin
Yorke. We already have some donated tools and
equipment. Fred Grange, secretary of Swaffham
Men’s Shed, commented: “We now have Shed No
1 and the Luton box body. We are checking on the
planning position with Breckland District Council for
another larger shed, which is being donated by a local
businessman, so we can start building this from June
21st if the restrictions are lifted then as planned. We
have tea and coffee facilities and access to the rugby
club toilets.”
The Rugby Club is holding its Open Day on 3rd July
and Swaffham Men’s Shed will have a stand there
inviting people to come and chat to members.
Swaffham Royal British Legion
At the time of writing, we still do not have
a date when we can resume monthly
meetings. I can report, though, that to
celebrate the centenary of the Royal British Legion,
we maintained social distancing and laid a wreath at
the War Memorial at 9am on 15th May. It was on this
date and at this time that the very first wreath was
laid at the Cenotaph to mark the formation of the
Royal British Legion.
Swaffham Rugby Club
As lockdown eases, rugby is beginning to emerge
from the long dark winter they call Covid 19. Although
we are still not allowed to play the full contact form
of the game, at least players have been able to train
together and get some satisfaction from throwing
a ball around. Under the current laws there are no
scrums or mauls, which has made the game a lot faster,
giving less opportunity for the big boys to cuddle in
the mud but more chances for the whippets in the
backs to show their pace. Swaffham finally managed
to play a game on May 15th against Crusaders from
Long Melton, just 14 months since they last played in
2020! This was followed
two weeks later with a
return fixture but with
the demands of the
summer sports and the
hardening grounds,
the 2021 season has
now come to an end.
However, the team will continue to train on Thursday
evenings with the intention of getting fit and ready
for the start of the 2021 season in September.
The end of lockdown at the end of June will allow
social gatherings once again and with such a long
break the Club is planning an open day to celebrate
a return to playing rugby under the full contact
laws. With this is mind, an afternoon and evening of
entertainment is being organised on Saturday July
3rd for all ages and open to anyone who is interested
to see what the Club has to offer.
The Clubhouse bar will open at 1pm and from
2pm to 6pm there will be child-friendly games and
entertainment plus a barbeque. With two other
Norfolk sides, there will be a 3-way social rugby
tournament between 2pm and 4pm and at 5pm a live
music act will be in the Clubhouse. This will continue
until 7pm and then from 8pm until late there will be
a disco for those with energy left to burn.
With a rejuvenated Clubhouse, money has now
been spent on the playing areas. The training pitch
has had some extra attention to the grass surface in
preparation for repairs to the floodlighting. This will
allow us to play league games in the middle of winter
at normal kick off times, rather than having to start
early. Whilst the Mini and Junior sections now have
a 3 month break until September, the time will be
spent looking for coaches to help run the teams. This
is a perennial problem as parents move up the age
groups with their children, but the Club offers plenty
of training and support to parents willing to share
the workload on a Sunday morning. Most parents
would agree that teaching a youngster a new skill is
very rewarding.
Beauty @ the Barn
Come and explore the wide
range of treatments and
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Beauty treatments are offered
on an exclusive one to one
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Set within the grounds of an
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the relaxing salon boasts a unique,
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At Beauty @ the Barn you leave your
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embrace a time when you can focus
on your well-being and enjoy the full
pampering experience.
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Sisters leave Swaffham after 107 years
The Daughters of Divine Charity left the town that
accepted them over a hundred years ago on 27th
May. They are very grateful for the friendship, respect
and love that has been shown to them over so many
years and will miss living and working in such a friendly
community-minded market town.
It has been a great honour to be a focal place of prayer
and support for the people of the town and thank all
those who have supported the Sisters both spiritually
and financially. We have had many loyal helpers and
benefactors and have received far more than we were
able to contribute.
We will miss Swaffham, the Congregation’s foundation
in England but in leaving the legacy of the Sacred
Heart VA Primary School with its 99 years free lease
our charism ‘To Make God’s Love Visible’ will continue
to flourish. Free education is what the first Sisters
from Austria envisaged happening and it has come
to fulfilment. One of the Sisters will be a member of
the Governing Body and have a keen interest in the
education of its pupils.
We hope that the Barn Theatre and swimming pool,
bought by the Town Council, will be of enormous
benefit to the social and creative side of the town
and give immense joy and well-being to its occupants.
May the school’s motto of ‘Service Before Self’ live on
through this project.
We are thankful that an extended Catholic family
interested in keeping the heart of the Convent building,
the chapel, as a place of prayer and quiet will continue
to pray for the people of Swaffham. The statue of
the Sacred Heart will remain in the front garden as
a reminder of the Sister’s presence and love for the
people of Swaffham. A group of lay people, called
Associates, will still be a presence in Swaffham led by
the Hunstanton Community.
You will not be forgotten, but cherished and
remembered in our three other Convents in England:
St Theresa’s in Hunstanton, St Joseph’s in Chesterfield
and Mother Most Admirable in Rochdale.
With grateful thanks and our prayers,
The Daughters of Divine Charity
Sacred Heart Convent, Swaffham
Ed Colman - Norfolk County Councillor
Throughout the election one of the things I was
asked time and time again in Swaffham is what does
a County Councillor do? To help raise awareness
of the County Councillor role I will be producing a
monthly email update for residents - if you would
like to register to receive the updates please email
ed.colman.cllr@norfolk.gov.uk
Mayor's Parlour
Dear All, I am writing this as my last Mayors
Parlour before Cllr Judy Anscombe takes
over next week (by the time you read it,
Judy will be Mayor and I wish her well); I
would like to say what a privilege it’s been to be in
this position and to serve you for the last two years.
This was a new council in 2019, lots of new Councillors
with enthusiasm to make life better for our growing
town. However, in hindsight in that first year we
tended to forget “changing the world” takes time and
there is a lot to understand and get to know, I’m sure
we are all better equipped for the next two years.
The last year, the Covid year was for the council
pretty awful as it was for most people. The total
unknown, the majority of our councillors in isolation,
having to get used to zoom and a feeling that more
should be done but unable to do more because of
the restrictions. Fortunately, Kurt at the White Hart,
who by the way is now a Councillor, with the help of
Iceni and wonderful volunteers steered us through
helping our residents with meals, errands, and
anything else needed.
Personally, I am really sorry that there was so much
unrest amongst fellow councillors using the media
and resulting in frequent reporting to monitoring
officer, wasting a lot of our time, and causing so
much unnecessary distress for councillors and staff,
at times it was impossible to respond without making
the situation worse. I only wish more residents had
contacted the office or myself to get the information
that they needed.
I do believe that with Covid rules relaxed, vaccination
programs in progress and being allowed back into the
Council chamber we will hopefully be an effective
cohesive council for the rest of our term. Despite
the difficulties, we have managed to get the toilets
refurbished which is quite an achievement after all
the years of discussion. It was probably good that
it took a while as, over the years toilets in towns
have become very controversial and some towns
have done away with them altogether. Ours seem
to be very well received and so far, not too much
vandalism.
One other project on-going is The Convent Barn
and I sincerely hope this will become this Council’s
big achievement. This is still in progress and I am
so pleased to say most councillors now realise the
potential of the barn and are now completely for it.
As you know I am always there for people to speak
to or contact, I have enjoyed being your Mayor, you
residents have definitely kept me going during the
difficult times.
Wishing you all the very best and look forward to
seeing you around the Town.
Jill
17

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.
Mayoral Changes For 2021-22
A changing of the guard at Swaffham Town Council
annual meeting on 19th May 2021, as Cllr Jill
Skinner Town Mayor for the last two years handed
over the reigns to Cllr Judy Anscombe as Mayor,
with Cllr Stewart Bell stepping up to Deputy Mayor.
Mayor Cllr Judy Anscombe and Deputy Mayor Stewart Bell
Whilst both decisions were unanimous from their
fellow Councillors, both our new Civic Leaders
will be quick to pay tribute to the difficult period
that Cllr Jill Skinner has steered the Town Council
through. First of all, starting off as a newly elected
Council in May 2019, setting out in such a major
topical issue such as the Green Britain Centre
and all that came with it, whether you are for,
against or indifferent, everyone can appreciate the
extraordinary amount of work that was associated
with this potential project. As if that were not
enough to contend with, before the first year is
over a global pandemic gripped the world, the
UK, and the town of Swaffham. Indeed, the May
meeting in the Assembly Rooms was the first faceto-face
meeting of Councillors since 11th March
2020, so new skills have been the order of the
day, contending with virtual meetings and in the
middle of all of that another opportunity presents
itself with the ‘Barn Theatre & Swimming Pool’.
A sincere thank you goes to Jill, on behalf of the
Town, the Council, and the Staff. These three
things are not the norm, and they take us to the
beginning of the 3rd year of this particular Council,
consistently in years gone by the most productive
year of any Council, recognised as the year of
delivery, of key decisions, and where Councils
either make their mark, or not… before the final
year, when the end game is in sight and an election
looms at the end of it. So, no pressure… everyone
wishes Judy and Stewart well in their respective
roles. There will be a change in the way they
share their workload, as the Mayor will take a
lead in driving forward the many projects that are
in progress to a satisfactory conclusion and the
Deputy Mayor will take more of a lead in attending
the civic duties expected of a Town Council.
Casual Vacancy and Possible Co-Option in June
Sadly, another resignation has been received,
that of Cllr Brendan Holmes, who has served the
Town for two years, following his election in May
2019. We sincerely thank Brendan for his work as
a Councillor, during difficult times, particularly as
part of the Community Response Centre based
at the White Hart during the early Covid-19
lockdowns. We wish Brendan well for the future…
The resignation now leaves a casual vacancy,
and we are currently going through the statutory
process, Breckland Council have been notified
and they advertise for 14 working days, should
there be a call for a by-election, which ends on
28th May. If there is no call for a by-election to
be held, then the Town Council will be free to coopt
at their next meeting in June. In preparation
for the possibility of co-option, the Council invite
prospective Councillors to put forward their case
to join the Council.
If you are interested in serving out the remainder
of the two-years left on this term of office, please
send in a brief summary of who you are and what
you can bring to the Council, a citation of say no
more than 200 words, enough for Councillors to
consider at their meeting in June. Please send
to the Town Clerk, Richard Bishop townclerk@
swaffhamtowncouncil.gov.uk
Meetings and Live Streaming
As we get back into the face-to-face meetings in
the coming weeks, the venues may change from
time to time, and at short notice. So, please keep
an eye out on our website and on social media,
we will do our best to get the message out there.
There will be paper notices on the Town Hall notice
board for those who are not on-line. We tried to
Live stream our Annual meeting on Facebook from
the Assembly Rooms on 19th May, unfortunately
we experienced some technical issues, such as
the Wi-Fi signal dropping out, which stopped the
process after just over an hour. We also appreciate
that the sound was poor, and we are addressing
this in the coming weeks. We will persevere with
this, as we want to enable as many people as
possible to be able to login from the comfort of
their own homes and follow democracy in action
at a local level.
We may also start using Live streaming on Zoom,
Facebook or YouTube for short messages or
podcasts, for Q&A sessions, to trial if there is any
interest and whether the platform allows us to get
information out to the public fairly quickly.
Mayor – Cllr. Jill Skinner
The Town Council
CllrSkinner.SwaffhamTC@gmail.com
Deputy Mayor – 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
Cllr. Kurt Oliver
CllrOliver.SwaffhamTC@gmail.com
Swaffham Town Council
Tel: 01760 722 922
www.swaffhamtowncouncil.gov.uk
Town Hall opening times:
Monday 9.30am – 1pm. 1.30pm – 4pm
Tuesday - Friday – 9.30am – 1pm
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
Town Council Committee
meeting dates - JUNE 2021
• Tue 1st Transport, Access & Environment
– 4.00pm (Assembly Rooms)
• Thurs 10th - Full Town Council
- 6.30pm (Assembly Rooms)
• Wed 16th – Market, Events & Tourism
– 6.30pm (Assembly Rooms)
• Tue 29th - Planning & Built Environment
– 4.00pm (Assembly Rooms)
Breckland District Council
www.breckland.gov.uk
01362 656 870. For all enquiries regarding: Planning,
Refuse Bins, Housing, Recycling, Licensing & Benefits.
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
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.
18
19

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