Swaffham Newsletter

SN
December 2021
Your free town newsletter published by Iceni Partnership
SWAFFHAM
newslet ter
Online version available to view on www.swaffhamcommunityhub.co.uk
NEWS EVENTS INFORMATION
Swaffham prepares to
get in the festive mood
Read all about the town's Christmas weekend on p.22
Photo of Parish Church of St Peter & St Paul from 2018
published by
Iceni Partnership would like to wish our readers
a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

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
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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
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Advertisers - We operate an industry standard
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1
Contents
3 Church News
4 School Speak
6 Swaffham Jazz Club
9 Garden Club/Royal British Legion
10 WEA/Community Hospital
13 Museum Matters
14 Swaffham Lions/Camera Club
15 WI's
17 Merle Boddy
18 Swaffham Men's Shed
19 WEA/Swaffham History Group
20 The Magpie Centre/Wissey U3A
22 Swaffham Town Council
3
Parish Church of St Peter & St Paul
The December 2021 services in Swaffham parish church
will be as follows:
Sunday 5th
9.30am Sung Eucharist
Sunday 12th
9.30am Sung Eucharist
2.30pm St John Ambulance carol
service and awards
Sunday 19th
9.30am Sung Eucharist
6.00pm Carol Service
Friday 24th
CHRISTMAS EVE
4pm Christingle
11.30pm Midnight Mass
Saturday 25th CHRISTMAS DAY
10am Parish Eucharist
Sunday 26th
9.30am Said Holy Communion
There will also be a Book of Common Prayer traditional
language Holy Communion on Wednesdays at 10 am.
Church is now open again daily for private prayer and
for visitors from 9am until 3pm outside services.
We are seeking to restart our Saturday coffee
mornings, so do look out for updated information on
our webpage https://www.swaffhamparishchurch.
org/ or Facebook (Swaffham Parish Church). Although
we are not able to run our normal festival, we will have
some charity Christmas trees in church 30th November
- 5th December inclusive - no cash collection but with
options for online giving available.
Our Fabric Officer, Jan Hayes-Griffin, who coordinates
the work on the church building on behalf of the
parochial church council, writes:
"Over the last few months, we have been carrying out
essential repairs and maintenance to the church as we
begin to open up after the pandemic. The stonework
and glazing to the last green window on the south side
of the Church has been completed and inscriptions
to two generous donors installed. The Church is now
beautifully floodlit at night following the installation
of new floodlights and four lights right at the top of
the Fleche. Repairs and cleaning to the Bell Tower will
enable our bells and bell ringers can continue to peal
out across the town. Our band of volunteers continue to
polish and clean the Church every week and our flower
arrangers provide lovely seasonal displays.
All this work helps to ensure our magnificent church is
kept open for the community and visitors to enjoy and
host our exciting programme of events in the run up to
Christmas."
Please come in and visit - we are open 10am to 3pm
most days - you will be made very welcome
Mothers’ Union
The Swaffham branch of the Mothers’ Union usually
meets on the 2nd Thursday of the month. This month’s
meeting is on December 9th at 10.00am for carols and
a shared lunch. Enquiries to Julia on 720041.

Swaffham Methodist Church
• Thurs 2nd December 10am-12noon. The Meeting
Place drop in. Come and meet new friends over tea/
coffee.
• Fri 3rd December 9.30am, Power of Prayer.
• Sat 4th December 9.30am-12noon, “Christmas
Special". Coffee Morning held in Church School Room.
Hot drinks and homemade cakes. Cake stall and Gift
stall to browse in the Church.
• Sun 5th December 10.45am, Morning Worship led
by Mrs Elsie Warby. Refreshments served afterwards
in schoolroom.
• Tues 7th December 10am-12noon. The Meeting
Place drop in.
• Thurs 9th December 10am-12noon, The Meeting
Place drop in. 2.30pm - Swaffham Friendship Group
Advent Service led by Deacon Jen Woodfin. All
welcome. Refreshments served.
• Sun 12th December 10.45am, Morning Worship
led by Rev Jacqui. Holy Communion celebrated.
Refreshments served afterwards.
• Tues 14th December 10am-12noon, The Meeting
Place drop in.
• Thurs 16th December 20am-12noon, The Meeting
Place drop in.
• Fri 17th December 9.30am, Power of Prayer.
• Sun 19th December 10.45am, Carol Service led by
the Worship Leaders. Refreshments afterwards.
• Tues 21st December 10am-12noon, The Meeting
Place drop in.
• Thursday 23rd December 10am-12noon, The
Meeting Place drop in.
• Thurs 23rd December 2.30pm, Swaffham Friendship
Group. Come along and sing your favourite Christmas
Carols. Mince Pies, tea/coffee.
• Fri 24th December 9.30am, Power of Prayer.
• Sat 25th December CHRISTMAS DAY SERVICE 10am
led by Rev Jacqui Horton.
PLEASE NOTE: THE CHURCH WILL BE CLOSED UNTIL
DECEMBER 31st.
• Fri 31st December 9.30am, Power of Prayer.
Thanking God for bringing us through the past year
and praying for his guidance in 2022. Wishing you all a
very Happy Christmas and praying for a healthy, Happy
New Year. From all at Swaffham Methodist Church.
Heartwood CE VC Primary
Music!
We are delighted that the changes in
COVID restrictions allow our children
to get back into music sessions. We
welcome Sarah Skinner our resident music teacher
who is teaching the year 3 and 4 children to play and
perform music using instruments.
The school is singing again, the silence in the school
when the school was not allowed to sing was
heartbreaking. However... we are back singing and it
sounds just wonderful.
Children sing throughout the week in collective
worship, music and other curricular areas. We
are planning our Christmas performances with
excitement and will be carol singing in the community!
We hope you can join us for carol singing at the
Buttercross, dates to be confirmed on our website
and through social media.
Emily McMillen, Headteacher
TNHA News
We are now well into our autumn term
featuring Remembrance Day when the
country remembers those who fought in the World
Wars and later conflicts.
The Academy fell quiet at 11am for a two-minute
silence joined by those students in Cadet, Scouts,
Guides and St. Johns Ambulance Uniforms, who
marched out proudly to join the rest of their
peers. Our Year 8 & 9 students joined a workshop
facilitated by the Never Such Innocence Charity
where they worked with singer/songwriter Otto to
write their own song. This was recorded by those
students involved and played to the whole cohort
on the day. (Youtube link on our website & social
media).
Furthermore, two of our students represented
children of servicemen and women at a meeting
via Zoom with the Chief of the Defence Staff,
General Sir Nick Carter, when they asked questions
around life after conflict, remembering those who
represented our country and service life. It was
truly a day full of pride and reflection!
Despite the weather turning cold and damp as
expected this season, we have run a series of
trips out of school. Geography students went to
Norwich to study various changes and their effects
on the surrounding area, as part of the ‘human
study’ portion of their course. P.E students enjoyed
a mountain biking trip to High Lodge in Thetford
as part of the skills they needed to master and
demonstrate. A trip seeing 3 coaches full of students
will be making its way to see Dick Whittington at
the Theatre Royal in Norwich in early December.
This has certainly turned out to be one of our most
popular events and students will be sure to set
off full of excitement and anticipation to see this
classic ‘rags to riches tale’.
Finally, as always, we are delighted when visitors
ask to meet us and our students. We were very
pleased to welcome back Cllr. Judy Anscombe,
Mayor of Swaffham, who was joined by Cllr. Graham
Edwards on his first visit. They toured the site with
Student Leaders eager to show off their academy
and answered various questions of interest to
the local councillors. Feedback from the visit was
extremely positive and it is evident that we are
absolutely demonstrating that we are determined
to be the best that we can be and doing a great
job of it! We would invite you to follow our social
media platforms on either Facebook, Instagram
or Twitter, to be kept informed of just some of
the wonderful things that we are so very proud to
share at TNHA.
Swaffham CE Primary Academy
Children at Swaffham Church of England Primary
Academy have been exploring the value of HOPE
and considering what it means to be good stewards
of our planet at a time when our World Leaders
are coming together for the COP 26 summit in
November.
During Collective Worship, classes have been
exploring what ‘hope’ means to them. The children
have considered their hopes and dreams for the
future and made spirals of hope and dream catchers
to share what they are hopeful for. A common theme
that came out of this reflective work was a desire
to consider how we mend and heal the impact of
climate change on our planet. Miss Bareham, Year 4
teacher and Science Lead, launched a whole school
project to link our Collective Worship thoughts with
our Science curriculum to consider the question,
‘how can we make a difference?’
Each year group has taken a different conservation
focus including water, air and land pollution, loss
of habitats and biodiversity and climate change.
As part of their learning about conservation, each
class has made a video to share with our school and
our local community on their findings and how we
as individuals can make a difference to help with
climate change.
Our Reception and Year 1 classes looked at litter,
food waste and saving energy. Year 3 and Year 4
looked at air pollution and deforestation. Year 5
and Year 6 looked at plastics and burning fossil fuels.
The children have produced prayers of hope, made
‘promises to our planet’ and shared their ideas on
what we can do in school and in our homes to make
a difference.
The children of Swaffham Primary have become
advocates for change and we are really proud of
their enthusiasm, understanding and commitment
to help save our planet.
Syreeta Rice
Assistant Headteacher and SENDCo
4 5

6
Swaffham Jazz Club
For our November session we welcomed Swing
That Thing Sextet led by trumpeter Chris Kirk. Chris
played at the first ever meeting of the Jazz Club at
our original venue in The King’s Arms, with the Colin
Mason Quartet.
Chris told me a bit about himself at the end. He was
born in Watford and moved up to East Anglia 45
years ago and now lives in Litteport. Both his parents
were in the Salvation Army so it’s not surprising that
he grew up playing the cornet in the local S.A. Band.
He then branched out to playing the trumpet in a
concert band and pit orchestras. For a time, he was
in the trumpet section of the Norfolk Symphony
Orchestra. He became interested in big band jazz
and was then drawn to smaller groups by listening to
Miles Davis and Wynton Marsalis. His great passion
at the moment is golf, saying it is sociable and good
exercise.
Others in the sextet are Dave Taylor – sax, Robbie
Gerome – trombone, Ivan Garford – piano, Graham
Lake – bass and Mal Ashby – drums.
We used to see Dave play here regularly at the
Club when he lived in Swaffham, but unfortunately
for us he has moved to Hunstanton as he loves the
North Norfolk Coastline. Dave’s best solo of the
evening was in A Foggy Day in London Town when
he went into the stratosphere on sax! Robbie is
another player who has a wide range, covering over
three octaves from the bottom to the top of the
instrument. Appropriately, he demonstrated this in
a number called Just Squeeze Me. I also liked his use
of the ‘wah-wah’ hand-held mute when it sounds as
though he’s speaking through the instrument.
In Fly Me to the Moon the bass and drums swapped
‘fours’ which is something I have never heard before.
Ivan’s playing, unlike most modern jazz pianists, is
pleasantly melodic. He appears to prefer concord to
discord.
Next up: Tuesday 14 December at 7.30 at Swaffham
Conservative Club, London Street, PE37 7DD.
Lee Vasey Jazz Jamband with guests: Stella Goody -
vocals, Pete Oxborough - sax and clarinet, and Simon
Nelson – trumpet. £10 (cash) on the door
No sessions Jan or Feb. Back on Tuesday 8 March
2022 with Simon Nelson’s own band, DixieMix.
Wrought Iron and Brass Bed Co.
The Wrought Iron and Brass Bed Co has a stunning
showroom, right here in Swaffham. Somewhat of a
‘hidden gem’, nestled in one of the business units
on Turbine Way, the showroom is modern, light and
spacious with a calm and tranquil ambience.
Viewings are by appointment only, with appointments
lasting 90 minutes. This allows customers to feel
relaxed and truly looked after. Emphasis is always on
making personal connections with customers and
ensuring they feel valued.
There are a wide number of bed styles available, and
beds can be customised for something completely
one of a kind. Mattresses, bedding and other
complimentary accessories are also available,
making the showroom a one stop shop for all
bedroom needs.
Managing director, Harry, is truly passionate about
the county of Norfolk, dividing his time between
the Swaffham showroom and the factory on the
Sandringham Estate, where all the beds are lovingly
handcrafted. The business is a family affair, and this
is reflected in the way it offers such a personal and
caring service.
Another passion of the company is being as eco
friendly as possible. They are the only carbon neutral
iron and brass bed manufacturer in the country, and
they ensure any businesses they collaborate with
share the same environmental ethos.
The full range can be viewed on the website
www.wroughtironandbrassbed.co.uk. To book a
showroom appointment call 01485 542516.

9
Beauty @ the Barn
Come and explore the wide
range of treatments and
therapies available.
Beauty treatments are offered
on an exclusive one to one
basis within a private salon.
Set within the grounds of an
18th century barn in Swaffham,
the relaxing salon boasts a unique,
contemporary environment.
At Beauty @ the Barn you leave your
cares and worries at the door and
embrace a time when you can focus
on your well-being and enjoy the full
pampering experience.
To book your appointment call or text
or email eileen.childs@ymail.com
Find us on Facebook: Beauty-at-the-barn
Treatments offered by Eileen
Childs PhD, MGNT, MGBT
over 30 years experience in weight
loss counselling
Beauty Treatments:
Facials
Waxing
Manicures
Extensions
07971 011087
Tinting
Pedicure
Gel Nails
Gift
Vouchers
Available
01760 336029
Ashill, Holme Hale & District Garden Club
Website: ashillgardeningclub.wordpress.com/
Email: ashillholmehalegardenclub@gmail.com
Hodmedods: Saving Norfolk’s Hedgehogs
Our October meeting was all about Hodmedods. For
many of the 62 members at the meeting this was a
new word in their vocabulary. Hodmedod is a word
from East-Anglian dialect which in Norfolk means
‘Hedgehog’, while in Suffolk usually means Snail. A
literal translation means a small round structure, just
like a hedgehog when they are in protection mode.
After many years of decline of the Hedgehog population,
in 2020 they were listed as a species vulnerable to
extinction, highlighting the alarming drop in numbers.
In the 1950’s there were estimated to be 30 million
hedgehogs in the UK, today there are only around 1
million hedgehogs. Interestingly, their decline has been
greater in rural areas than in urban areas, which is
thought to be related to intensive agricultural practices
and increased use of chemicals in farming. The
‘Hodmedods’ charity not only help look after injured
and orphaned hedgehogs but also provide educational
talks on how to help Norfolk’s hedgehogs survive.
Angie Marshall of the Hedgehog charity ‘Hodmedods’
whose mission is ‘Saving Norfolk’s Hedgehogs’ gave an
entertaining and informative presentation on how we
can help Norfolk’s Hedgehog population.
Our speaker, Angie Marshall, provided practical advice
on how all owners of gardens can take practical steps to
help our hedgehogs thrive.
Our next monthly meeting is on Thursday November
25th at 2.30pm when Brenda Tubbs, of Great Ellingham
& District Flower Club will demonstrate several
Christmas Flower arrangements under the theme of
‘Especially For You’. The Club will hold its Chrismas Party
on Thursday December 9th, starting at 2pm. Our
January monthly meeting will be held on Thursday
January 27th when Chelsea & Hampton Court Medal
winning garden designer Chris Deakin will talk about
“Designs for your Garden”.
All meetings are held at Holme Hale Pavilion. New
members from anywhere in the district are always
welcome, so come along and join us at one of our
monthly meetings.
Royal British Legion
It’s been a very hectic month as we’ve
had to become used to organising the
Poppy Appeal again. When we were in lockdown we
forgot how to do things, well I did!
We have had two very successful weeks with poppies
in many local smaller shops as well as Tesco and
Waitrose. This year for the first time we were able to
take cards, which certainly proved popular as people
don’t always carry cash.
On 6th November we held a Street Collection and
also that morning Senor Momento sang under the
Butter Cross to raise funds for the Poppy Appeal.
On Armistice Day many gathered at the War
Memorial, including children from the Sacred Heart
School. The Last Post and Reveille were sounded
by an unknown gentleman to whom we offer our
thanks.
At the Parish Church that evening there was a
Concert to celebrate 100years of the Royal British
Legion. The Concert was very well attended and
dignitaries included the Deputy Lord-Lieutenant
of Norfolk, Nicholas Pratt, Swaffham Town Mayor
Judy Anscombe and Baroness Gillian Shepard.
Entertainment was provided by the Phoenix Singers
conducted by Su Gattusso, Senor Momento(Ian
Clews)with poems and readings read by Swaffham
Rangers and Swaffham Players. The evening ended
with a slice of Centenary cake and glass of Prosecco.
Over £300 was donated to the Poppy Appeal and I
would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone
for the part they played.
The Remembrance Day Parade and wreath laying
ceremony at the War Memorial followed by the
Church Service was very well attended by local
dignitaries and
organisations. The
Mayor, Mrs Judy
Anscombe, laid the
first wreath on behalf
of the people of
Swaffham. The Royal
British Legion were
pleased that the youth
organisations were
well represented. The
Parade was led by
the Fakenham Town
Band and included
personnel from the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force
both from RAF Marham.
Anne Thorp
Poppy Appeal Organiser
Swaffham RBL

Swaffham Stitchers
Christmas Craft Sales in aid of Target Ovarian Cancer
Don’t miss the opportunity to buy unique gifts for
family or friends this Christmas, knowing that the
money you spend will help save lives.
Members of the Swaffham based craft groups
Iceni Stitchers and Stitch, Mardle and Mend,
have joined with Beachamwell Quilting Group, to
donate a wonderful range of hand-made items, to
raise money for the charity Target Ovarian Cancer.
There will be quilts, cushions, dolls, bags, lavender
bags, pincushions, knitted hats, baby blankets, tiny
teddies, mittens … and much, much more. Gifts in
many colours, shapes, sizes and prices.
You can find our items for sale at the following
events:
• Rotary Christmas Fair Assembly Rooms Saturday
27th November 9am – 2pm
• Swaffham Market Saturday 18th December –
regular market hours
“We have been amazed by the generosity of all the
people who have made us so many beautiful things
for you to buy this Christmas. We will accept cash
or cheque payments and look forward to seeing
you on one of those dates!” (Leah and Irma)
Contact: Leah Spencer leah@wissey.co.uk or
telephone 01362 681896
10
Community Hospital L Of F's
Nothing further at the moment re. discussion
with the Trust about the use of the existing rear
conservatory. The latest proposal is to convert it for
use as a dedicated therapy area which can be utilised
as a facility to help prepare patients for their return
to home. Another idea is to improve the kitchen
facilities in the main day room. Finally, we would
like to explore with the staff how we might improve
their environment in their staff/rest room. We have
continued to provide some “goodies” for staff to
help keep up morale.
As Christmas approaches I would like to 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 money collected will go towards Christmas
presents for the in-patients.
We have been maintaining and improving the garden
so as to keep it as attractive as possible. It is looking
really good and thanks to our volunteers who keep
it so.
On Sat 27th Nov we had a stall at the Rotary Charity
Fair which enabled us to advertise what we do and
sell some of our charity Christmas cards. We do have
more cards and if you would like to support us in
this way they are on sale at the Hospital Reception
or from myself on the number below.
Re Christmas itself we have been advised that we
cannot do internal decorations. We will certainly be
decorating the garden area. You may know that it
has been our tradition to supply Christmas presents
(on Christmas morning) to all the in-patients. We
will be continuing this year and also providing some
Christmas treats for the staff too.
To help with fundraising, does anyone have a special
interest or hobby or specialist knowledge on a subject
that they think might interest others? If so,why not
give me a ring to see whether there might be interest
in holding an event based around it.
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's not too onerous, so why not give us a try?
Colin Houghton (Chairman)
01760 336025
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
1:58/2:45
WITH A LITTLE HELP FROM MY FRIE
With a little help
from my friends
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.
And hearing their laughter is music to our ears.
www.castlemeadowcare.co.uk
With a little help
RESIDENTIAL CARE | DEMENTIA CARE |
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
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

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MUSEUM
MATTERS
www.swaffhammuseum.co.uk
Wishing everyone a Happy Christmas
Many thanks for your support of the museum, the
shop, the Tourist Info and the pre-loved books.
Also for your many enquiries on local places and
people which we enjoy attempting to answer –
sometimes successfully!
The museum itself will be closed from 20th
December until 11th February but the shop and
Tourist Information will be open at certain times.
Please visit our website or see the big screen in the
museum window for details.
We have previously featured the glimpse wall and
the baby coffins created for the Carter Gallery by the
Men’s Shed. Now two more crafted replicas are being
made for us. Take apart pyramids for visitors to put
together and John Tritten’s replica of Tut’s tomb. He
has even crafted the 16 steps which lead down to the
tomb itself.
Conflict and Consequences
You may remember that because of COVID we were
given permission by the Lottery Fund to morph our
project of a World War II Remembrance Trail into a
Conflict and Consequences project.
The first part of this is now free to view on our
website. It will shortly be followed by an interactive
presentation of memories of World War II which
was originally destined for the 2020 VE celebrations.
It has recently been helping Year 1 at Heartwood
Primary School with
their World War II
project.
This project is still open
and will remain so for
some time as years
pass and memories
are stirred.
The Covid Quilt is still
enjoying a Winter
national tour
Friends of Swaffham Heritage
We are now in the process of up-dating our membership
database in a way that will enable us more easily to
contact and communicate with our members directly,
either by email or by post. Until we have this in place it
is rather difficult to start organising fundraising events,
which depend on the support of the members, and
therefore the need to contact our members directly
rather than relying on either the Swaffham Newsletter,
social media, or word of mouth.
This coming year we have decided that instead of
organising our own events, we would support events
organised by the Swaffham Heritage and the Town
Council, as this coming year is the centenary year
of the discovery by Howard Carter of the tomb of
Tutankhamun, being celebrated in Swaffham as Carter
2022.
To join the Friends of Swaffham Heritage contact the
Friends of Swaffham Heritage Secretary by email
friendsofswaffhamheritage@yahoo.com, or see our
webpage, http://www.swaffhammuseum.co.uk/
community/swaffham-museum-12715/friends-ofmuseum/
or call in to the Museum.
The membership fee to join the Friends is a one-off
Life membership fee of £10 for an individual or £15 for
a family (two adults and two children under 16 years
of age living at the same address). This gives you free
access to all the museum galleries for life.
The 100 Club
The 100 Club is a steady contributor of funds for
Swaffham Heritage, run exclusively by the Friends of
Swaffham Heritage for its members.
Winners for October: Winners for November:
• £40 – no 2126 • £40 – no 2181
• £20 – no 2104 • £20 – no 2102
• £10 – no 2187 • £10 – no 2141
You will have noted that the numbers are now a bit
different. Numbers are allocated anew each year,
commencing in October, with the first two digits
indicating the year the new session commenced. So
the current numbers from October 2021 will last until
September next year. This avoids some confusion in the
past, when new numbers have been issued and some
participants have not realised their number is out of
date. There are still numbers available in the 100 Club
for the present year that commenced in October. A
share in the 100 Club costs £20 a year, for which you get
to participate in the monthly draw, which has prizes of
£40, £20 and £10, and also twice a year a special prize
of £100. If you join the Club part way through the year,
you will only pay for, and be entered for the remaining
quarters of the year eg if you join in January you would
pay £15.
For further information contact the Friends
of Swaffham Heritage Secretary by email
friendsofswaffhamheritage@yahoo.com, or see our
webpage, http://www.swaffhammuseum.co.uk/
community/swaffham-museum-12715/friends-ofmuseum/
or call in to the Museum.
13

Swaffham & District Lions
Swaffham Lions held their annual Sight
First awareness day in the Market
Place supported by Vision Norfolk. Lions
International have a major focus on vision
and support eye hospitals around the world as well
as giving grants for eye related disease. Swaffham
Lions have worked with the Guide Dogs over the years
raising their profile as well as fund raising. Swaffham
Lions have collected over 100,000 spectacles over the
years which have been sent to developing countries.
.
Swaffham & District Camera Club
Pickenhams WI
The Club's The second Club's October second meeting October was meeting dedicated was to hints and tips on how We to held record our Annual images Meeting of on 9th
The dedicated competition evening in to August hints was for
various scenario's.
and
The
tips
meeting
on how
was
to record
led by
images
the clubs training officer David
November,
Spain, who
when
showed
our
and
Committee
images in the following two categories "
ofvarious scenarios. The meeting was led by the clubs
members and our President, Carolyn,
Summer " and "Open". In a well supported
and discussed training
high scoring evening
officer many the following
David of images the Spain, images who showed taken and throughout discussed his career were as a professional re-elected for photographer. 2022. We had At an the interesting
By Alan Peggs, "Valley Gardens" and "Gannet
and First many Chick", were November of worthy the winners, images with meeting taken members throughout presented his career printed as images speaker, of both Stephanie open and Israel, timepiece with her themed Therapy Dog
Stephen Wards "Dales Valley" and Trevor
Vincent's a professional "Brown Hawker" coming close
images, discussing photographer. the difficulties At the encountered first November and the techniques (Magnus used - a Kerry to overcome Blue Terrier), them. who We has been
second their respective categories.
meeting members presented printed images of both trained to watch Stephanie all the time, can read 3
Well show done Alan, below for again sweeping a few the board examples.
with open your stunning and images. timepiece We reproduce the themed images, discussing the words and has a gold badge for responding to the
Images placed in first and second positions
for all
difficulties
to enjoy :-
encountered and the techniques used to command 'STOP'!
overcome them. We show below a few examples.
Also in November, some of us met for coffee
As part . of the day, Swaffham’s Mayor Judy Anscombe
at Margaret's Tea Rooms in Swaffham. On 20th
volunteered to walk around the town blindfold with
Diane Stewart from Vision Norfolk acting as a guide.
November we raised money for the Church Ceiling
Following
The Club's
the walk
second
Judy
October
wrote to
meeting
the Lions
was
with
dedicated
her
to hints and tips on how to record images of
Repair Fund by running a tombola and stalls at the
After a long enforced break the club
thoughts: various scenario's. The meeting was . led by the clubs training officer David Spain, who showed and Christmas Fayre at the Pickenham Hub.
resumes normal meetings on the 1st
September, in the Churchill Room, at The
"Thank you to the Swaffham Lions who invited me to
Future events:
Swaffham and District Conservative Club with
discussed many of the images taken The Club's throughout second October his meeting career was as dedicated a professional to hints and tips photographer. on how record images At the of
an externally judged Print evening with
take part in this morning’s Guide Dogs Event, it was a
• Saturday 4th December at 2.00pm we are going
various scenario's. The meeting was led by the clubs training images officer from David our recent Spain, trip to our who training showed and
officer David Spain's magnificent five acre
very First thought-provoking November meeting experience. members presented printed images of both open and timepiece themed
discussed many of the images taken throughout his career as a professional photographer. At the
to be entertained in St Andrew's church, North
gardens. and other "in the garden" images,
My walk images, gave discussing me a first-hand the difficulties experience First of encountered 3 November different meeting and members the techniques presented printed used images to Pickenham, by the Village Green Ukulele Society
plus of of both overcome course open the popular and "Open" timepiece them. category. themed We
There will also be a short electoral session
eye conditions and demonstrated how daily images, life can discussing be the difficulties encountered and the techniques used to overcome them. We
within the meeting. We look forward to
show below a few examples.
Band with a Christmas Carol Concert. Donations will
greeting Members, Re-joiners and new
affected by the challenges they bring.
show below a few examples.
go towards the Church Ceiling Repair Fund.
potential members at this and future
My guide, Diane from Vision Norfolk, took me around "Time to Flower" by Alan meetings. Peggs
• Tuesday 14th December we will have our
The club caters for, and assists photographers
the Market Place and the obstacles as they presented
Christmas Party at 12.00pm at the Pickenham Hub,
of all abilities. For further information please
themselves, such as A Boards and inconsiderately "Time to Flower" by Alan contact Peggs us by e-mail at
"Internal with a 'bring Workings" and share' by Susi lunch Hancock and entertainment.
richardludlow@compuserve.com
parked vehicles. Then wearing a blindfold, we visited
• Saturday 18th December - Concert by Jack
the Indoor Market, where one’s hearing and smell
"Inside and Out, the Clock at Flaunden" Clarkson by Richard in the Assembly Ludlow Rooms, Swaffham - arrive
comes to the forefront within the buzz of activity.
at 7.00pm for 7.30pm start; £7.50 a ticket, free
For a short time, it was an illustration of the difficulties
drink on arrival. Refreshments in the interval.
experienced by the visually impaired in the community."
Swaffham WI
At our last meeting at 2.30pm
on Wednesday 3rd November at
Swaffham Community Centre we
held our A.G.M.
All members were present plus a few visitors.
Our President, Pauline Senton, discussed the past
events we have obviously had to change due to
‘Lockdown’ but are now fortunately possible to be
resolved. Also details of future meetings & outings
members can now attend. Votes were then taken
on Committee members who were prepared to
continue & the two new ones needed. Pauline was
voted to continue as President & thankfully for us
all she agreed.
We also had a table with lovely ‘Knit & Natter’
handmade items for sale, many ideal for Christmas
present or decorations.
"Time to Flower" by Alan Peggs
"Internal Workings" by Susi Hancock
"Inside and Out, the Clock at Flaunden" by Richard Ludlow
"Internal Workings" by Susi Hancock
"Inside and
"Time to Flower" by Alan Peggs
Out, the Clock
"Internal Workings" by Susi Hancock at Flaunden"
by Richard
"Inside and Out, the Clock at Flaunden" by Richard Ludlow Ludlow
The club's
Swaffham Lions Pudsey, payed a visit to the Community
calendar year
Centre to see the children from the Nursery and the
draws to a
Community Fridge. Lots of cakes were made by the The close clubs with calendar the penultimate year draws meeting to a close where with Colin the s pen ultimate meeting where Colin Hussey an
Iceni staff for sale, over £60 was collected
The
during
clubs calendar
the
year draws Hussey to a close an with expert the s pen from ultimate Permajet, meeting where will Colin demonstrate
Hussey an
visit all in aid of Children in Need.
expert from Permajet, will demonstrate the different photographic papers his company produces
expert from Permajet, will the demonstrate different the different photographic papers his company his company produces
by reprinting a selection of by
produces
club reprinting members
by
images
reprinting
a selection order that
a selection
of comparisons club members
of
can
club made.
members
images The in order that comparisons can be made. The
Ultimate meeting on the 1st December will see club members enjoying a festive meal.
Ultimate images in meeting order that on comparisons the 1st December can made. will see The club members enjoying a festive meal.
The Club's First meeting of final the New meeting year will be on held the on the 1st 19th December January 2022 with will the see theme club of
the evening being "What's The in members my Club's Camera enjoying First Bag?" meeting a festive of meal. the New year will be held on the • 19th Friday January 24th December 2022 with - the Christingle theme of Service at
The club caters for, and assists the The evening photographers Club's First being of meeting all abilities. "What's of For the further in New my information Camera Year will please Bag?" be contact held 3.00pm on Christmas Eve in North Pickenham
us by e-mail at richardludlow@compuserve.com
on the 19th January 2022 with the theme of the church. All welcome.
The evening club being caters "What's for, and in assists my Camera photographers Bag?" of all abilities. If For anyone further would information like more please information, contact please
The club caters for, and assists photographers of all contact: Carolyn Vincent, President of The
us by e-mail at richardludlow@compuserve.com
abilities. For further information please contact us Pickenhams' WI on 01760 755089 or Melanie
The clubs calendar year draws to a close with the s by pen e-mail ultimate richardludlow@compuserve.com
meeting where Colin Hussey an
Cousins, Secretary, on 01760 440456.
expert from Permajet, will demonstrate the different photographic papers his company produces
14
15
After the AGM a very amusing ‘Handbag contents’
competition was held. Many Members were
prepared for this so many unusual items came to
light and prizes were given. Five November Birthday
cards and little presents were also given out.
The next meeting will be on Wednesday 1st
December for a booked Christmas lunch at The
George Hotel in Swaffham. On January Wednesday
5th we will have a ‘Bring & Buy’ sale which might
include any unwanted Christmas gifts.
If anyone would like more information please
contact Pauline Senton President of Swaffham W.I.
on 01760 788046 or Christiane Hewitson Secretary
on 01336 328128.

Even ironing!
Tracy: 01362 820 966
Caroline: 01953 882 154
Mobile: 07927 161 201
Swaffham
Branch
01760
725801
http://www.family-action.org.uk
familyactionswaffham
building better families
Merle Boddy Day Centre
The Merle Boddy Day Centre provides a
warm and friendly Social Day Care Service
for people living with mental health
problems, including dementia and other disabilities,
in Swaffham and the surrounding area.
We are so fortunate to have so many supporters
raising funds for us to make a difference in the lives
of a lot of people in and around Swaffham living with
mental health issues and, of course, of their carers.
An update on our report last month of the Swaffham
Lions raising money for us at a coffee morning in
October; Lion Pam Tallon, who organised the event,
and Lion President, Tony Lakey, came round to the
Centre to hand over a ‘big’ cheque to Georgie and
Steph. The sum they raised was an amazing £1150.
Also, during October, Swaffham Bingo at the Connie
donated £500 to us. A big thank you to Linda Powley
and all at the Bingo club.
At Beachamwell Village Hall, a Charity Stash Sale was
held on 25th October, with Merle Boddy Centre being
one of two charities to receive a donation from the
proceeds.
By the time you are reading this ‘the Men of Steel’,
Stephen Ward, Andrew Stephen and David Impey,
all Members of Rotary Club of Swaffham, will have
completed the Norfolk 3 Peak Challenge during the
weekend of 20th/21st November. They set up a
JustGiving page where you can donate to help them
raise money for the Centre https://www.justgiving.
com/fundraising/norfolk3peakchallenge.
Please take a look. And well done guys, you’re fab!
Meanwhile, at the Centre in October we were
preparing our own commemoration for Remembrance
Day. Many of our clients were children or young
people during the Second World War, so for them it
has particular resonance.
If you are interested in our work and would like to be
involved, we are looking for volunteers, particularly
with business experience, to join our management
committee. We always welcome too, volunteers to
help with fund raising.
If you want to know more, find us on Facebook –
@merleboddycentre or see our website - www.
merleboddy.org.uk or call the Centre on 01760
724527. Also you will find on our website a fundraising
page, where you can click on the link to donate.
17
Rotary
5
CELEBRATING President’s Corner
Swaffham Sticking with the logic I outlined
last month, I start with an
invitation to the “early” readers of the Newsletter, that
is those who pick up a copy on publication day, to visit
our Charities Fayre in The Assembly Rooms on Saturday
27th November from 9:30 onwards. We are expecting
over twenty local charities and voluntary bodies to
have stalls. This year, perhaps more than ever, they
need your support.
I think this is the thirteenth year we have arranged
the Fayre since we stepped in when the Ladies Circle
disbanded. We have continued to organise it on much
the same lines as they had done. Apart from providing
the “shop window” for these voluntary bodies and
charities, we reckon each Fayre helps them raise in
total around £2,000 to spend on local projects. Let’s
make it a “lucky thirteen” and help each of them to
have a bumper day.
We were certainly pleased with the support our Art
Exhibition at the end of October enjoyed. Art works
with a total value of over £6,000 were purchased over
the weekend. Given all the uncertainties we faced
when we started planning the event many months ago,
we were delighted with the support we received from
exhibitors, visitors and purchasers.
Looking forward well into 2022, I am delighted that
our District Rotary Youth Leadership Award (RYLA)
course is being held from Saturday 27th August to
Saturday 3rd September at the Grafham Water Centre.
The week-long residential
course is designed to take
the delegates out of their
individual comfort zones, to recognise and to develop
them as individuals and team leaders. Each day finishes
with an individual and team review.
RYLA gives young people the opportunity to expand
their horizons by developing leadership skills, increasing
self-confidence, in addition to obtaining new skills and
developing old ones, and returning a young person
with enhanced attributes to benefit their current or
future employer. Participants learn to work effectively
as part of a team, discover the benefits of delegation,
discover unexplored individual skills and work to tight
deadlines. It specifically caters for male and female
candidates in the age range 18-26 years from a variety
of backgrounds. The majority are either employed, in
the education system or in a formal placement in the
voluntary sector.
We are always looking for candidates to sponsor. Would
you, or anyone you know, benefit from attending? To
find out more by visit YouTube: https://www.youtube.
com/watch?v=_8FvZWK-fdY
If you want to find out any more about our Club, please
visit our website: swaffhamrotary.org.uk.
There is also a link where you can send me message.
John Wallace
YEARS

Walking Rugby…Fakenham RFC
An enthusiastic band of players continue to play each
Wednesday evening (6.45 til 8pm), with numbers
swelling since ‘Lockdown’ ended. However, the
‘Welcome ‘ mat is always open to anyone wishing to
try the game. Primarily for those over 50, it is not as
pedestrian as it may sound and has been likened to
‘a slightly slower form of Touch Rugby’. There is little
contact between players with the emphasis being on
tactics rather than muscle, making it ideal exercise for
those with no experience of any form of rugby, as well
as former players who are looking to maintain fitness
and also some form of contact with their old sport.
Having started the ‘Walking rugby’ section, Jeffrey is
still one of the leading lights and can be contacted on
07766 597922….he will be very pleased to take your
call and have a chat with you about the game, in the
hope that you will come along and have a ‘go’.
The social side is also flourishing, with a Christmas
party already organised and the bar is open most
evenings after play.
You can be sure everyone is welcome, regardless
of ability, experience, fitness level, etc and recent
converts have produced several new female members
so that the sexes are almost equally represented.Why
don’t you give it a ‘Try’?
Swaffham Climate Action Group
As I write we are in the second week of
the COP26, United Nations International
Conference on Climate Change in Glasgow.
You will have seen in the news that there have been
some positive outcomes so far, for instance 100
countries committing to end deforestation by 2030
and over 100 pledging a 30% reduction in methane
emissions (a very potent greenhouse gas).
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. Monthly meetings are currently on
the second Thursday of each month 10am in the
Methodist Church, please come along if you would
like to take part. If you are not able attend, you are
still most welcome to join the group, contribute
with suggestions and receive all meeting notes and
information.
Swaffham Men's Shed
Things are happening down at Swaffham Men’s Shed!
Work has started on the new shed generously donated
by Nick Crane of Crane’s Garden Buildings.
His groundworks team came and laid the foundation
for the building on 19th
October and came back
on November 10th to
complete the work. The
help and support from
Nick and his people has
been amazing. A grant
from The National Lottery
Awards for All England
has made it possible for
the disabled access ramp
to be constructed. The
next stage is delivery of
the wood and other materials which will be stored in
a secure container whilst the sections of the shed are
constructed, painted and then finally the 18sqm shed
can be put together.
Many thanks to Willbox of Norwich who are supplying
the container. They have been very supportive and
generous in their dealings with Swaffham Men’s Shed
and are supplying a container exactly at the time we
require it. Couldn’t ask for more.
Our thanks also go to Neil Chapman, electrician, and
his apprentice, Tristan, who have been busy installing
new electrics to the existing and new sheds. Also, not
forgetting the Rugby Club who continue with their
ongoing generous support in allowing us to use the
space for the new and existing buildings.
We are also busy gearing up for the Christmas Market
on 5th December. Come and see us and bring your
children to decorate a Christmas tree ornament and
maybe purchase one of our hand made wooden items.
We are also extremely grateful to the Co-op Local
Community Fund which has chosen Swaffham Men’s
Shed for the funding round which commenced on
22nd October and runs until 24th October 2022. So if
you are not a member please join and select us as your
charity of choice – we will then receive 1p for every
penny you spend during that period!
Come down and join us at Swaffham Rugby Club and get
involved – make stuff, take part in community projects,
or just come and have a chat and a cuppa! Contact
James Allen on info@swaffhammensshed.co.uk or
telephone on 07395028399. We currently meet on
Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9.30am to 11.30am and
Thursday evenings 7.30pm to 9.30pm. Tuesdays and
Thursdays tend to be woodwork oriented but Thursday
evenings some members play chess, others do model
figure painting, and we are always open to new ideas
and suggestions. We intend to extend the number of
days we open and will give details through Facebook
and the Swaffham Newsletter.
Swaffham WEA
We ran only one long course at the
Community Centre this term, “Norse
Mythology” on Monday evening, using a hybrid
technique with the tutor on screen and students in the
room, employing all the best of current technology.
In January we intend to run two courses again, on
Monday evening and Friday morning. The advantage
of courses on screen means that we have access to
tutors who would not normally travel here week
by week because of the distance from home to
Swaffham.
Back in autumn 2018 we ran a Day School on Imperial
China where the tutor was David Prynn, a man with
encyclopaedic knowledge of the country and its
history. Starting on Monday January 10th 2022 David
Prynn will be teaching a 10 week course, using the
hybrid system, on “Commissars: China in the 20th
Century”, ref no C2228266. Each session will run from
7pm to 8.30pm. There will be a break for half term on
February 14th, and the course ends on March 21st.
The cost of this course will be £59.25.
We will also be running a Friday morning course:
Marina Burrell on “Russian Life and Culture during
the Cold War”, ref no C2228267. Marina taught a
course on “The Soul of Russian Music” using Zoom
last spring which was most enjoyable. As a native
Russian, Marina brings her first-hand experience
to her teaching. Also a hybrid, the 10 week course
will start on Friday January 14th at 10am, and each
session will run for two hours with a break in the
middle. Half term will be on February 18th and the
last session is on March 25th. The cost of this course
will be £79.
It feels as if there is a bit of a theme as both courses
reflect on the recent past which is now disappearing
into “history”!
You can enrol on these courses either online at wea.
org.uk, or by phone on 0300 303 3464.
Swaffham History Group
Since the Swaffham History Group was formed
some eleven years ago it has brought together a
well diversified group of individuals who amongst
them had the necessary motivational skills in
historical research and information technology.
As a History Group these skills were then collectively
focused on the market town of Swaffham with the
History Group over the years publishing various
historical books and booklets highlighting the
various historical facts and facets of Swaffham.
Currently these comprise of; 'The Book of
Swaffham', Swaffham Crafts, Trades and Professions,
14 Booklets on the
(numerous) Swaffham
Public Houses and
One Booklet on the
Swaffham Brewery.
Also in the range
are four booklets on
Charities and two
books on Swaffham
in the Tudor period
plus one book on the
Georgian period.
In addition there is 'A
Guide to Swaffham's
WW11 Defences',
six books entitled;
Swaffham on Fire,
Walking on Water,
Crime Punishment
and Local Justice,
Post Office Services, The Pedlar of Swaffham and
Whatever the Weather.
All of the above mentioned books are currently
on display and available and can be purchased
at Swaffham Heritage and Ceres Bookshop in
Swaffham.
For further details of the Swaffham History Group
please Phone 01842 879140 or EMail jbaz@goplus.net
18
19

The Magpie Centre
Magpie Centre Bids Goodbye To 2021 & Welcomes 2022
October saw the last of the 2021 Tea With a Pony
sessions at the Magpie Centre, home of West
Norfolk Riding for the Disabled Association, during
which people living with dementia and reduced
mobility and their carers enjoyed tea, cakes and a
chance to meet some of our gentle ponies.
This activity will recommence on April 20, 2022,
and booking can be done through our website or
by calling the Centre on 01553 810202. Cost is £10
per participant, including carer.
We have also launched the first Magpie Centre
calendar, for 2022, featuring full colour pictures of
our horses and the range of activities we offer.
Wissey U3A Line Dancing
Line Dancers raise £155 for BBC’s ‘Children in Need’
Each month offers an A4 sized photo, plus an A4
month/date page, which allows plenty of room to
note appointments and activities.
The calendars, priced at £6.00 (plus £2.99 post
and packing if ordered via our website www.rdawestnorfolk.org.uk
) are also available from West
Winch Post Office, on A10, PE33 0NP; Vets for
Pets, within Pets at Home, Campbells Meadow,
Hardwick Road, Kings Lynn PE30 4YN; Chalk and
Cheese, 1 Eastgate Street, Shouldham, Kings Lynn
PE33 0DD or Prontaprint, 24 St James’ Street,
Kings Lynn PE30 5DA.
The last two years
haven’t been easy
for any of us, and
charities have suffered
more than most, in
terms of reduced
income. However, we
are hugely grateful
for the support
we have received
from all sections
of the community.
Businesses, clubs
and individuals from
all over Norfolk and East Anglia have donated
generously and this has enabled us to maintain
our 14 horses and ponies, and to look forward to
2022 with renewed optimism.
Members of the Wissey U3A Line Dancing group
had been learning and practising a number of
routines since the group was formed in January
2019. In March 2020 they were to host another
line dancing group from Wymondham but this
was cancelled due to Covid restrictions. A number
of dance routines were gradually practised in the
Community Centre to perfection so when lockdown
was eased, group members were keen to show off
their newly acquired skill sets. When ‘Children in
Need’ was back on the agenda, it was agreed to
perform in public to raise some funds. First up
was a display in Swaffham’s Plowright Place, then
it was arranged, by kind permission of Swaffham
Town Council, to repeat the performance at the
Buttercross on Saturday 13th November. A total
of £155 was raised with donations from members
of the general public. The group are grateful for
the support from retailers at Plowright Place,
Saturday’s Market Traders, Market Supervisor
Ruth, Swaffham Town Council and members of the
general public. Many thanks to all concerned.
Ian Clews
Line Dancing Group Leader
20 21
Swaffham Town Council
Tel: 01760 722 922
www.swaffhamtowncouncil.gov.uk
Town Hall opening times:
Town Hall opening times:
Monday to Thursday: 9.30am - 1pm (lunch) 1.30 - 4pm.
Friday: 9.30am - 1pm
reception@swaffhamtowncouncil.gov.uk
Town Council Committee
meeting dates - DECEMBER 2021
• Wed 8th – Full Council – 6.30pm. Town Hall
• Mon 13th – Finance Full Council – 6.30pm. Town Hall
• Tue 14th – Transport, Access & Environment
Committee – 4pm. Town Hall
• Mon 20th – Market , Events & Tourism – 6.30pm.
Town Hall
•Tue 21st - Planning & Built Environment –4pm.
Town Hall
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.

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.
Swaffham High Street Awarded £36,000 For
Cultural Programme
Swaffham Town Council is delighted to have been
awarded a £36,000 grant from Historic England as
part of the Swaffham High Street Heritage Action
Zone (HSHAZ) to create and deliver communityled
cultural activities on the high street over the
next year. Swaffham HSHAZ is one of more than
60 high streets to receive a share of £6 million for
their cultural programme. Over the next year, the
cultural programme activities will centre around
the life and work of Howard Carter, the son of
Swaffham who discovered Tutankhamun’s tomb a
century ago. Activities will include an interactive
drama production celebrating the work of Howard
Carter, created by Year 9 High School pupils and
children from Swaffham primary schools, and
performed within the HSHAZ area. A mosaic of a
pyramid will be created to commemorate Howard
Carter’s work in Egypt and primary school children
will carry out their own archaeological dig. Another
highlight will be a Festival weekend in September.
More information on all events and activities will
be announced through the year.
The programme will be designed and delivered by
the Swaffham Cultural Consortium with ongoing
support from Swaffham Town Council and the
Swaffham HSHAZ team at Breckland District
Council.
This is part of the four-year-long High Street
Heritage Action Zone’s Cultural Programme, led by
Historic England, in partnership with Arts Council
England and the National Lottery Heritage Fund.
The Cultural Programme aims to make our high
streets more attractive, engaging and vibrant places
for people to live, work and spend time.
Tony Calladine, Regional Director for Historic
England in the East of England said:
“The high street cultural programme is a step
change in the way we think about bringing high
streets back from the brink. As we start to see these
important historic spaces become regenerated
through building work, it is the community-led
cultural work that helps people to enjoy their high
street again and also have a say in what the future
of their high street might be.”
Judy Anscombe, Mayor of Swaffham said:
“Swaffham Town Council are pleased to receive
this grant from Historic England and look forward
to working with Swaffham Cultural Consortium
and its partners in delivering this exciting
programme. The generous support from Historic
England will allow us to engage with the many
organisations and our growing community in
a Cultural Programme until March 2024, which
will commence with events in 2022 to celebrate
the centenary of Howard Carter on discovering
Tutankhamun’s tomb. From the many activities
and events planned, the Cultural Programme’s
legacy, will be to gain new skills and friendships
across all age groups and to highlight the heritage
of the Market Place as a tourist base.”
Christmas Market Weekend
A Christmas market, ice skating and live nativity is
set to entertain families at the annual Christmas
event in Swaffham, which promises to be bigger
and better this year. Swaffham’s Christmas light
switch-on is a festive event which attracts families
from across the county.
The Christmas Market Weekend will be held on
the weekend of December 4th and 5th and the
official light switch-on will take place at 5pm on
the Sunday. Kicking off on the Saturday, families
will have the opportunity to ice skate or attend the
town’s usual market. On the Saturday evening we
have Live music in the Town Centre with the Little
Mix Tribute Band LMX and a Food Market.
You can buy a ticket in our Christmas Raffle; first
prize is £200. Tickets available from the Town Hall,
on the Town Council Market stall in the Saturday’s
leading into the event and of course on the Town
Council stand on the Saturday or Sunday, which will
be located near the Ice Rink.
Get your Skates on...you can BOOK online
Something new this year - an artificial Ice rink for
the event
• Saturday 4th Dec - half hours slots from 4pm to
9pm (last booking taken for 8.30pm)
• Sunday 5th Dec - half hour slots from 12noon to
6pm (last booking taken for 5.30pm)
Cost is £5.00 per person per half hour slot.
• Skating time is approx. 20 mins, to allow for
putting on and taking off the skates.
• There are 25 places available for each half hour
slot.
You can book a slot in advance via Ticketsource:
please note there is a small fee of 42p payable to
Ticketsource for this.
You can also pay on the day however you may be
restricted on timings and available slots so booking
in advance is recommended.
The ice rink will be situated on the planned road
closure - west side of the market place.
Tickets will be available to pre-book up to Friday
3rd Dec, thereafter it will be payment only on the
day, subject to availability.
Santa’s Grotto…. You can BOOK online
He's Back...Santa Claus is coming to town
Santa's Grotto will be in the Assembly Rooms on
Sunday 5th Dec from 11am to 6pm.
Cost is £3.50 per child which includes a small gift.
To avoid queues, make sure everyone gets to see
Santa we are encouraging everyone to pre-book.
There are 15 places available, every 15 mins (the
last booking is for 5.45pm). You can book a slot in
advance via Ticketsource: please note there is a
small fee of 29p payable to Ticketsource for this.
You can also pay on the day however you may be
restricted on timings and available slots so booking
in advance is really recommended.
Tickets will be available to pre-book up to Friday
3rd Dec, thereafter it will be payment only on the
day, subject to availability.
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
The Town Council
Mayor - Cllr Judy Anscombe
CllrAnscombe.SwaffhamTC@gmail.com
Deputy Mayor - Cllr Stewart Bell
CllrBell.SwaffhamTC@gmail.com
Cllr. Lindsay Beech
CllrBeech.SwaffhamTC@gmail.com
Cllr. Nayna Bass
CllrBass.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. Colin Houghton
CllrHoughton.SwaffhamTC@gmail.com
Cllr. Shirley Matthews
CllrMatthews.SwaffhamTC@gmail.com
Cllr. Kurt Oliver
CllrOliver.SwaffhamTC@gmail.com
Cllr. Ian Pilcher
CllrPilcher.SwaffhamTC@gmail.com
Cllr. Les Scott
CllrScott.SwaffhamTC@gmail.com
Cllr. Jill Skinner
CllrSkinner.SwaffhamTC@gmail.com
Officers:
Richard Bishop – Town Clerk
townclerk@swaffhamtowncouncil.gov.uk
Claire Smith – Deputy Town Clerk
deputyclerk@swaffhamtowncouncil.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
22
23

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