Local Lynx No.151 August/September 2023

More documents

Info

some counties. If you would like to see these wonderful butterflies, a visit to Foxley Woods in July should be rewarding. A pair of binoculars is advisable to scan the upper leaves of trees where the males sit for long periods. I have found the main ride through the woods to be the best place. Take a butterfly identity chart or book as it is possible, in one morning, to see eighteen species of butterfly, including the Silver-washed Fritillary, Purple Hairstreak and White Admiral as well as several species of dragonfly. During the hottest weeks of July in 2022 there were several sightings of Purple Emperor in North Norfolk: in Sheringham Park, Swanton Novers and in my own garden where one flew in, circled and landed in the Silver Birch for a few minutes before gliding away. Happily, I managed to photograph this wonderful creature, a reminder that you never know what you might come across in nature, even in your own garden. Paul Laurie BALE VILLAGE HALL NEWS We have some important dates for your diaries for forthcoming events at the village hall so be sure to make notes as you read on. This year’s barbecue during the August Bank Holiday weekend differs slightly from the normal event in two ways: firstly, it will take place on Sunday 27 th August (rather than the usual Saturday) at 6pm and, secondly, it will be a free event for Bale residents to celebrate the village hall’s centenary. Of course, non-residents will be welcome but there will be a charge of £15 per ticket for any ‘out-oftowners’. Contributions of raffle prizes would be appreciated. Bring your own drinks. The Harvest Supper is on Saturday 30 th September at 7pm when we will be providing a two-course meal for the very reasonable sum of £12. Again, this will be a ‘bring your own drinks’ evening as the kitchen/bar will be in use for catering. If you are able to spare some groceries to contribute to the Fakenham Food Bank as a harvest offering, please bring them along. The generosity of all the Harvest Supper guests last year was most heart-warming. Finally, in the ‘special events’ category, there will be a return of the hotly-contested Bale Quiz Night on Saturday 4 th November at 7.30pm. Book as a team (8 maximum) or as an individual (you can join a group on the evening). Light snacks will be available in the interval and the bar will be open for beer, wine, gin and soft drinks. Tickets are £7. Interest in the event has already been expressed by nearby villages, so let’s show the ‘neighbours’ what Bale can do! To book any of the above events, use Bale Village WhatsApp, call/text 07793 214703 or email balevillagehall@gmail.com. We will, of course, be continuing with our Fish and Chips nights on Fridays 11 th August & 8 th September at 7pm (orders by 6pm to Bale Village WhatsApp or 01328 878355) and the Bale Oak Bar which will be open on Fridays 25 th August and 22 nd September, 6.30-9.30pm. PM BALE BOOK GROUP This is Happiness by Niall Williams This was quite different from the type of books we had read recently and was selected partly because of my fondness for the Irish style of writing and turn of phrase. It tells of events in the fictional village of Faha in County Clare, the year that electricity was installed. This particular year, 1958, was also significant in that the weather changed. Chapter 1 is comprised of one sentence: ‘It had stopped raining.’ The author then tells us, in great detail, about the usual persistence of the rain in the village, the varying types and effects. This seemingly endless description of the rain sets the tone for the book in many ways, in that the reader is obliged to leave the pace of 21 st century life for the duration and relax back into the time, place, events and characters related by an elderly Noel, looking back to the summer when he was seventeen. Noel was visiting his grandparents after suffering a crisis of faith which took him away from his Dublin seminary and he found himself in a place where telephones were few and far between and ‘the electricity’ had not yet been installed. Life revolved largely around the church, the pub and music. The heatwave of 1958 was not only when the Electricity Board was attempting to persuade the locals of the benefits of this new technology – a less-than-easy task – but also when Noel (“Noe”) discovered a great deal about people, life and love. The characters are beautifully drawn, with their eccentricities and endearing naivety, particularly the principal characters: Noel, his grandparents and Christie, the visiting electricity man. The Irish use of the english language is a delight and has a descriptive quality which makes each sentence a work of art. The group’s feeling was that it took some time to get into the slow rhythm of the story but that there was much to enjoy once this had been achieved. There are frequent moments of humour but with episodes of pathos and an overall feeling of warmth which make this a book to be savoured. PM 8
BALE 100 CLUB Join Bale 100 Club and win cash prizes. The funds raised help to keep the village hall running and it is so easy to take part. The annual subscription is £12 per number and there is no limit to how many numbers you can buy. Each month four prizes are awarded, first prize being £25. The draw is held at Fish and Chip evenings on the second Friday of each month in the village hall. To join online, pay £12 per number into account* 20510658, sort code 82-11-07, using 100 and your surname as the reference. The account name is Bale Village Hall and it is a business account. *Please note the new account details. If you prefer to pay by cash or card, pay Maggie Thomas or a Bale Village Hall Committee Member at Fish and Chips (second Friday of each month) or Bale Oak Bar (fourth Friday of each month). 100 CLUB RESULTS May June 1 st Rita Gibbs 1 st Sybil Nash 2 nd Sue Mitchell 2 nd Kris Clarke 3 rd Paul Turnbull 3 rd Julie Aylmer 4 th Sandy Chapman 4 th Chris Broughton ALL SAINTS’ CHURCH It was Bale’s privilege to host an extra Group Service on 2 nd July, necessitated by a summer shortage of clergy in the Benefice. Tim Fawcett and Fiona Newton presided over a good congregation and it was particularly enjoyable to have our church filled with music. Once again the volunteers who take care of the building and churchyard did an excellent job, making everything ‘spick and span’ for the visiting worshippers. A specialist tour group visited at the end of June, primarily to look at the stained-glass window. This tour company comes to Bale quite regularly and it is a pleasure to know that our church is also valued for its historical merit by those outside the area. The Norfolk Churches Trust annual sponsored bike ride will take place again on 9 th September which will be the 40 th anniversary of the event. This is an ‘excuse’ primarily, but not exclusively, for cyclists to visit a number of churches in the area having obtained sponsorship per church. Any means of transport can be used, making the fundraiser accessible to all. The funds raised support the Trust with a proportion of the money going to your nominated church. For more information including registration and sponsorship forms, go to the website (norfolkchurchestrust.org.uk). The Harvest Festival service will be on Sunday 1 st October at 9.30am and gifts of food – ideally packets or tins – will be welcome to decorate the church and to donate afterwards to Fakenham Food Bank. Please leave donations in the church porch or bring them to the Harvest Supper the evening before, where we will also be collecting contributions. PM BALE PAINTING GROUP The Bale Painting Group continues to meet weekly and those of you who go to the village hall will have seen some of the pictures change over time. Some of our art was on sale at the Gunthorpe Village Art and Craft event at the end of July. If you would like to buy a particular painting or have a commission please ask or email the address below. Access to the internet in the village hall makes a difference as online tutorials and reference material are now available. This is great for making progress with techniques to achieve specific styles or methods used by other artists. If you are interested in attending a session to try your hand or wish to join the group on a regular, occasional or just visiting (to use a Monopoly reference) basis, you are most welcome. We meet every Monday between 1pm and 4pm. There are no meetings in August but we restart on 4 th September 2023 and continue until 18 th December. Contact: TheBalePaintingGroup@outlook.com or just pitch up at the village hall on a Monday afternoon. PJones BALE FETE After a dull and unpromising start to the week, weatherwise, the sun shone beautifully for this year’s Bale Fete on 3 rd June. After some last-minute concerns about staffing (several regular stall-holders were unavailable to help this year), it all came together on the day and the large crowds who visited were not disappointed. 9
Page 1 and 2: ISSUE 151 August - September 2023 I
Page 3 and 4: Church Services for Bale and Stiffk
Page 5 and 6: At the time of writing, Holt Medica
Page 7: position but, as some of you may kn
Page 11 and 12: labours. Some concern was expressed
Page 13 and 14: Jude Robson £5 Beverley Lawrence
Page 15 and 16: oomy and has sides to it, we can be
Page 17 and 18: out of operation for over a year. I
Page 19 and 20: MORSTON REGATTA PARTY The Morston R
Page 21 and 22: in the loft, but then in June 2022,
Page 23 and 24: NORFOLK CHURCHES TRUST BIKE RIDE Th
Page 25 and 26: a good indicator of clean water, as
Page 27 and 28: Wednesday 23 rd August from 5pm unt

Local Lynx No.151 August/September 2023

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?