Swaffham Newsletter

MUSEUM
MATTERS
www.swaffhammuseum.co.uk
Financed with a grant from Historic England and
with support from other organisations and voluntary
groups, the Swaffham Cultural Consortium for over two
years has organised many events.
We have together to take part in
an Archaeological Dig, a Cream
Tea Challenge, a Community
Mosaic, a Harvest Horkey and
Thanksgiving
and a Food and
Artisans’ Fair. We have enjoyed Tea
with Tut, the Tentmakers of Cairo and
concerts in the Church. The
weather has been our friend
(except the heat for the dig – that was a bit too much!).
Moreover, you have generously given donations to
several local charities. Now it is all coming to an end.
Time and money are running out. But there is still one
final event to come:
Swaffham Heritage Week - 9th-16th March 2024
During this week we shall discover the history of some
of the shops and businesses around the Market Place.
Perhaps meet some of past Swaffham People. Who
knows that Captain Johns of Biggles fame was once the
town’s sanitary inspector?
Who knows that the airman who put together the plan
for refuelling planes for the Falklands War did it all on
a calculator bought on Swaffham Market for £3? Who
knows that three of Admiral Nelson’s siblings were
born on London Street and were baptised in Swaffham
Church? Just for example.
There will be a 40's Tea Dance Plus on Wednesday
13th afternoon in the Assembly Rooms with live music
for dancing, refreshments and entertainment. On
Saturday 16th the Assembly Rooms will have creative
crafts for the children, a free mosaic workshop by
Carolyn, music from a Rock Choir; a memory slot for
Keith Skipper – lots of us will remember him from
Radio Norfolk. He went to school at the Grammar
School on the Market Place and has many tales to tell.
And to top everything the finds from the dig will be on
display and the Mapping the Marketplace website will
be launched, plus screens of videos and photographs
of events over two years. And to round off the day
and the whole experience – a Concert organised by
Swaffham Arts in the evening.
Don’t miss it – put it in your diary NOW!
Friends of Swaffham Heritage
This year many exciting ideas for day trips have been
suggested including:
• Felixstowe – Museum, Landguard Fort, Harbour
Viewpoint, and seafront and towncentre;
• Spalding Tulip Festival Saturday 11th May or Sunday
12th May;
• Cromer ‘60s Festival Saturday 8th June;
• Bressingham Gardens and Steam Museum;
• The Muckleburgh Collection;
• Ely Christmas Market;
• Thursford Christmas Spectacular.
We aim to do three or four of these, depending on
what members of the Friends of Swaffham Heritage
choose. Members should email Stuart (see contact
details below) to nominate their choices. The trips
will be open to all but, as usual, members will get first
dibs on tickets, including a preferential price.
100 Club
The 100 Club is a steady contributor of funds for
Swaffham Heritage, run by the Friends of Swaffham
Heritage exclusively for members of the Friends of
Swaffham Heritage.
Winners for January 2024 were:
• £40 – no 2333
• £20 – no 2385
• £10 – no 2321
Note that the numbers begin with 23. Cheques are on
the way to our lucky winners! If you are not already a
member of the 100 Club, you can apply to join. It’s £20
for the year, for a chance to win one of the monthly
prizes of £40, £20 and £10, and a twice a year the
chance to win £100! You also have the satisfaction
of knowing that your subscription helps the work of
our museum, even if you don’t win. You have to be a
member of the Friends of Swaffham Heritage to take
part. Also, you could consider joining the Friends of
Swaffham Heritage. The current 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.
Ask at the museum about becoming a Friend or
use the contact details below or on the Swaffham
Heritage website.
For further information about the Friends of Swaffham
Heritage see our webpage, on the Swaffham Heritage
website https://www.swaffhammuseum.co.uk/
support-us#friends-of-swaffham-heritage , or email
to friends@swaffhammuseum.co.uk , or call in to the
Museum. For the 100 Club and for trips contact the
Membership Secretary, Stuart Clapton, by email
stuartclapton@aol.com
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