Swaffham Newsletter

12
The Swaffham History Group
The Swaffham History Group, normally
meets on the second Monday of the month
at 2pm. Anyone can join and there is no subscription
except an annual registration fee of £1.
During our recent meeting on 11th March, we
discussed the imminent publication of the books
about the history of Swaffham Market Place shops
and premises prepared by The Swaffham History
Group. The proposal is to produce four books
respectively for the East, West, and North sides, and
the Shambles.
At our last meeting in February group member and
treasurer Peter Coombes showed us a first prototype
copy for the books, and thought that it would be
quite a task to prepare a book for just one side in
time for the finale of the HAZ project and the end
of Swaffham Heritage Week on Saturday 16th March.
However, Peter surprised us all by presenting three of
the books at our meeting in March.
Peter produced the books using publishing software,
but it took many, many hours of work to compile
them. We are so grateful to Peter for his tremendous
effort in bringing these books out in time for the final
weekend of the HAZ project.
The three books about the East and West sides of
Market Place, and the Shambles respectively, were to
be on show in the final event of Swaffham Heritage
Week on Saturday 16th March at the Assembly
Rooms. The books will, we hope, go on sale in the
Museum Shop from April.
At the same time, Swaffham Heritage is launching
an interactive website with some of the information
from the books.
For our next meeting at 2pm on Monday 8th April
we will be going to Narborough Museum. It is
proposed to meet up at
1.30pm in Theatre Street
(Swaffham) car park, and
car share for the trip to
Narborough.
For our meeting in
May we will probably
be convening in the
museum learning room;
to be confirmed.
You can find out
more about us online in the Swaffham Heritage
website at https://www.swaffhammuseum.co.uk/
history/swaffham-history-group or just drop in
at our next meeting. Alternatively, please email
theswaffhamhistorygroup@gmail.com for further
information.
New members are always welcome; you are not
required to do any research or have any qualifications
just, obviously, an interest in our local history.
Friends of Swaffham Heritage
We have now decided that the day trips for the
Friends of Swaffham Heritage this year will be:
• Spalding Flower Festival, Sunday 12th May
We’ll spend a couple of hours at Springfields Shopping
Outlet before the onward journey to the Festival
showground. There will be 50+stalls along with food
stalls and games. You can also view all the floats from
the parade on Saturday (40+) which will be parked
around the grounds. Coach Cost, Friends £15.00,
Guest’s £18.00
• Felixstowe Museum & Landguard Fort, Thursday
11th July
Visiting the Felixstowe Museum, and the Landguard
Fort situated at the entrance to the port of
Felixstowe. You can also visit the Nature Reserve and
Bird Observatory and maybe take a trip on the foot
ferry to Harwich which runs daily. Both the Museum
and Fort have cafés and there is also the Viewpoint
Café which serves snacks and meals daily. Coach Cost,
Friends £17.50, Guest’s £20.00 Note: The cost of entry
to the Fort and to the Museum is extra, but they do
offer a reduced rate if visiting both places, also English
Heritage members get free entry to the Fort.
• Bressingham Gardens & Steam Museum, Thursday
12th September
Trip to visit Bressingham Gardens and Steam Museum
on a Steam Day, entry includes Bressingham Steam
Experience, Dad's Army Collection, Bressingham
Gardens (both Dell and Foggy Bottom gardens),
unlimited narrow gauge railway rides and three (non
consecutive) rides on the Gallopers Roundabout.
Cost for Coach Friends £12.50, Guest’s £15.00 Plus
cost of entry Adult/Senior £13.50, Child £8.50.
Anyone wishing to go to the Spalding trip on the 12th
May, please book early with Stuart (contact details
below) and arrange payment either by dropping
cheque or cash into the Museum marked 'Spalding
12th May' or by bank transfer quoting 'Spalding' as
reference we would be grateful.
100 Club
Winners for March 2024 were:
• £40 – no 2331
• £20 – no 2347
• £10 – no 2385
For the 100 Club and for trips contact the Membership
Secretary, Stuart Clapton, by email stuartclapton@
aol.com. 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.
2024 SUMMER OF MUSIC
S A T U R D A Y 4 T H M A Y A T 4 P M
Serendipity, a trio of marvellous performers on flute, clarinet and
bassoon return, presenting a selection of classical and modern music.
S U N D A Y 2 N D J U N E A T 4 P M
Estevao Davides, the classical guitarist who thrilled our audience last
summer, returns with a programme of classic and modern guitar pieces
S A T U R D A Y 2 2 N D J U N E A T 4 P M
Josh Kemp Jazz Duo bring the vibrant sounds of saxophone and guitar -
a first excursion for us into the sounds of jazz.
S U N D A Y 7 T H J U L Y A T 4 P M
A welcome return of Graham and Alison Cracknell on keyboard and
violin.
S U N D A Y 1 4 T H J U L Y A T 3 P M
St Mary’s annual Thanksgiving Service
S A T U R D A Y 3 R D A U G U S T A T 4 P M
A first performance at St. Mary’s by Leo Popplewell, a talented young
musician on the cello presenting a broad classical repertoire.
S A T U R D A Y 2 4 T H A U G U S T A T 4 P M
David Flood, formerly of Canterbury Cathedral, will host a performance
by his daughter and son in law, both classically trained singers.
S A T U R D A Y 7 T H S E P T E M B E R A T 4 P M
And finally, our wonderful supporters the Pot of Gold Shanty Crew will
close our summer season with rousing songs of the sea!
Full details at: www.houghtonstmarys.org.uk/news-and-events#Events
Wine and light refreshments will be available
Parking at the Church
www.houghtonstmarys.org.uk
admin@houghtonstmarys.org.uk
St. Mary's Church, Browns Lane, Houghton-on-the-Hill,
North Pickenham, PE37 8DB
Registered Charity No. 1069758