THE CROWN INN EXCELLENT FOOD AND FINE ALES.

OPEN EVERY DAY FROM 11.30AM ONWARDS EXCEPT TUESDAYS WHEN WE ARE CLOSED ALL DAY

SUNDAY LUNCH FROM 12 NOON TO 2.30PM

EVENING MEALS AND LUNCHES SERVED EVERY DAY. EXCEPT TUESDAYS

COME AND ENJOY THE ATMOSPHERE OF THIS

HISTORIC INN

Woodside Gardens MUNDFORD ROAD, CRANWICH

TEL: 01842 878741

AFTER HARVEST PRICE CHANGES

Layers Mash/Pellets .........25kg £6.00 Mixed Corn.......................20kg £4.50 ...........................................25kg £3.50 Wheat Bunny brunch mix 20kg £6.50 Horse & Pony Mix ...........20kg £5.50 Horse & Pony Nuts ..........20kg £5.50 Hamster Mix .....................20kg £7.00 Guinea Pig Mix.................20kg £7.00 Valumix Dog Food...........15kg £10.00 Norfolk Gold Dog Food...20kg £11.50 Hay ....................................Large Bale £3.00 Straw .................................Large Bale £2.00

FOR YOUR FAMILY

FRESH FREE RANGE EGGS HOME PRODUCED

Extra large £1.60 doz.

Large £1.50 doz.

Medium £1.40 doz.

Pullets eggs (small) 60p doz.

WHILE STOCKS LAST

Also available from our Woodside Garden Café, a wide range of meals and snacks, and savoury & fruit

pies to TAKEAWAY.

OPEN EVERY DAY 7.30AM-6.30PM

Page 12

Northwold Youth Club The Sports and Social Club played host to a large number of celebrities in March – all in aid of Comic Relief. Big names such as Posh and Becks, Jordan and Zara Philips put in a show, along with many others. The members of the Youth Club looked stunning and, in many cases, unrecognisable dressed as the celebrities. (We now know that Jordan’s enhancements are really two pink balloons!) The winners of the “I’m a Celebrity” competition were:- 1st – Nathan Roberts (aka Jean Simmons, lead singer of the band “Kiss”) 2nd – Rebecca Steele (aka Jane Torvill) 3rd – Liam Bunten (aka Ali G) Thanks must go to our very own “Village Life” Editor for judging the 30 contestants. Not an easy task – though he made out he knew all the celebrities! The young members were also challenged to bring as many coppers as possible to the evening. The grand

sum of £93.20 was raised. Thanks must also go to all the kind people of the village who gave their coppers to the cause. A further £27 was raised

through a raffle and door entrance donations. Well done everyone! Future activities include a First Aid and Army Cadet evening plus The Indoor Bowls Competition in April. So if any 7-14 year old is interested in joining the club please phone Sharron on 727675 or Jane on 728921. STEVE FREEMANTLE

Winners of the Fancy Dress

Letter to the editor Dear Sir, Whilst having my usual swim in the Wissey (I’m hoping to swim the channel before long) I lost my collar. As it happened, Seamus Parfitt was nearby, but he was no help at all. On the other paw, his human saved the day; at great risk to life and limb he managed to retrieve the collar with a stick. I can now go out fully dressed again! As they say, “Man is dog’s best friend!. (Sometimes) Saffy Luckman (Miss) Editor's note: This is the first letter I have received as editor, from a dog. The above incident occurred actually in what is known as "The Little River" and was the result of some uncharacteristic conduct by the said Saffy Luckman who is usually so sedate in her demeanour!!

Issue April 2007 Copy date for the next issue is;

23rd April 2007 copy@northwold.net Tel. 01366 728233

Doesn't this gladden your heart?

It's always nice for people to look through their old photographs from time to time. Memories come flooding back especially when you see a boy dressed in his cubs uniform, and you think, "Wasn't he such a sweet angelic little thing?" And somehow you just know that he will grow up to be something really special.

But who is this fine young gentleman? For the answer see page 9

It's Time To Start

Planning now!! For

Northwold Produce

Show 2007

THE VILLAGE HALL,

NORTHWOLD

Saturday 8th September at

5.30 p.m. Admission – Adults 20p /

Children 10p

Presentation of Awards and Prizes at 6.15pm

Auction of donated exhibits at 6:45pm

Cups and Prizes to be presented:

THE VEGETABLE CUP THE COOPER CUP TED MOORE SHIELD THE CHILDRENS CUP THE LAVENDER FLOWER CUP THE TALLEST SUNFLOWER CUP THE COOKERY CUP TOM STIMPSON RUNNER UP CUP THE WINE CUP W.DIXON SHIELD THE NORMANDY CUP New for 2007 – Vegetables grown by Children Show schedules can be obtained

from:-

Mr and Mrs S. Freemantle, 17 Church

La., Northwold Tel; 727675,

The Northwold Village Post Office & Shop

Northwold Carnival It's time to start thinking about The Carnival as well.

Roger and his team put a tremendous amount of work into making our carnival the success that it is so let's make this the best ever!!!

Message from Roger

Would any association or club that are thinking of entering a float or having a stall on the day confirm with a committee member or myself as soon as possible.

This years theme is:

"A MOMENT IN TIME"

Bowls Club Bingo Don't forget the Annual Easter Bowls Club Bingo at The Sports and Social Club on Good Friday, 6th April. Doors open 7pm. Eyes Down 7. 30 pm

Meet the New Owners of The

Crown, Cheryl and David

Cheryl and David are the new licensees of The Crown. Pictured here behind the bar which they took over a few weeks ago.

David has spent his working life up to the present in Banking and Building Societies. Cheryl has previously had experience in the trade at Wootton in Bedfordshire. There is a new Chef in the kitchen and a warm and friendly welcome awaits you. Sunday Lunch 12 until 2.30. Evening meals every day except Tuesday when the whole premises will be closed. This may change in the summer.

And Don't forget the Easter Sunday Fun Day at the Church . This event is widely advertised on posters all over the village and on the front of the February edition of Village Life

Produce Show The Crown Cubs photo

cover

Editorial Health warning Quiz

2

St Andrews Church Handbells

3

The late Vera Dodd 4 Rit'a Ramblings

5

Our Past According to POG 6 River Watch Found property Jasmine Barnett

7

Then and now 8

Graeme Cooper Nija's health column Classified Ads

9

Doctor 10 Hypnosis Riverside Group Spiritualists

11

Youth Club Letters

12

Inside this issue:

Page 2

The Village Life Team

Editor Michael Parfitt

copy@northwold.net Tel. 728233

Deputy Editor Graeme Whiting

Copy@northwold.net Tel 727425

Advertising ads@northwold.net

Circulation Manager Mark Elwes

circulation@northwold.net Tel. 728795

Comm ittee

Chair Carol Sharp Tel. 728227

Secretary Position vacant

Treasurer Geoff Bartram

Tel. 728673

The views expressed in submitted items are not necessarily endorsed by Northwold & Whittington Village Life. Whilst we endeavour to ensure that all information contained in the newsletter is correct, we cannot be held responsible for errors. The Editor reserves the right to refuse or omit items without explanation.

Derek Johnson PROPERTY & LANDSCAPE MAINTENANCE

Interior & exterior painting, wood or UPVC facia boards Guttering repaired, cleaned, replaced

Roofing repairs, damaged tiles replaced Chimney pots & cowlings fitted

Chimney stacks and general re-pointing Blocked drains & sinks cleared General plumbing & drainage

Roof, patio & driveway pressure washing Trees & conifers trimmed or removed

Hedges, bushes and ivy trimmed Fencing & decking, landscape maintenance

TELEPHONE 01842 810816

Food For Thought Leptospirosis -- VERY IMPORTANT PLEASE READ This incident happened recently in North Texas . A woman went boating one Sunday taking with her some cans of coke which she put into the refrigerator of the boat. On Monday she was taken to the hospital and placed in the Intensive Care Unit. She died on Wednesday. The autopsy concluded she died of Leptospirosis. This was traced to the can of coke she drank from, not using a glass. Tests showed that the can was infected by dried rat urine and hence the disease Leptospirosis. Rat urine contains toxic and deathly substances.It is highly recommended to thoroughly wash the upper part of Soda cans before drinking out of them. The cans are typically stocked in warehouses and transported straight to the shops without being cleaned. A study at NYCU showed that the tops of soda cans are more contaminated than public toilets (i.e).. full of germs and bacteria. So wash them with water before putting them to the mouth to avoid any kind of fatal accident. Although this happened in Texas it could just as easily happen here. It is estimated that one in three rats carry this disease and it is very often proved to be fatal.

Quiz Evening The quiz evening at the Sports and Social Club on Saturday 24th February, was a great success. 16 teams took part and raised a magnificent £220. The winning team was Biggles, aka Chris & Alan Collins and Jackie & Tim Elliot, runners up were Ann & Mike Howarth and Sheila & Jeff Thomas, while third place was taken by the W.I. team, Pat Coles, Peggy Clear and Ginny Robson Hull. Ann Howarth

Editorial At Christmas someone gave me a book for a Christmas Present, it was called "How to Label a Goat" by Ross Clark. This book explains all the red tape and filling in of forms that now plague everyone. Apparently the present government intends to cut all the paper work and red tape in order to make the Country run more efficiently, (See recent safety record of railways and keep your fingers crossed) The reason I mentioned this is that about 2 months ago I was in Riverside when I noticed that one of the poles carrying a very heavy load of electricity was leaning over at a very precarious angle and is going to fall down before long. I immediately contacted the people responsible for it's maintenance but nothing happened. I believe the Parish Council have also reported this with the same success. No doubt once all the paper work has

b e e n d o n e , something will happen; probably the pole will fall down, resulting in more paper work. So have a good Easter but if you're out for a stroll be careful in Riverside as the pole is leaning towards the drove. Ed.

Ray Gribble

Antique Restoration & Traditional Upholstery All aspects of antique furniture restoration including French

polishing, cabinet repairs and traditional upholstery ------------------------------------------- Traditional Upholstered Furniture

Footstools, Sofas, Chairs made to commission -------------------------------------------

Picture Framing & Mirrors An extensive range of mouldings including hand painted

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Vine House, Church Road, Wereham, King’s Lynn 01366-500387

www.raygribble.co.uk

Page 11

01366 385885

Local Runs Airports, etc.

PAUL’S TAXI’S

A.M. Stannard Stoke Ferry

Bouncy Castle Hire Suitable for Ages 1 to 10 years

Andy’s Cars Taxi Hire Tel. 01366 500675 Mob. 07748 412627

Hypnosis Have you ever driven from one place to another, arrived safely, but not remembered the journey? Or have you been so engrossed in a book, that when someone asks you a question, you answer or even have a chat, but later when questioned have no recollection of it? Well, there you go, you have probably been in a hypnotic state! Hypnotherapists use hypnosis in their work to help people make changes in their lives and this is known as hypnotherapy. People find hypnosis a relaxing and enjoyable experience. It is safe. Does not involve losing or giving up control and you are aware of everything that is happening. Nothing

happens in hypnosis that you do not agree to and you cannot be made to do anything against your will. It is nothing magical, occult or strange. Hypnotherapy can give relief from anxiety and stress and is great for kicking those unwanted habits like smoking and nail biting. It is excellent for combating phobias, emotional problems, depression and personal traumas. Weight control is popular and it is also effective for increasing sporting performance, improving concent r a t i on , b oos t i ng s e l f confidence and helping with those exam and driving test nerves. Debbie Fogarty is a qualified hypnotherapist and works full time in Downham Market. Debbie uses her wealth of skills and knowledge which has been gained from working with clients over the last 9 years to help

people make lasting changes in their lives. If you would like further details or would like to call for an informal chat please contact Debbie on 01366 384660 or visit her web site at www.hypnodebbiethy.co.uk

Do you realise that very shortly it will be against the law to smoke in Public Places. Perhaps you would like to give up the habit but have failed. Have you tried Hypnosis? If you would like to give up smoking or have problems which other treatments have failed to cure, then read on!!

Riverside Group Apologies for having chosen such a busy evening for the meeting. There were seven apologies and only four attended. The Club will remain in abeyance until new officers are found. Pam Eyles

Page 10

WHAT DOES THE DOCTOR THINK THIS MONTH?

Can your fish dinner tell you the temperature? (Warning about mercury in fish) For years, I have joked with Deannie and the kids that eating fish is really dangerous because of the heavy metal poisons they contain. The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences publishes a magazine Ambio; it is a widely recognised forum for scientific debate about issues affecting the human environment. They have been investigating mercury pollution and its effect upon the world’s fisheries, wild life and humans. There is now three times more mercury falling from the sky than was the case 200 years ago ( i n d u s t r i a l e m i s s i o n s a n d contamination from the uncontrolled use of mercury in small-scale gold mining). This mercury gets into the marine ecosystems and ends up as methylmercury in marine fish, the eating of which is the main way in which people at all levels of humanity worldwide are exposed to this highly toxic form of mercury. In some parts of the world, birds and mammals which eat fish, have methylmercury levels which are toxic and may lead to population declines in these species. There is evidence that methylmercury can have toxic health effects such as increasing the risk of cardiovascular disease in adult men; it is dangerous to the unborn human foetus. What should we do? It’s not quite as bad as you might think! All fish contains mercury but this is not a problem. Certain fish (shark, marlin, swordfish and tuna) contain higher levels and should be avoided by pregnant women, women who wish to become pregnant and children under 16 years of age. According to the Food Standards Agency, cod, haddock and plaice are OK, as are oily fishes such as mackerel, herring, pilchard, sardines, trout or salmon. Of course, oily fish has known health benefits, so we should eat at least two portions a week. NB. Fresh tuna is an oily fish but canning reduces the amount of oil so canned tuna does not count as an oily fish. I enjoy trout and plaice and I do not recall ever being offered shark, marlin or swordfish, so these scientific findings should not be much of a problem. The Junior Doctor fiasco: I do not usually discuss the trials and

tribulations of hospital doctors. However, many people have asked me to explain what is happening at present. It is another Government mess up involving the rapid introduction of a new computerised system, ignoring warnings that it would be a disaster. Here we go! For decades and probably centuries, newly qualified doctors became housemen on the wards and then followed their chosen speciality, becoming senior house officers, then junior registrars, senior registrars and, finally, becoming a consultant in the specialty they had chosen. This was a long career path, involving much study, examinations and learning from their bosses and most would be in their mid-thirties, or older, before becoming a consultant. At each stage, the doctor would apply by letter, with a CV, for the next senior job of his choice and the consultant would carefully consider the applicants, interview the best and appoint the most worthy to the position. The Government wished to speed up the process so, guess what, they computerised it! They developed an aim, Modernising Medical Careers (MMC) by the rapid introduction of a computerised Medical Training Application Service (MTAS). Doctors were invited to apply on-line for specialist registrar jobs and their applications, which did not allow space for a CV, were graded according to a bizarre and simplistic government marking system. Applicants from abroad were invited to apply. Each consultant was then presented with 500 or 600 applications to assess; because of the lack of sensible information about abilities, references or a CV, it was impossible for consultants to pick the best candidates and many excellent doctors have not been called for interview. Currently, 8,000 doctors, each of whom cost £250,000 to train, are jobless, demoralised and being sent a CD from the Australian government which is recruiting doctors. A year ago, The British Medical Associat ion pleaded with the government to delay the MTAS because “the information necessary for selection will not be adequate”. This warning was contemptuously ignored and, once again, the desire to rush into a vast and unwieldy computerisation without thinking the project through has ended in disaster. Many consultants have cancelled surgery scheduled for August because they cannot be confident in the abilities of their junior staff. I wonder why this government needs to mess around with so many matters that “ain’t broke”. John Yelland from

Northwold wrote to me, describing the government as “blighted by so many peaks of arrogance and troughs of intelligence” – a wonderful description which could explain a great deal! The National Patient Database: All has gone extremely quiet on this front. In the middle of February, Andrew Rollerson, a senior executive at Fujitsu (one of the main suppliers with a £896 million contract for the South of England) gave a presentation in which he said “It is not going to work – the project is in danger of becoming a camel rather than a racehorse”. Also, apparently, ministers have been forced to allow patients to opt out following concern about their records being freely available and, according to the government, “achieving targets for the system have been made unlikely, thanks to GPs, over half of whom plan to defy the instruction to automatically upload patient records onto the database without explicit patient consent”. That is the current situation – let us see what happens next! Global warming: As I write, the European ministers have decided to do away with incandescent light bulbs (or as my father, an electrical engineer, would insist “lamps” not light bulbs) which produce a nice steady light and replace them with the new compact fluorescent bulbs which flicker 50 times a second, take time to warm up and cannot be used with dimmer switches, electronically triggered security lights or in any outside light which is not open at the top and bottom. Also, to have a long life they have to be kept switched on, negating the beneficial effect on CO2 emissions. Switching them on and off as required shortens their life and negates the long-term cost saving which is supposed to compensate for the vastly increased purchase price of the bulb. Much more importantly, management has just bought from Laura Ashley a “crystal” chandelier for the dining room; she is worried about its appearance when fitted with the new energy saving bulbs. Did you know that cows generate more greenhouse gases than all forms of transport combined? (Henning Steinfeld Livestock’s Long Shadow). Dairy farmers are really doing their bit for the environment by going out of business in droves! I enjoyed Keith Skipper & Co last week so, Fare yer well tergether Ian G. Nisbet

Page 3

BRIAN WATERS YOUR LOCAL MILKMAN

TEL : 01366 728024

DEPOT : 01284 754720

Northwold ~ Foulden Feltwell ~ Methwold

Methwold Hythe Mundford

MARK ROBERTS Plumbing & Heating

Plumbing & Heating • Boiler Replacement Central Heating Installation

Bathrooms/Showers • Water Softeners

ALL WORK & MATERIALS GUARANTEED REFERENCES AVAILABLE

Telephone 01366 727344 Mobile 07887 646587

TPF Property Maintenance Services

Interior, Exterior Decorating, Carpentry, Wall & Floor Tiling, Wooden & Laminate Flooring

Call Tim

01366 728 881

St Andrew's Church Diary for April April 1st (palm Sunday) 11am Holy Communion Friday 6th (Good Friday) 2pm Devotional Service 8th. (Easter Day). 11am Holy Communion 15th (Low Sunday) 8am Holy Communion 22nd 11am Matins Rev David Knightly 29th 10. 45 am Joint Deanery Service Holy Communion at Hocklwold Annual Church Clean The Annual Church Spring Clean will take place this year on May 8th from 2pm onwards until May 12th. All volunteers are cordially invited to coffee in the Church on Tuesday 1st May at 10.30 am. One or two younger Male helpers would be appreciated to do the bits that require climbing ladders. Everyone welcome. Thanks. Betty Akers

T h e A n n u a l Parochial Church Meeting will be on Tuesday, April 17th at 7. 70 pm in the Village hall, and anyone wishing to attend will be welcome! The coffee morning held in Saint Andrew's Church on Tuesday 20th February, was well attended and raised £135.

Why Not Try Something New.

Methwold St George’s Hand bell Ringers are looking for new members to join their group. If you would like to learn the Art of Hand Bell Ringing and make music please come along to Methwold St George’s Church on Friday evenings from 7pm to 8. 30 pm. All types of music played and no knowledge of music is necessary. Young or old. Male or female. Just come along and have fun. For more information contact Gillian Giles at ‘Dunroamin’, Holders lane, Brooville. Tel (01366)728379.

St James’s Church Hockwold.

St James’s Church at Hockwold are holding a Flower festival on the theme of “The World of Flowers” This will take place on: Saturday 5th May from 10 am to 5 pm Sunday 6th May from 10 am to 6. 30 pm Monday 7th May from 10 am to 5. 30 pm. The tower will be open on the Sunday afternoon. Songs of praise will take place in the Church at 6. 30 pm on the Sunday. Further information can be obtained from Audrey Fuller Tel. 01842 825529

From Moira Smith The Annual Collection in School Lane for the Marie Curie Appeal amounted to £ 65. 37. many thanks to everyone involved . Moira

Page 4

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The Late Vera Dodd Vera Dodd will be remembered fondly by a good many of us in the village, as one of our teachers here at the Norman School. Our editor is chuffed to be able to print a group photo of us with her standing in the back row. She had married an airman in the RAF and they, with their son Graham were stationed in Ceylon (Now called Sri Lanka) before eventually coming back

home to Northwold. Vera was sister to both Winnie Bloomfield and one of our village bakers, Billy Shipp at west End. Vera, referred to by us as Mrs Dodd of course, started teaching at the school when Edwin Hardy was still Head Master here and didn’t leave until some time after his death. She went from here to live in West Winch and to take up the position of Deputy Head at the School there. She carried on living at West Winch until she passed away at the tender age of 94 in February of this year, when her cremation service was held in Crewe. Part of a poem remembering Northwold life in days gone by was read at her service as She’d always maintained a keen interest in the goings on in her old home, to the extent that she delighted in keeping up to date with her copy of “Village Life” every month. I would like to end this short tribute to Vera by thanking her Son Graham and her nephew David for readily agreeing to allow this piece to appear and thus to let us all know of her demise.

Mike Coley

The above picture is of Northwold Primary Schooll and Vera Dodd is the teacher behind the back row in the centre.. The photo was taken around 1955 which makes the children in the picture getting close to 60. How many of them are still in the village

Page 9

CLASSIFIED ADVERTS D.E.T. T.V. Service - Repairs to TV’s, VCR’s and Microwaves. Fast reliable service. John Clifford. 01842 878486. Feeling Stressed? Why not treat yourself (Or someone else) to a relaxing massage by a fully qualified Therapist. Fully BABTAC recognised and insured. Gift vouchers available. Body massage £17.50 (1 hour), Back massage, £12.50 (half hour). Contact Shelly Farrow on 01366 328835 or 07881 904099.

E.G. Dack Approved Electrician, 25 years Experience. Small Jobs Electrical. Tel. 01366 728118, Mobile 07766637077

B.R. Garden Services, mini-digger hire (self-drive or with driver), holiday home maintenance, foundations and driveways, grass cutting service, turf laying and pruning. 07774 724366. Greenway Interiors Kitchens, Bathrooms, Plumbing, Carpentry Plastering Decorating 54, Cromwell Road, Weeting. Tel 01842 812567. Mobile 07766013485. Phone today for a free quote We're not just a company - we care Graham Smith & Sons Pest & Vermin Control for homes, farms and businesses. 24hr/7-day service. Local family business (Clover Farm, Mundford). Tel. 01842 879904, Mob. 07946 733188 Lose 2-5lbs a week using natural products. Free telephone assessment with an advisor. Dietworks (0845) 1662157 House Proud Cleaning Services Domestic Cleaning, Ironing, Gardening and Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning Weekly/Monthly/One-off Vicki 01842 828525/07806 612333

And So He Has Turned Out.

Such elegance and refinement.

Happy 50th birthday Graeme. All the best from all your family and friends. And from the Editor: Graeme: I have waited 10 years for this. Ever since my baked beans and peaches were sabotaged. All the best from Florrie and me and thanks for all the help you have given us over the years.

The Nija Levis Health Column

A Quote by Marianne Williamson I wanted to share this with you, it was something that was read out when on my Mastery Programme. I’m sure many of you have heard this before but it doesn’t hurt to be reminded of our power.

“Our greatest fear is not that we are inadequate, but that we are powerful beyond measure. . It is our light, not our darkness, that frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, handsome, talented and fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shr inking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We were born to make manifest the glory of God within us. It is not just in some; it is in everyone. And, as we let our own light shine, we consciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our fear our presence automatically liberates others.” Nija

Northwold Bowls Club 100 Club Draw for February 2007. Peter Shaw £ 50

John Haylock £ 25 Claire Cater £ 15 Sylvia

Congratulation to Mike and Ann

Howarth

Married 40 years on the 1st of April. Best wishes and congratulations from all your friends in the village and from all at Village Life

Page 8

Established over 19 years

Then and now The second picture in this series is of West End looking up towards Chalk pit from the Cross. I am indebted to Joyce Barrett for this picture

This picture is a view of West End taken from near the junction with the bottom of Pinfold Lane, although the caption at the bottom of the picture says The Street it is in fact West End. The people have been replaced by cars. No overhead wires which might give some indication as to the year it was taken, which was obviously in the summer. The camera used in this picture had a very good wide angle lens, but I doubt if there was a problem with cars

Here is the same location taken in March 2007. There appears to be a tall chimney pot on the cottage on the left which is not on the old picture , and also there are the overhead wires. We can also see that there is a made up metalled surface on the road which is not on the old one, and also a footpath and kerb. Apart from those things it is amazing how little this view has changed over the years. I had to stand in the middle of the road, and watch out for cars.

Page 5

The Woodland Inn

RITA’S RAMBLINGS Hello again. What a month it has been weather wise! We seemed to have a little taster of Spring and then, with so many buds just beginning to break open, back came the sleet, snow and those frosty nights. Nature!!!!! I was driving to work just this morning and, as I glanced to the right, I was disappointed to see the effect of the frosts on the lovely magnolia blossoms at the end of Hovells Lane. Such a pity as the tree had looked so pretty the previous week. I had heard a snippet on the radio that morning about how the magnolias and the camellias in Cornwall had been affected as well. Nigel’s parents used to live in the far southwest for many years and his Father had grown several camellias, in pots, in his garden and he always lavished much care and attention upon them. When Mum moved up to Northwold she brought three of the trees with her (the fourth was rather too big to fit into the car!) and they have continued to flourish in their pots. Through the worst of the winter weather they are tucked up in a sort of fleece tent and then as the weather begins to improve the tent is removed and we are able to enjoy the beauty of the flowers. Fortunately, I listened to Julie, on Look East, last weekend and took preventative measures with the result that most of the blooms have escaped any major disfigurement. Whilst I was out in the garden last weekend I also attempted to protect some early cauliflowers that I had transplanted a couple of weeks ago. Initially, they were protected by some plastic, bottle cloches but with strong winds expected I thought I had better give them something more durable. I had received an early birthday present of some steel hoops together with a long length of polythene and I decided that was just the thing to cover my precious cauliflowers with. I carefully

spaced the hoops out along the vegetable bed and then, equally carefully, I stretched the polythene over the hoops and pegged it down. It looked pretty good at the time and, confident in my handiwork, I hurried indoors as it began to get dark. I was up fairly early on Sunday morning and looked out of the window to see…..bare hoops, no polythene! My poor cauliflowers! I quickly dressed in my standard gardening clothes (being careful not to wake my nearest and dearest) and hurried out into the garden. It was still pretty windy and I struggled to cope with about 25 feet of polythene billowing around me as I tried to peg the edges down. Eventually, my mission was accomplished and I went back indoors to make a cup of tea for the other slumbering occupants of the house. Breakfast over I checked on the garden and …yes, you have guessed correctly the polythene had worked itself free again and was, once again billowing in the wind. My cloche construction technique obviously needed improvement and I ventured forth again into the garden. This time I decided to use some stout string to anchor the polythene to each hoop and within an hour I had achieved my aim. Nevertheless, I was still a little dubious about its effectiveness so I made sure that I covered the poor little caulis with a proper cloche underneath the polythene – just in case it blew off again. This last adaptation seems to have worked reasonably well as it is still in place nearly a week later! I haven’t had time to check on the caulis though so I hope they are still doing OK. The cold weather has also given our

feathered friends a bit of a surprise too, I think. We have had a couple of Blackbirds beginning to build a nest in the honeysuckle – I wonder if it is the same pair which built a nest a couple of feet away last year? I would like to imagine that they were pleased with their choice of location last year and have returned to avail themselves of all the advantages of our garden again. The garage roof has accumulated several patches of moss since it was built and at least one species of bird is lifting pieces here and there. I’m not sure if they are using it as a cosy lining for their nests or whether they are lifting it to reach the insects that will have undoubtedly over-wintered within. We are trying to help out as much as we can by leaving the odd hundred dog hairs scattered around on the gravel, grass or back door mat! Hopefully, when the eggs hatch the young birds will appreciate the equivalent of a bird blanket inside the nest. On that note I will look forward to next month and the reappearance of some spring like weather. Until then, take care Rita

Northwold Spiritualists Friday services with Clairvoyance demonstrations April 16th Angie Morris April 27th Jackie Coman Enquiries to Eileen. Tel (01366)728289

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O u r P a s t According To POG Aka Mike Coley

Farmers hereabouts have always been prolific growers of a variety of crops, and have constantly searched for new and profitable alternatives to the usual Corn and Sugar-beet ( it was turnips at one time ) that have served us as staples for many years now. Well in the early 1900s someone brought Tobacco into the equation. In fact it turned out that we have the ideal soil for developing such a crop. Methwold it was where the early experiments took place and it proved to be an ideal alternative to America’s Virginia when it came to Baccy production, both in quantity and quality. I haven’t smoked for years, since I’d helped the Doctor lay my father out in fact. Poor old dad was a chain smoker and inevitably it caught up with him in the end, in the form of Lung and stomach Cancer of course. Since then I’ve never held a fag between my lips, nor have I ever had the desire to do so. But back then everyone was doing it, in fact it was promoted as being not only socially acceptable, but as an essential part of a persons endeavours to present a suave and sophisticated image to the world ( poor deluded mugs that we were ) I never really enjoyed cigarettes at all, even though I puffed at them occasionally in company when I was young. Like all young people, I wanted to be part of the herd, but in reality I much preferred puffing on my old pipe instead. This was something that I didn’t do for affect incidental ly, i t was purely functional. I was a keen angler at the time and I discovered that clouds of pipe smoke would act as a potent and effective fly repellent against those ravenous little winged buggers who’s only ambition seemed to be to grow fat on the blood of unsuspecting youngsters like me. If you actually want to hear about my prowess in pipe smoking at the tender age of about 12, and of the

effects of home grown tobacco, well go and ask Len Lavender in Hovells Lane. I worked for Len when I was a lad and we still regularly chuckle about the day in question. I know he’s delighted in telling the tale to a good many people over the years, and it is a good yarn I admit. But this particular tale concerns cigarettes ( sometimes named ‘Coffin Nails’ or ‘Cancer Sticks’ amongst other things ) and it doesn’t dwell on pipe smoking at all. As a lad I indulged in a good many pointless activities, one of which was to collect as many different cigarette boxes as I could lay my hands on, and there were an astonishing variety at that time. So popular was smoking back then that all the shops sold them and some even dedicated themselves entirely to purveying tobacco products and equipment. ( see the obsolete name The Tobacco Shop in Swaffham, between the market and the loo’s ) The usual choices, beloved by everyday working folk, were either ‘W D & H O Wills Woodbines’ or ‘Players Weights’ which were comparatively cheap and always readily available. Then there were the more exotic brands of course like Passing Clouds with their pink boxes, sporting the portrait of a cavalier. The Irish brand Sweet Afton had a picturesque scene on the box together with lines of verse ( before health warnings were ever thought of ) There was a truly vast selection, catering for all tastes, even liquorish flavoured ones. For those that preferred a cooler smoke as offered by the menthol flavoured ones such as Consulate and Everest E.G, their choice was well catered for to. I had examples of all those of course but one pack that found it’s way into my collection is of special interest to us here today. It’s a box from New’s of High Street, Downham Market, who I imagine had locally grown tobacco employed in the manufacture of some of their products. This wasn’t the only firm that did so of course as can be attested to by the song, popular with the troops during the first world war, Goodbye Dolly

Grey.( I ‘d give you a quick rendition if you like, though that would probably make you cough as much as the fags ) Dolly Grey’s real name was Lillian Grey and she was the daughter of the Methwold chap who first grew fields of tobacco in our area. Her picture was on the front of every packet ( sadly I never managed to collect one of those ) an early Pin-Up Girl I suppose. But the troops were not singing to her or even to their girlfriends with this little ditty, but were instead lamenting the loss of their favourite smokes as they toddled off to fight the foe. Tobacco proved to be the ideal crop, thriving in our soil and climate as it does in Virginia USA. It was the greed of our own government however that rendered it uneconomic for our farmers to grow. The taxes that were imposed upon it were such that the whole innovation had to be abandoned. Nowadays, and for years gone by we have thought of sugar-beet as being the crop of choice, but the government has stepped in yet again. Not by overtaxing the crop this time but by regulating the production of it and dropping the price of it to unrealistic levels to accommodate foreign growers, causing our own hard pressed farming industry to shake their heads in despair. What happens when Britain has no farmers left and the rural lifestyle is no more in this country? It’s yet another excuse to build houses all over our fields and bring in people from elsewhere who simply can’t wait to change the things that we cherish so dearly, into something akin to what they ‘couldn’t wait to get away from’ when they first came here, Sheer madness. I Look Forward to Looking Back again soon and hope to bring you a more upbeat ending next time. How-some-ever ‘til then, dew yew keep a troshun together, that hint happened yet. Best wishes Pog

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DIDLINGTON NURSERIES

Why not visit our walled in garden Nursery for all your trees, shrubs perennials and lots more Orders taken now for your summer hanging baskets We would like to wish all our customers a very happy Easter

Cut Flowers available Seed potatoes onion sets and free range eggs Tel. (01842) 878288

GARY BOYCE QUALITY RETAIL AND CATERING BUTCHER, est. 1985

25, High Street (next to Fire Station) Methwold, Thetford, Norfolk

Tel 01366 728512 (or Fax 01366 728883 anytime)

Prime Barley Fed Beef (11/13 months old), Pork, Lamb, direct from the farm (locally). All our meat is prepared to the highest standard & cut to customer’s requirements. Norfolk pork sausages made by Mr Dennis Self, formerly of

Waters Butchers, Stoke Ferry.

We also offer a delicatessen counter of traditional cooked hams, also home cooked quiches, pork pies, Cornish pasties, sausage rolls, scotch eggs and much more. On the

sweet side of the pastries we offer a large selected of Curtis of Lincoln cakes. British bacon, unsmoked and smoked, dry

cured - no added water. A range of English and continental cheeses plus our

usual range of cooked meets, once again cut to your requirements by our team of

friendly staff.

Opening times are:

Monday 9am-1pm Tuesday 8am-1pm, 2pm-5.30pm Wednesday 8am-1pm Thursday 8am-1pm, 2pm-5.30pm Friday 8am-1pm, 2pm-5.30pm Saturday 7.30am-1pm Est. 1962

Riverwatch by Ivor Hook It was the middle of the day and the sun was at its hottest. The wide river was dark brown with no sign of flow. Black and white butterflies fluttered above the surface as if in a courtship ritual. Strange birds displaying an array of bright colours perched on the remains of long fallen washed-up trees. The far bank of the river was a dense green jungle of palm trees and vegetation and its foreground of mud flats was home to a colony of storks. The storks stood motionless and shone like white pearls against the dark background. A large eagle circled low overhead seeking out prey. A string of kingfishers sat patiently on the overhead electricity wires and at intervals dived into the river. An enormous barge devoid of any paint and completely red rust passed painfully slow down the centre of the river. It made no noise. The only sign of life were rows of tatty washing flapping on the stern. It was like a ghost ship passing by. Hundreds of unseen crickets loudly clicked away to compliment the distant sound of mystic music and chanting. Despite the time of day non-stop fireworks signalled yet another religious celebration. We stood on a small concrete jetty, which long ago provided access to and from the river for the nearby village. A small stream fed into the river through a broken and neglected sluice gate. Once it controlled and held back the water but now it served no purpose. A

narrow pathway on top of the sluice led to a fisherman’s hut. Rusted corrugated sheeting and a collapsed palm leaf roof formed the feeble structure. A bright blue tarpaulin filled in a few of the many holes. Piles of fishing nets waited to be repaired. Two black and narrow canoes lay on the dried grass. The remains of a recent fire confirmed the building was still in use. Suddenly a thin and wizened old man arrived pushing an ancient upright pedal cycle. He only wore a loincloth and greeted us with a big smile and an energetic wave. This was obviously the proud owner. Then in the field behind us appeared a herd of water buffalo slowly and deliberately heading in our direction. Following them was a tiny girl in a startling yellow sari with an umbrella for protection from the sun and a twig with which she had complete control of her charges. They were undeterred by our presence and passed immediately in front of us. The buffalo were caked in dried mud and one at a time they descended down the steep bank into the river. Still in procession they walked out into the deep water where they wallowed in complete and utter ecstasy submerging and splashing in a single heaving mass. Their young controller sat under the shade of a gigantic banyan tree and waited. Eventually she stood up and without any signal the buffalo responded and paraded out of the river in the same slow orderly fashion. A few minutes latter they had disappeared down the narrow lane towards the village.

I imagined larger than life mahseer fish patrolling up and down the river but with the main event of the morning now over we also left behind the Mondovi River and our beautiful surroundings. We returned to the extravagance and luxury of our colonial holiday house that now felt completely false in this wonderful country of India where life is so different and simple. Ivor

From Jasmine Barnett Thank you Thank you to everyone who kindly sponsored my 7 mile walk in aid of the Guides. I completed the walk and raised £ 45. Thank you all very much. Jasmine Barnett

Found Property

Single stone body jewellery found in School Lane. To claim ring 728 208 with a description.

Northwold Almshouses As most of you will have noticed the Almshouses in School Lane are undergoing extensive refurbishment. On completion of the works – hopefully by the middle of April – one of them will be available to let. If you are interested in knowing more about the available Almshouse, please contact Beryl Quilter, Clerk to the Northwold Charities Trustees, on 01366 727472.