Circus comesto Shouldham!

Just before midsummer, on Friday 16th and Saturday 17th June at 7pm, a circus show will take place on Shouldham Playing Field. The circus troupe, the ‘Foolhardy Folk’ is to stage the show as part of its eleventh rural tour.

The troupe started performing many years ago as clowns, working for international and national circus. They decided to develop their own show and buy a circus and all the paraphernalia that went with it. The Foolhardy Folk take up the story: ‘An old clown had mentioned to us once, back stage, how he remembered touring with a small show around rural locations. This story had stuck in our minds. So when we decided to create a circus tour we opted for the same romantic image. Well the rest is history, we have built up a network of friends in villages throughout Norfolk, and have entertained thousands, keeping our gate prices to a minimum and working in conjunction with local authorities and arts bodies to provide rural tours.’

‘Each year we develop a new themed circus show and select artistes from the world of circus to join the Foolhardy collective. This year we are also pleased to announce our new apprentice scheme and have two

 More details of the troupe can be found

online at:

www.foolhardycir

Shouldham NewsVolume 4 No. 2 Spring 2006

All Saints’ ChurchyardOur graveyard is maintained jointly by Shouldham Parish Council and the PCC. The aim is to keep the entire church surroundings tidy andaccessible; no-one can fail to have noticed how much better the old churchyard at the East end of the church looks. Thanks are also due to several generous people who have planted bulbs near the church, tidied the hedgerow, etc, so that there should soon be a good showing of spring flowers in that area.

Please remember that there are no means of disposal for dead flowers, old wreaths and disused grave ornaments. It is a little disheartening to find such debris pushed under the hedge, so do kindly take unwanted rubbish home. To those who regularly maintain the graves of their loved ones, we say a big ‘thank you’. This is a great help to the

Write onWelcome to the spring edition of Shouldham News, with information sproutingout of every page. The newsletter is delivered free to every house in Shouldham

and Shouldham Thorpe four times a year. If you’ve any news, views, reviews (of Any Questions, for instance), announcements, or details of forthcoming events, please contact Phil Harriss (01366 347244 or 01865 463257/ philip.harriss@ntlworld.com). Or pop a note through the door of ‘Dunromin’ on the Green. Deadline for next issue: Sunday 18th June, 2006.

Parish Council Open MeetingThe Parish Council Open Meeting will be held on Monday 24th April in the village hall at 7.30pm. If you have any concerns that the Parish Council may be able to help with, please come to the meeting.

Any Questions?Congratulations to Claire Atterbury, who helped put Shouldham firmly on the map by getting Jonathan Dimbleby and the Radio 4 Any Questions team to present their programme from St Martin at Shouldham School.

The programme is due to take place just as Shouldham News is set for distribution, with the live broadcast at 8pm-8.50pm on Friday 7th April, and the repeat at 1.10pm-2pm on Saturday 8th April.

Those with an internet connection can hear the programme at any time during the following week by using the BBC’s ‘listen again’ facility on www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/progs/listenagain

Shouldham’s community policemanDid you know that Shouldham had its own community policeman? His name is Jason Carlyon-Smith and he can be contacted on0845 456 4567.

Sporting chanceThis year’s Village Weekend (to be held on Saturday 8th July) will again feature a Silly Sports competition, so now’s the time to increase your proficiency at blindfold wheelbarrowing, tug of warring, and dexterity on the greasy pole.

Last year’s winners, the Olympic Hopefuls (a team of King’s Arms regulars of dubious fitness), will be defending the Inter-Village Sports Cup, a large piece of silverware that looks very nice on the mantelpiece. Local organisations and groups of friends from inside and outside Shouldham are welcome to join in. Teams should be of four people; just give the team name to any Village Weekend Committee member.

Roll up, bowl up!      Are you interested in bowling or    learning to bowl? We are looking for more bowlers and would be pleased to make    you welcome. Why not give us a try?      Ring John on 347636.

Closure of bridlewayBridleway One over the Warren will be temporarily closed for tree felling and harvesting work from 1st April to 31st August. This is the path that runs from the bridge over Fourteen Foot Drain (near where the noticeboard is) and then on up the hill through to Wormegay.

Shouldham’sParish Councillors

Here are the contact numbers and addresses forall of Shouldham’s Parish Councillors: John Dovey, 1 Foresters Row (347802)                                 Mick Bentley, Eastgate House, Eastgate Street (348097)Geoff Hipperson, Pingles, Norwich Road (347320)Keith Matthews, Alpbach, Norwich Road (347848) Paul Gascoyne, Trusbutt Lodge, The Green (348121)Steve Brown, 14 Woodward Close (347970)Rita Batson, Lavender Cottage, Westgate Street (348007)Mick Raines, The Cottage, Westgate Street (347898).The Clerk is Val Negus, Wood View, Lynn Road (347495). 

Bike ride set for 30th April!Once again it is time for the annual sponsored bike ride in aid of the Shouldham Village Weekend fund. This is a very popular event (approximately 70 people took part last year) and gives villagers the opportunity to raise monies for the Village Weekend fund while having a social get-together over a pint. The route is the same as for the past three years, taking in five pubs and covering 26 miles. Though this sounds daunting, the ride is carried out at a leisurely pace, taking the whole day.

The event starts at 11am on Shouldham Village Green and by 1pm (ish) we aim to be at the White Hart in Foulden, whereburgers and sausages will be available to buy (served by renowned short-order chef, Geoff Hipperson, and his band of helpers). Anyone who doesn’t fancy the bike ride but would still

like to support the event is most welcome to join us for lunch at Foulden. From Foulden we return to Shouldham via Oxborough, arriving back at about 5pm.

The route can be completed by children, but the committee asks that they be accompanied by an adult. There will be a safety car to pick up stragglers and deal with emergencies.

Sponsorship forms are available from Village Weekend Committee Members, the King’s Arms, the Post Office and the Bowls Club. If you are unable to get sponsorship but want to take part, you can donate to the Fund through a committee member. In order to help with the catering, please inform a committee member if you intend to participate, or contact John Dovey on 01366 347802.

WantedThe Village Weekend committee would like to buy a second-hand 6ft by 4ft trailer so we can store and move the marquee. Please contact any committee member, or Phil Harriss (347244 / philip.harriss@ntlworld.com) for details.

Village Sports Co-ordinatorsThe West Norfolk Sports Council wishes to appoint Village Sports Co-ordinators across the Borough. These posts will be voluntary but an ‘honorarium’ payment of up to £300 is available. Appointed co-ordinators will encourage the development of sport in their village/rural area. For more information, contact Sports Council Chairman, Paul Brandon, for an informal chat on 01553 768719.

The bells, the bells…Shouldham Parochial Church Council has applied to Ely Diocese for a faculty (permit) to refurbish our peal of six bells. The last major work was carried out in 1870, when the four ancient bells were overhauled, two smaller ones added, and a timber frame for all six was installed. The peal has given excellent service for the last 136 years, but now the plain bearings, pulleys and wheels are almost worn out. We are quite fortunate to possess an active team of bell-ringers (holders of the locals district ringing shield) and they will play a prominent part in helping the bell-hangers when the work begins – early in 2007 we hope.

The projected cost of this work will be in the region of £28,000. One way and another, the church and the ringers have already raised at least a third of this sum, and more will be available from grants. However, there will be a substantial amount still to find. When the faculty is granted, households will be circulated, inviting families to sponsor some of the replaced working parts, or to make a donation as they wish. Although their prime purpose is to call folks to church, the bells are also a village facility to be rung for weddings, funerals, great state occasions and so on. In this sense, it seems only right that some of the cost of re-hanging them should be borne by the entire village if the bells are to continue ringing in the future.

Three bells date from 1652, one from c1557, and the other two from 1870. The excellent Victorian oak frame will be reused, but needs some reinforcement. More information will be available in due course, but there

will be the opportunity to see the bells on the ground when the bell-hangers eventually remove them. Please contact Brian Hullah (Churchwarden) or any member of the PCC if you would like to be associated with this once-in-a-lifetime project.

Dates for your diariesFriday 7th April, 8pm, St Martin at Shouldham School: ANY

QUESTIONS. BBC Radio 4 Broadcasts from Shouldham! The programmeis repeated on Saturday 8th April at 1.10pm.

Tuesday 18th April, 8pm, King’s Arms: VILLAGE WEEKEND COMMITTEE MEETING. All welcome to help plan for this year’s extravaganza. Free drink to new members!

Saturday 22nd April, 7.30pm-midnight, Shouldham Bowls Club: ROGER WILLIAMS (guitar/vocalist). Meal served at 8pm (roast pork, vegetables, plus assorted desserts). Tickets £7.50; phone Elsie (347636) or ask at the bar of the club.

Monday 24th April, 7.30pm, Shouldham Village Hall: PARISH COUNCIL OPEN MEETING. If you have any concerns the Parish Council may be able to help with, please come along.

Sunday 30th April, 11am, starting on The Green: VILLAGE SPONSORED BIKE RIDE. Contact John Dovey (347802) for details, and to give numbers for the lunchtime barbecue at Foulden’s White Hart.

Saturday 20th May, 7.30pm-midnight, Shouldham Bowls Club: MARK STEEL (guitar/vocalist). Meal served at 8pm (chicken breast in white wine sauce, vegetables, plus assorted desserts). Tickets £7.50; phone Elsie (347636) or ask at the bar of the club.

Friday 16th June and Saturday 17th June, 7pm, Shouldham Playing Field: FOOLHARDY FOLK CIRCUS ARTS. The circus comes to Shouldham! Tickets £6 adults, £4 children (£1 concession for pensioners and unemployed).

Say it with flowersWe could do with more peopleto help with this year’s church

flowerfestival, to be held over the August Bank Holiday

weekend. Would you like to do an arrangement or helpwith the stall, or provide cakes to sell?

If so, ring Ann on 347814.

Great East Anglia RunOn Sunday 28th May, King’s Lynn town centre will see the major spectacle of hundreds of runners competing in a new 10km road race.

If you’d like to join them, send a stamped, addressed envelope to Sports Development Unit (GEAR), c/o Lynnsport, Green Park Avenue, King’s Lynn, PE30 2NB or get further details and an online entry form at www.greateastanglianrun.co.uk. Postal entries close on 19th May 2006.

Saturday 24 th June, 7.30pm-midnight , Shouldham Bowls Club:PETE & DEN (duo). Meal served at 8pm (barbecue plus assorted desserts). Tickets £7.50 in aid of the Church Flower Festival; phone Elsie (347636) or ask at the bar of the club.

Saturday 8 th July , Shouldham Playing Field:VILLAGE WEEKEND SPORTS DAY & FETE.All the fun of the fair, to be followed by a barbecue and dance at Pearce’s Barn.