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The Mallard Issue 303 December 2016 & January 2017

Samaritan's Purse Christmas Shoebox Appeal As I write this ready to go to press there are only a few more days to go before the boxes are collected and taken to the depot at Peterborough for onward journeys world-wide. Thank you for your huge generosity. So far, we have approximately 160 boxes, beautifully wrapped and packed full of surprises, gifts, puzzles and love. Thank you also to those who gave donations towards the shipping costs and the work of Samaritan's Purse.

Thank you to those who gave a Saturday morning to cover and fill more boxes in St Mary's church, spurred on by cake and coffee! There are lots of stories on the website. See what happens to a box and the joy of a child receiving their box. A small shoebox can have a great impact. What goes into a box is fun but what comes out is eternal. www.samaritans-purse.co.uk Thank you. Margaret Bowes

Bumper Combined

Christmas and New Year

Edition

‘MATTERS ARISING’ SELL OUT SUCCESS This light-hearted production was performed to packed houses, at the Village Hall, on 11th and 12th November. It gave an excellent insight into the village of Upper Messingham which, I must say, bore an amazing resemblance to Great Massingham! As with all our village drama productions, it was a fine example of teamwork and commitment.

See and read more on the centre pages.

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Mallard News

‘Histry Bits’.... BRIEF ENCOUNTER During the final years of World War Two my mother Merrill (nee Morton) ran a milk round in the village, delivering milk by horse and cart from her father’s Heath Farm herd. Delivery invariably took a long time, as villagers would come out of their houses with jugs to be filled from the churns and, at the same time, exchange gossip. Here is an extract from a letter sent by Mum to my father Ken Miller, who was on active service in Italy at the time. Though the Italians had surrendered a year previously, feelings were obviously still running high in Massingham…

Heath Farm, Great Massingham, King’s Lynn. 15.8.44

Dearest Ken I was so interested to hear about your leave in Rome. You men-tion the genuine friendliness you find in the Italians. As far as I’m concerned, some we have about here make me sick, riding to work in elaborate buses, and having everything they desire – even a few foolish English girls who are fascinated by their olive complexions and dark wavy hair. A bus load of them pulled up while I was out with the milk about a fortnight or so ago and the driver, whose face I took an instant dislike to – though of course, he was English – asked me for a pint of milk for a sick Italian who was sitting beside him. I took one look at him and came to the instant conclusion that he looked extraor-dinarily well, so I simply said, “Down here we have evacuees who have been bombed out of London. I consider that these people, who have lost everything, need this milk..” I just simply could not have given them anything because they all come from the camp at Fakenham, and are still for Mussolini. There are only a few who have been given their freedom. They are work-ing at Captain Hardy’s farm. The driver was very annoyed, and said, “Those people (the evacuees) should stay where they belong.” With this remark I said no more, but turned away and continued with my round to whistles and waves from the men on the bus. With love, Merrill.

Shoebox Appeal Matters Arising ‘Histry’ Bits Parish Council Can You Help? Village Hall Events West Norfolk Folk Quiz Night Craft & Chat Community Cars Gert & Daisy West Norfolk Carers Pre-school School News Baby & Toddler Health Visitor Visit Historical Society Christmas Lights Biodiversity Project Defibrillator Training Creative Arts Civic Awards Dr Burgess Retires Strollers Rector’s Message Many Thanks Church News Church Services Film Club Dates for your Diary

In this issue

This parish magazine is published every month for the residents of Great and Little

Massingham with the support of the Great Massingham Parish Council, the Parochial Church

Council and Massingham Village Hall Trustees.

www.greatmassingham.net e-mail: mallard.editor@btinternet.com

Editorial Committee

Editor: Bev. Randall. 6 Abbeyfields Great Massingham 01485 520 899

Treasurer: David Baines 01485 520 966

Website: Caroline Boyden 01485 521 816

Deadline for the next issue

20th January 2017

Article by

David Miller

A picture of a

wartime bus left

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Mallard News

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Parish Council Report – November Seven councillors attended the November meeting. Also present were the Clerk, John Dobson (County Councillor) and seven parishioners.

Officers from Hastoe Housing Association have visited the village and inspected possi-ble sites. They will now consider these before returning to advise the Parish Council of their views. Their statutory policy is to identify the best site available to fulfil the local need and it was previously stressed that a public meeting is always held before an application is sub-mitted to the planners.

Matched funding of £500 was agreed for the bio-diversity group to enable essential pond work to be carried out. They have already received confirmation that a grant of £500 is to be made by Skipton Building Society.

The Clerk submitted a draft budget for the year to 31st March 2018. It was decided to leave the individual household contribution to the Parish Precept at the same figure as last year, i.e. there will be no increase to the parish element of the Council tax. The central grant from government has been reduced from £640 to £457 and we are aware that there will be a further reduction next year.

Correspondence had been received from a parishioner in which a number of claims and accusations were made in respect of the involvement of Hastoe Housing in the village. Unfortunately, these were generally based on incorrect assumptions and false information. The actual situation was explained in detail.

The next meeting will be on Monday 23rd January 2017 at 7.30 pm, at the Village Hall.

CAN YOU HELP? Two items of jewellery have been lost in the village this month. If anyone has any information please help. Linda Brown lost a necklace of senti-

mental value when at ‘Matters Arising’ at the Village Hall on 11th November. It is gold with small diamonds. If anyone has found it please contact Linda on 01485 520655.

Pam Hales lost a purple/pink themed Pandora bracelet recently between her home in Station Road and the Village Store. It is practically full with charms. Please contact 01485 520 326.

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Mallard News Village Hall

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Dress Making Alterations

Loose Covers Curtains

Carol Walker MCFHP MAFHP Registered Member of the British

Association of Foot Health Professionals

Foot Health Practitioner

Foot Healthcare in Your Home

Contact: carolwalker3060@gmail.com

Tel: 07714192521 or 01485 520 187

GARY KNIGHT DOMESTIC ENERGY ASSESSOR QUIDOS ACCREDITED

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telephone Patrick Jacques 07976981270

VILLAGE HALL REGULAR EVENTS Keep Fit Wed.1.45 to 2.45pm Bingo Fridays at 7.30pm Auction Sundays Bowls Sessions Wednesdays 2-4pm Coronation Club (4th Wed.) 2pm - 4pm Baby &Toddler Thurs. 10am - 11.30am W/Norfolk Radio Sundays 7pm -10pm Craft & Chat (1st & 3rd Mon) 2 - 4pm Trefoil Guild 2nd Thursday, each month

Film Club 3rd Thursday, each month

Quiz Nights 4th Thursday, each month Bowls Sessions Mondays 2 - 4pm. Bowls Competitions Wednesday Evenings Historical Society 2nd Monday 7.30pm

West Norfolk Folk Village Hall Bar 7-10pm, free entry.

11th Dec. Some things, Arthur & The Brass Monkeys - Jazz. 18th Dec. The Mojo Preachers & Tom Malachowski 15th Jan. The Tildens from Harpley (to be confirmed) 22

nd Jan. The Fried Pirates from

King’s Lynn and Red Velvet from Cambridge.

Craft and Chat 5th and 12th December. Then...9th and 23rd

January 2017, in the Village Hall Bar 2pm - 4.30. £1.50 includes refreshments.

QUIZ NIGHT Next Quiz - 26th January 2017

Meet 7pm for 7.30 start, Village Hall Bar

DECEMBER & NEW YEAR’S EVE SPECIAL EVENTS IN THE HALL

Photographic Exhibition by local photographer Lenzman in the village hall On New Year’s Eve, the Social Club presents a family disco in the village hall from 8pm until 12.30am. Licensed bar until midnight. Members Free. Non members £5. Children under 14 free but must be ac-companied by a responsible adult at all times.

Grand Christmas Draw - Christmas Eve £1 a square. Available NOW from the bar.

1st prize - a television. No prize less than £10 in value.

17th & 18th Dec. 31st Dec

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Urgently Required-

Volunteer Drivers For

Community Car Scheme

A service to the village

that we don’t want to lose.

Call 01485 520823 or email

communitycars@btconnect.com

PLEASE VOLUNTEER!

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Mallard News

Gert & Daisy.... .... Well, how are yew gitting on tergether? Hope yew’ve dun yer Christmas shopping – only days left now. As the kids are gitting older they only want money for presents but half-a-crown don’t go far these days, do it?

Wonder what we’ll git this year? We dint git no bookings fer our trumpet and mandolin duo so we wus wondering whether to git bongo drums and a kazoo instead!

Gert went ter Dr Burgesses tea party (Daisy forgot!). Well done ter the refreshment la-dies – lovely spread. There wus lots of people wanting appointments. We are very sorry to see him go but wish him awl the best fer the future.

We are sad to report that Adrian Brooks (known to all as Brook) passed away recently. Some of you will remember him and his wife Jean when they lived in Cobwebs about 20 years ago. Then they moved to Sidmouth in Devon. Gert and Bert go to see them every year. Our thoughts go to Jean at this sad time.

Congratulations to Hannah Reeve and Chris woods on their marriage in October. We saw Rod and Debbie on Facebook – they don’t harf scrub up well!

Daisy watched ‘Matters Arising’ – she thort Gert wus very gud. Very true to life – no committee decided anything.

We will be helping out at the Church Christmas Fair on 26th November so by the toime yew read this that’ll be over and hope yew awl went to give your support.

We’re gorn to Weasenham Fox ter meet up with someone we met on holiday in Minorca. If yew always read our bit yew will know awl abowt Len the plumber from East Winch.

Daisy’s mum will be 95 on 22nd November so Happy Birthday to her.

There will be no Gert and Daisy in January as we will still be playing with our new toys. Anyoldhow January’s bit hev to be in by the end of November so as we carn’t predict the future we dint think we’d hev anything ter write abowt.

We see Barry is gitting on well with his new knee and not even using a stick now. Well done.

We hev bin thinking abowt New Year’s Resolutions. Top of our list is to only drink alcohol on days ending in ‘y’.

We wish yew awl a Merry Christmas and a Happy and healthy New Year. If you have a neighbour who you know is going to be alone on Christmas Day try to make the effort to offer them a little Christmas cheer - a meal, a card or just an ‘Hello, how are you today?’ Maybe make one of your New Year Resolutions that you will do a good deed every week for someone alone or less fortunate than you.

Dew yew keep atroshing. Gert and Daisy.

Thought of the month Remember, if Christmas isn’t found in your heart, you won’t find it under a tree.

Norfolk words:- Tizzick - cough Ranny - shrew

Are You a Carer? West Norfolk Carers Can Help. A carer is anyone who cares, unpaid, for a family or family member who, due to illness, disability, a mental health problem or an addiction cannot cope without their support.

West Norfolk Carers is a charitable body working to support family carers. Interested? For an informal chat and to gain more information call us on 01553 768155.

Or email info@westnorfolkcarers.org.uk or go to www.westnorfolkcarers.org.uk

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The Dabbling Duck A warm welcome guaranteed from

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Ducklings Pre-School c/o Gt. Massingham Primary School

Weasenham Road

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Mallard News

Ducklings Pre-School News… DUCKLINGS PRE-SCHOOL OFFERS 30 FUNDED HOURS From September 2017, funded childcare is being increased from 15 hours to 30 hours for 3-4 year olds when working parents both earn a minimum of £115.20 a week each. This is approximately 16 hours a week. The £115.20 applies to single working parents as well. Bookings are being taken for pre-school places in 2017. Parents need to speak to Pippa now to reserve sessions or contact ducklingspreschool@aol.com or see advert on page 7. LEST WE FORGET Ducklings Pre-school observed two minutes silence and laid a poppy wreath at the war memorial at St Mary's Church on Friday 11th November. (see picture right) CHLOE MAKES HER MARK New deputy Manager, Chloe Dewson, has only been at the Pre-school for a few weeks but she is already developing the opportunity for learning through play activities. The children are getting creative with the new mud kitchen and the donated pots and pans. November’s project, ‘Me, Myself and I’ in-cludes child development (when I was a baby) and art in the style of Pablo Picasso. The ‘Gingerbread Man’, a classic tale from the 1800’s was used in October as a theme to learn about numbers. ‘Not in a Box’ by Portis got the imagination and creativity going on how to use empty cardboard boxes. Can’t wait for ‘How to wash a Woolly Mammoth’….. From the Ducklings Team

Great Massingham Baby and Toddler

EVERY

THURSDAY

10am - 11.30am at the

Village Hall

Come and join the fun.See us on Facebook for up to date details.

Snack

£1.50

Tea and

Cake

Great Massingham Health Visitor Clinic

Make the most of this clinic. The next visit is on January 24th 2017 at Great Massingham Village Hall, 10 -11 am. Bring your baby to be weighed and come and chat with the Community Health Visitor about any concerns.

‘Stay & Play’ Sessions included. Tel: Dereham Children’s Centre 01362 692 839,

SCHOOL NEWS……. The School Council organised a non uniform day and cake sale on ‘Children In Need’ day, Fri-day 18th November. They raised £95 for the cause.

Many thanks to all who supported by making cakes or purchasing them. The event coincided with a class assembly day with many parents in attendance. Thank you all very much.

Many Thanks to ‘Mel W. & Co’. The School staff, parents, children and governors wish to say a special thank you to Mel Whitmore and her team for organising the recent Halloween Disco at the Village Hall and donating all the proceeds to the school. This amounted to an amazing £265.83. It will be used as a contribution towards purchasing some ipads for the children to use.

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Mallard News

Massingham Historical Society

Proudly presents an illustrated talk by historian Philip West entitled:

Farming In The Past

at Great Massingham Village Hall on Monday the 12th of December

at 7.00pm - £3 on the door.

Please come along.

Raffle, Bar and 2017 calendars on sale

New 2017 Massingham Historical Society Calendars The new calendars prepared using pictures from our village archives are pictured above. They will make excellent Christmas presents and cost £6.25. On sale from the Village Store and at various village events. Illustrated Talk Details Local Historian Philip West will be giving a talk on Farming in the Past - a popular talk particularly for those who remember summers in the harvest fields. Philip takes us through the farming procedure prior to the 1960's including muck carts, ploughing and harvesting. The export of grain from the North Norfolk Coast and uses of corn are also included. Over 100 slides will be shown. Please come along and support.

Christmas Lights To keep up with our annual tradition we will be meeting on Friday the 16th December, at 6.30pm, outside The Dabbling Duck, to switch on the Christ-mas lights and sing Christmas carols. A great time to get the village and family together prior to the build up for Christmas. Bring a hat and a pair of gloves as it looks to be a cold winter! See you there! Ryan Brown

THIS EDITION OF THE

MALLARD IS A COMBINED, DECEMBER

AND JANUARY ISSUE

YOUR NEXT ISSUE WILL BE IN FEBRUARY Closing date 20th Jan.

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Mallard News

Upper Messingham ‘Toad Patrollers’ in action.

Upper Messingham PCC members are distracted by a mouse!

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Mallard News

‘Matters Arising’ is a Huge Success in More Ways Than One This was yet another of Mr Bickerton’s ramblings to add to his collection of pantomimes and more serious dramas such as ‘A Christmas Carol’ and ‘Lest we Forget’. This one didn’t disappoint and we have all the people to thank who took part either on stage or behind the scenes. Well done all of you for giving your time. Thank you also to all who came along. I expect you are, like me, and looking forward to the next one! Editor.

Andrew writes….. ‘Matters Arising’ was all about the importance of people giving their free time for the benefit of the community. Although the scenes were ostensibly about the village of Upper Messingham it was, of course, largely based on our village of Great Massingham, blessed with greens and ponds but, more importantly, with a strong and active community. It was not for nothing that Great Massingham won the Pride in Norfolk Award two years in succession. ‘Matters Arising’ could not have been staged without such people who gave up much of their free time learning lines, attending rehearsals, recording sound effects, creating and printing programmes and many other back-stage tasks. I have received lots of compli-ments from those who watched the show but they were also to be thanked for deciding to leave the telly when England v Scotland and Strictly Come Dancing were on and coming to support us instead. I hope it was worth it! We had almost full houses both nights and, with the raffle, the show made a total of

£1,253.00. After costs this will mean £500.00 will be donated to Tapping House and £500.00 to the Village Hall Restoration fund.

The success of ‘Matters Arising’ could well see ‘Any Other Business’ in 2018!

The Upper Messingham Parish Council tries to make sense of some new plans .

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Mallard News

Biodiversity Project Thank you for your votes

In the October issue of The Mallard, read-ers were asked to vote online in support our application for a grant from the Skip-ton Building Society to renovate School Pond. We were already on a short-list but needed lots of votes to secure a grant. The response was magnificent and sufficient to qualify us for a £500 donation.

Grateful thanks to everyone who voted for us.

To add to the good news, the Parish Council has since agreed match the Skipton grant. Thanks to the Council’s generosity, we now have enough to pay a contractor to extract extensive tree roots from the pond, remove some of the Norfolk reed and dig-out much accumulated silt and mud. The work will restore the pond to approximately its original size and create gently sloping banks needed to encourage plant life and aid the movement of toads and other amphibians. The online votes cast in our favour and the generosity of our Parish Council should soon make these much-needed improvements a reality. Thank you to everyone who has supported us.

If you would like to join our group of volunteers and help maintain the biodiversity site you are welcome at our next meeting on December 14th at 6.30 pm for pre-Christmas discussions, food and drinks. If you plan to come, please ring 520 056 to let me know by Sunday 11th December. Mike Jackson, 01485 520 056

Save a Life: Learn to Use The Defibrillator The Automated External Defibrillator has been in place outside the Village Hall since the end of July and 13 people have been trained in its use.

A second, free, training course is planned for:

Saturday 10th December starting at 10:00am & finishing around 1pm The training covers

the use of the Defibrillator and Car-diopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR).

Of course, in an emergency, anybody can use the Defibrillator, even if they have not been trained, as the system talks you through what to do. However, the training is much better and covers CPR very thoroughly.

If you are interested in being trained please let me know as soon as possible as we expect the demand to be high for this Saturday session.

Training is being provided free by Kate Banks's Fakenham based company Fully Trained Ltd.

Arthur Allen, 520628, arthur.allen@hotmail.co.uk

The Norfolk Creative Arts End of First Year Student Exhibition A chance for you to come and view some of the work produced by students who have attended courses during 2016. Also a great opportunity to speak to us about courses we have on offer for 2017.

Open to the public from 10am to 4pm each day from Friday 2nd December

to Sunday 4th December at Norfolk Creative Arts,

71 Gayton Road, Grimston. We are next to the church and parking is situated towards the back of the property

in the former playground.

The cafe will be open serving tea, coffee and mince pies.

Please check out our website if you require further information

www.norfolkcreativearts.co.uk

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Mallard News

Strollers…. To the Brink and Back The 23rd October Strollers’ walk took us up Drunken Drove where we turned right onto Peddars Way. On reaching Lynn Lane we made our way to the green road across Massingham Heath. We ascended the hill up to Jordan’s Wood where a deserted cot-tage hides among the trees. We then took the path leading south to Brink Hill and the tall radio masts which were originally part of the defences for RAF Massingham. The sandy area is ideal for Vipers Bugloss to grow spectacularly in the summer and one bedraggled specimen still remained. We then made our way down the hill towards the B1145 admiring the view and the tranquillity that this area provides as we walked along. On our return journey, a Red Kite was spot-ted over West Heath Farm as we made our way to our final stop, at the Dabbling Duck, for a very welcome lunch.

Mayors’s Civic Awards The Borough Mayor Cllr David Whitby is asking everyone to get involved in this year's Mayor's Civic Awards for Voluntary Service by nominating people they know who have given their time to help others. You can Download a nomination form, or

you can request one from the Civics Officer by emailing

civics.officer@west-norfolk.gov.uk or by calling 01553 762124.

Nominations must be received by Friday, 13th January 2017.

Happy Retirement to Dr Burgess Many people popped in to say their fare-wells to Dr Burgess at the Village Hall on the 3rd November, on his retirement. Pictured here is one of two sculptures pre-sented to Dr Burgess as a retirement gift. We wish him best wishes for the future.

Walking with Rainbows Sunday 27th November six strollers met at the Well for their walk over Massingham Heath to Gayton. As we walked, the sun broke through and we were treated to the vision of a rainbow over Grimston Heath as dark clouds and a fine drizzle encroached. Fortunately, after a slight shower, blue skies returned giving us excellent views over the valleys on either side. We saw very little wildlife but paused to marvel at the splendid beech trees along the lane leading to Gayton Workhouse. We also did some much needed litter picking as we went along! The pot of gold at the end of our rainbow was the Crown Inn where we tucked into the hot Sunday buffet. The next Strollers is on Sunday January 8th. It will be a short stroll of about four miles finishing at the Dabbling Duck for lunch and our traditional Strollers Quiz. See you in 2017. Andrew Bickerton

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Message To All Parishioners

NEXT MOBILE LIBRARY VISITS 20th December 2016 & 17th January 2017

From 11am. For timetable see: www.norfolk.gov.uk/libraries

Christmas – Bring it on! I don’t know if you’ve seen Tesco’s Christmas Advert showing on our TV screens at the moment featuring Ruth Jones, Ben Miller and Slade’s, ‘Merry Christmas’ where the ‘lady shopper’ is daunted by the thought of getting ready for Christmas – and it’s only mid November! Well, as I write this in mid-November, I know just how she feels! So many Carol Ser-vices to plan and prepare for as well as all the special things that happen in our churches and villages in December – all this and more - and ‘normal life’ doesn’t stop because it’s Christmas. I admit to feeling a little daunted. I suspect there are many of you who feel the same with thinking of all the shopping, planning and preparing to be done over the next few weeks. And yet, like the character in the advert, we too can pause, take a deep breath, look afresh, see the joy, love and hope in Christmas (not necessarily the mince pies!) and say to ourselves; Yeah – Bring it on! Christmas is such a special time of year with candle lit churches, family fun, children laughing. There is an abundance of good things coming up for us all to enjoy – including the mince pies. Christmas is full of love and joy and hope and new beginnings. It is the beginning of the Christian story when God, because he so loved the world, sent His son to earth to live among us and show us the right way to be – to live. That, when we take it seriously, is life changing. It is the beginning of the churches’ new-year and it heralds the New Year to come. It is a time when we can all pause for a while from our normal routines and amidst the tinsel, wrapping paper, turkey and trimmings, reflect upon the potential and possibilities that lie ahead. So let’s not be daunted – let’s turn around together and say, ‘Bring it on!’ And remember that this child we celebrate every Christmas time, born in controversy, threatened by kings, would forever change the course of human history. His story is our story. He can transform our lives too. So will you embrace him as the most wonderful and life changing gift that we can ever receive? I promise you it will take you until eternity to unwrap His treasures. I pray that your Christmas this year will be full of Joy and Love and Hope for the future.

Every blessing, Rev’d Jane.

WEDDING

Saturday 3rd December at St. Andrew’s

Little Massingham

Claire Seddon and John Robertson

Many congratulations to you both.

Little Massingham Church Roofing Thank You to Neil West and Crew

Just to say, many thanks to Neil West and his crew for acting so swiftly after the ‘lead thieves’ stole the lead recently. We very much appreciate what you did and it saved too much rain getting into the Church.

Glenda and Geordie

Police Budget Consultation Have your say before the 9th December

TEL: 01953 424455 TellLorne@norfolk.pnn.police.uk

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Church Services…... DECEMBER 2016 AND JANUARY 2017

Date Time Service Location

4th December 2nd Sunday in Advent

9.30 am 11.00 am

Family Service Holy Communion

Harpley Great Massingham

7th December 9.00 am Holy Communion Harpley

11th December 3rd Sunday in Advent

10.30 am 3.00 pm 4.00 pm

Benefice Holy Communion Carol Service The Gap

Great Massingham Little Massingham Pott Row Methodist

18th December 4th Sunday in Advent

9.30 am 3.00 pm

Holy Communion Carol Service

Harpley Great Massingham

23rd December 6.00 pm Carol Service Harpley

24th December Christmas Eve

4.30 pm 11.30 pm

Christingle Midnight Communion

Great Massingham Great Masssingham

25th December Christmas Day

9.30 am 11.15 am

Holy Communion Family Worship

Little Massingham Harpley

1st January 9.30 am

11.00 am Family Service Holy Communion

Harpley Great Massingham

4th January 9.00 am Holy Communion Harpley

8th January 10.30 am 4.00 pm

Benefice Holy Communion The Gap

Grimston Pott Row Methodist

15th January 9.30 am 11.00 am 11.15 am

Holy Communion Family Service Sung Holy Communion

Little Massingham Great Massingham Harpley

22nd January 11.00 am Holy Communion Great Massingham

29th January 10.30 am Holy Communion Little Massingham

Benefice Prayer Meeting, Sunday 4th December, 3pm at Gayton Sunday 1st January, 3pm at Gayton Rectory

For more news please visit our benefice website at www.ggmbenefice.uk

CHURCH NEWS Carol Service This will be on Sunday 18th December at 3pm at St Mary’s. Everyone is most wel-come to come and join in with the singing of traditional and well-loved carols. The service will be followed by refreshments of mulled wine and mince pies. Please come and join us.

Christingle This well-loved and popular service will, once again, be held on Saturday 24 th

December at 4.30pm. We look forward to seeing you all there. Messy Church The next Messy Church will be on January 26th at 3.30 pm, at Jubilee Hall Gayton.

Christmas greetings to you all!

16

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TERRY DOWNING

WALL & FLOOR TILING SPECIALIST 25 Years Experience

Kitchens, Bathrooms, Conservatories etc FREE measure and quotation

Home: 01328 701911 Mobile: 07976 222287

All building work undertaken Quality assured. Renovation & newbuild

15, Cross Street, Harpley, King’s Lynn PE31 6TJ

sandrreeve@gmail.com

Call Steve 01485 520142 07745 163149

No Mole, No Charge! email: steveoutthere66@gmail.com

Guitar Tuition - Acoustic, Electric & Bass Drum Tuition Music Workshops

Vocal Coaching Ukulele Mandolin

Tel: 01553 630747 - 07720 888978 - Ashwicken, King’s Lynn Email: stone.pony@btinternet.com

Carpet Fitting and Supplying For All Your Carpet Needs

Call Colin or See our Website for More info

www.jsccarpets.com 07464619007

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Jo Lovegrove

Ofsted registered childcare service

1 Mill Lane Great Massingham PE32 2HT 01485 520091

jimjo_070@fsmail.net

Wood Floor Sanding & Fitting Specialist

Floor Boards, Wood Block/Parquet, Engineered & Laminate Floors

Sealing Staining Waxing Oiling Moisture Issues, Floor levelling

Free advice & Quotes, Contact Chris on

01945 780166 or 01485 521707 or 07894791723 www.crgibbsflooring.co.uk

The Window Doctor Trust The Window Doctor for your NEW

Windows - Doors - Conservatories Fascia, Soffit & Guttering.

Misted or broken glass sealed units replaced Jammed or failed windows & doors fixed Hinges, handles, letterboxes, locks etc replaced.

01945 585999 or www.thewindow-doctor.co.uk sales @ thewindow-doctor.co.uk

Over 25 years experience,

17Th Edition qualified,

Part P registered

NORFOLK WOODBURNERS

SUPPLY &

INSTALLATION

OF WOODBURNERS Norfolk’s Agent for Aga, Hunter

& Parkway Stoves.

www.norfolkwoodburners.co.uk

T&A

All aspects of Domestic Tree and Garden Care Pruning, reductions, felling, hedge trimming, climbers, shrub pruning, fruit trees and more.

Small Local Company - Qualified & Insured Free no obligation quotes and advice

www.TandAnorfolk.co.uk

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Level 3 Advanced Personal Trainer, Children's Fitness Instructor, GP Exercise Referral Instructor

Nutrition and Weight Management, Level 2 ASA Swimming Teacher, First Aid Qualified.

ALL ON YOUR DOORSTEP A Warm Welcome Awaits

at Heath Farm, Lynn Lane, Great Massingham

01485 520828 www.lingscountrygoods.com

Excellent facilities and a friendly atmosphere.

Good beer, real ale, wines and spirits all at competitive prices. Separate snooker room.

Satellite, large screen TV. Outside drinking area.

Entertainment throughout the year.

Membership applications can be obtained from the club bar

Welcomes old & new members

CALL TODAY

01485 521888

High quality fitted and free-standing

furniture. Individually designed,

personally installed by experts from

our Great Massingham workshops.

www.tenacityinteriors.com

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Gill and Dave would like to welcome you to

B&B and Self Catering Cottages Traditional Norfolk Barns

Less than 1 mile outside Gt Massingham

Contact: or

www.westheathbarn.com

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OVEN CLEANING

CARPET CLEANING

SOFA CLEANING

Call the local experts now

Clean Tech

01485 609223 Card, cheque and cash

payments accepted

Useful Numbers Organisation Contact Phone No.

Allotment Association Gill Goold 0750 824 2223

Borough Council Tim Tilbrook 01485 601413

British Legion & Bell Ringing Denys Winner 520598

Bowls Club Peter Wadham 520796

Church Contacts Revd Judith Pollard or Revd Jane Holmes

01485 601 251 01553 636227

Community Car Scheme Office 520823

Coronation Club Jill Whitmore 520609

County Council John Dobson 534989

Doctors Massingham Surgery 520521

The Film Club Arthur Allen/Barry Talbot 520628/07818 807 738

Fishing Warden Nigel Yates 520844/0794979970

Football Club Barry Talbot (seniors) 520653

Guide Trefoil Guild Shirley Rae 520259

Massingham Historical Society Anthony Robinson 520455

Tennis and Multi-Sports Club Arthur Allen 520628

Parish Council Kevin Webb (Clerk) Vic Cross (Chair)

01328 855 046 520387

Pre-School Pip Armitage 07807 185 746

Police Non-emergency 101

School Ann Beardall 520362

Village Hall Hall & Bar & Vic Cross 520588/520387

FREE local deliveries every Thursday !

Village Store

Great Massingham

The Village Store & Post Office

Ray and staff welcome you to your local shop,

7days a week. Mon. to Sat.

8am to 5.30pm Sun. 9.30 -12.30

Tel: 520 272

Fresh Bread Daily from Ridouts Bakery

Holiday Insurance & Foreign Currency

Take Away Food Menu

Fresh Fruit and vegetables

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Dates for your Diary – December 2016 & January 2017 Date Event Time Place

See Page 4 West Norfolk Folk 7 - 10 pm Village Hall Bar

See Page 4 Craft & Chat 2 - 4.30 pm Village Hall Bar

See Page 14 Mobile Library From 11am As timetabled

17/18 Dec Photographic Exhibition Daytime Village Hall

10 Dec Defibrillator Training 10am - 1pm Village Hall

12 Dec Historical Society Talk 7pm Village Hall

16 Dec Christmas Lights 6.30 pm Outside Dabbling Duck

31 Dec Family Disco 8pm - 12.30am Village Hall

8 Jan Strollers walk 9.30 am At The Well

19 Jan Film Club 7 for 7.30pm Village Hall

23 Jan Parish Council Meeting 7.30 pm Village Hall

24 Jan Health Visitor Clinic 10 -11am Village Hall

26 Jan Quiz 7.30 pm Village Hall Bar

The Film Club Celebrates its Fifth Anniversary

On 5th December The Film Club is holding a special Nor-folk themed evening at the Dabbling Duck to celebrate five successful years. A glass of wine from the South Pick-enham Estate will be followed by the Dabbling Duck's very locally sourced Game Cob-bler. Elly Wilson, Deputy Director of Creative Arts East is our guest of honour and will tell us a little about the great work of her organisation in promoting the arts in Norfolk. Then we'll settle down to watch the made for TV film ‘Never and Always’. This film was directed by the late Denis Mitchell who lived in Great Massingham. A joint initiative of Community Cars and the Trustees of the Village Hall, The Film Club has shown films at the Village Hall every third Thursday of the month, except December, since its inception, selling over 2,000 tickets. The Club holds 4 members-only evenings each year at the Dabbling Duck where we enjoy a meal and watch a film in the back room.

145 members have paid the £5 life member-ship fee and help us select the films we watch. The Film Club has provided a great oppor-tunity for people to see films they might not see otherwise and to meet friends old and new over the tea, coffee and cake at the end. Helped by an initial grant from the Mallard and 36 generous people who each invested £10 in the venture, The Film Club has now, in turn, made significant contributions to-wards the comfy chairs in the Hall & the new sound system and make a contribution to Community Cars. Why not join us?

Arthur Allen

Thursday January 19th 2017, 7pm for 7.30pm, Massingham Village Hall, £4 entry.

Refreshments available.

‘I, Daniel Blake’ Ken Loach crafts a Cathy Come Home for the 21st century, the raw anger of which resonates long after you leave the cinema.

Coming soon ….. February 16th Bridget Jones’s Baby March 16th The Girl On The Train