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 4 PM EVENING MEALS SERVED EVERY DAY.

EXCEPT TUESDAYS AND SUNDAYS LUNCH EVERY DAY EXCEPT TUESDAY

SENIOR CITIZENS LUNCH 1ST WEDNESDAY EVERY MONTH, 2 COURSES £ 5. 95P

COME AND ENJOY THE ATMOSPHERE OF THIS HISTORIC INN TEL 727317

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

Dave's Kitchen By David Wheatley Our resident Chef

Potato wedges To produce this dish all you need is a plastic bag, some seasonings and some good size potatoes Wash the potatoes and dry cut into wedges long ways put in the bag add the seasoning that you like shake until the potatoes are covered in the seasoning empty on to a roasting tray lightly sprinkle with olive oil or vegetable oil cook in the oven till golden brown children love these B_B_Q Ribs Ribs Beer Water Salt

Pepper Tomato sauce Worcestershire sauce Sugar Vinegar Method Put the ribs and enough beer to half cover them add salt pepper and top off with the water cook till the ribs are tender remove from the stock and allow to cool Mix together tomato sauce and sugar Worcestershire sauce, vinegar cover the ribs well then you can either cook them in the oven or on the B_B_Q the quantities are to your own liking I do hope that you try these dishes as they do turn out very tasty

As it is now the time to start digging up the new potatoes, Dave has turned his attention to the humble "spud".

Northwold Carnival

Don't forget that it is Carnival time on Saturday 9th June. This is always one

of the biggest events in the Village Calendar, and Roger and his team put a tremendous effort into making the

success that it is.

Roger has asked me to insert the following entry into this months

village life:

We are again having a Truck Pull. It is being sponsored by Ford & Slater. Teams of a maximum of 6, £10 entry fee with the winners receiving a

cash prize.

Names to either Gary Cater or Roger Preston.

Issue June 2007 Copy date for the next issue is;

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

The Work Of East Anglian Air Ambulance Over the years Village life has supported Air Ambulance by donations made from the proceeds of our operations and from other generous donations made by parishioners in appreciation for what we do. Air Ambulance is a charity. It is not financed by Government and relies on the tremendous support of the people in order to keep it flying. Despite this the service is getting better all the time, and there is now a second and larger helicopter in operation with running costs of around £110,000 a month available to answer emergencies whenever they arise. These helicopters frequently fly over Northwold. They are painted yellow and have a green chequered pattern on the fuselage the same as other ambulances. The main advantage that the Air Ambulance has over the conventional one is that of access. If you can imagine one of these massive pile ups on a motorway when the traffic tails back for miles in a very short time, then it is extremely difficult for ambulances to reach the scene of the crash. Air Ambulance can on the other hand land almost anywhere within reason very

close to the scene. And of course the speed with which the causalities can be taken to hospital is quite staggering. And so on the afternoon of 2nd May; as mentioned briefly in our last issue the Air ambulance was seen approaching Northwold from Didlington direction. But instead of passing over as it normally does it began to circle the village and eventually it landed on Mrs Legge’s meadow in West End. The reason for the arrival of the helicopter was because John Duke who lives in Glebe Close, and is usually known as ‘Jock’ had collapsed unconscious at home. It was known that he had a medical condition called Aneurysm which, if it bursts usually results in death

very quickly, and in view of this history Air Ambulance was called. They considered landing in Glebe Close which they reckon they could have done but the rotor would have blown all the gravel up and broken windows. So he was wheeled over to The meadow, and very quickly despatched to Norwich Hospital where he underwent emergency surgery. He was told that they reckoned he had 20 minutes left when they operated. Not bad timing! Jock, or Hamish as The editor calls him is now home and can be seen walking somewhat gingerly around the village, Proof of what a useful service Air Ambulance is.

Air Ambulance regularly has appeals for clothing and other things. If you feel you would like to support them in any way you can contact the editor of Village Life for more details. Who knows? A few weeks ago it was Jock. In a few weeks time it might be you!! Ed.

Lifting off with "Jock" on board Away at full speed to Norwich Hospital

Air Ambulance on the meadow

Air Ambulance cover

St Andrew's Church Quiz

2

Youth Club Obituary Whittington Bowls Club draw

3

Then and Now 4 W I Norman School

5

Our Past According to POG 6 River Watch Art Group

7

Mundford Fun day Quiz answers Spiritualists Bee keepers

8

Nija Classified Ads

9

Doctor 10 Neighbourhood watch 11 Dave's Kitchen 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

St' Andrew's Church

Church Diary for June June Sunday 3rd 11am Holy Communion Sunday 10th 11am matins Sunday 17th 8am Holy Communion Sunday 24th 11am Matins July Sunday 1st 11am Holy Communion

Church Spring Cleaning As Usual plenty of willing helpers came to lend a hand with the spring cleaning. We were especially pleased to welcome Victoria, Becky, Sally, Cristina, Arden and Callum from the Youth Club who cleaned several of the pews (And enjoyed a visit to the bell tower afterwards under the expert guidance of Charlie, Pat and Stephen). We warmly thank all those kind people for their support and enthusiasm. The Church looks and smells delicious. Betty and Jane Church Coffee Morning There will be a Coffee Morning in St Andrew’s Church on Tuesday July 10th from 10. 30 am until 12 noon .

Refreshments, stalls and raffle.

All welcome!

The World's Easiest Quiz

Set out below is the worlds easiest quiz. you can't very well go wrong as the answers are in the questions - Or are they? They say that the pass mark is 4 out of ten so see how you get on before you look at the answers on page 9. Question 1 How long did the 100 years war last ? Question 2 Which Country makes Panama hats? Question 3 From which animal do we get cat gut ? Question 4 In which month do the Russians celebrate the October Revolution? Question 5 What is a Camel's hair brush made of? Question 6 The Canary Islands are named after what creature Question 7 What was King George V1 first name Question 8 What colour is a purple Finch Question 9 Where are Chinese Gooseberries from? Question 10 What is the colour of the "Black Box" on as Commercial aeroplane ?

Well ?

Northwold Carnival

Saturday 9th June

Floats

at 2.30pm

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

and gilded finishes Antique and Reproduction Prints for sale

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

Neighbourhood Watch Police are warning Residents in the West Norfolk Area to be on their guard following 2 separate incidents of unscrupulous Traders touting or undertaking unnecessary work at e x t o r t i o n a t e p r i c e s . In the first incident an attempt was made to persuade the Occupier that Roof Repairs were needed. Upon being challenged, the Perpetrator - Age - Mid 30's clean shaven well dressed with black wavy hair - made off in a White Vauxhall Combo Registration number Y477 RBJ. In the second incident a Bank in King's Lynn intervened in a Cash w i t h d r a w a l o f £ 2 3 , 0 0 0 . The Firm operating in a van with the livery 'British Home Improvements' purported to have included a Built Extension which was untrue. All members and vulnerable persons must ensure that they NEVER agree for work to be done by so called 'Cold C a l l e r s ' . At least 2 quotes should be obtained f r o m r e p u t a b l e c o m p a n i e s .

Older, vulnerable persons should utilize Norfolk Home Call on 01603 495109 where accredited Providers can be found. Scams There are sop many of these So Called" scams at the moment that it is impossible to keep up with them. They usually come via the telephone or on occasions they can come through the post. In every case they are apparently giving something away, but in reality they are intending to take something from you, The Golden rule is to have nothing to do with any of them. Just ask yourself "Why should somebody want to give something away to a complete stranger, and the answer is of course they don't intend anything of the sort. Never phone back to any of these numbers when you are told that you have won a prize. You will incur a whacking big telephone bill if you do and that's the last you will hear of them.

Some of their little tricks are really ingenious and sophisticated so that they have been known to catch the most unlikely of people who really ought to know better. There is one golden rule Have nothing to do with any of it. If it's by telephone put the phone down immediately. If it's callers at the door tell them to go away, or words to that effect, and anything via the mail, destroy it. There is no such thing as a free lunch. Somebody is going to pay for it. Make sure it isn't you. I have said before I have a collection of e mail addresses around the village so that when I get a warning message from the Police I can immediately circulate it. However i think my address book is getting out of date due to people changing their e mail address. If you want to be part of this just send me a short e mail with the name" Watch" and i can add you to the list. Please.

Page 10

WHAT DOES THE DOCTOR THINK THIS MONTH?

Premium rate telephone numbers: I have dealt with this topic before but it is well worth a further mention. If you wish to telephone a large store such as Curries, Comet, Laura Ashley or Debenhams, you are likely to be supplied with a telephone number starting with 0800, 0808, 0844, 0845, 0870 or 0871. These are premium rate telephone numbers, a lot more expensive than the usual numbers commencing with “01”. Even worse, some of the companies benefit financially from the call. Next time you are held in a queue or spend minutes listening to information about the company, think how the company is benefiting financially and feel your blood pressure rising. This matter has surfaced again because I am currently at war with Laura Ashley, a company which seems incapable of dealing with a problem without getting someone to “ring me back” which, of course, they never do! Deannie ordered some pelmets with Velcro fixings and they arrived, 2 months later, with hooks instead of Velcro. You would imagine that this would be a simple enough problem to fix, but No! I was spending a lot of time in the Laura Ashley customer (non) services queue having rung their 0870 number, spending a lot of money on the ‘phone bill, when I remembered that it was possible to obtain a normal number for the company. If you have internet access, it is easy. Here’s how it works: Go to the site saynoto0870.com. At the top left of the welcome page there are the words “Search to find an alternative number”. Click on that and the next page will give you the opportunity to either enter a company name or the 0870 number you have been given. The programme will then give you the ordinary number to ring. For example, the Laura Ashley number published by the company is 0871 983 5999. The website gives 01686 622116, a much cheaper option. Have fun! Bluebells: Last month, I bemoaned the fact that the Spanish

bluebell appeared to be thriving at the expense of the gentler English bluebell. A week or so later, a Dr Peter Brough wrote in the Daily Telegraph that “our beloved bluebell is under attack from and invasion of Spanish bluebells which are escaping from gardens all over the country and hybridising with our native species”. He advocated landowners digging up the Spanish bluebells both in the wild and in their gardens. I still have a lot of bluebells (mostly Spanish, I’m afraid) which means that there will be a large number of bare spaces in the garden when the bluebell foliage eventually dies down. To fill the spaces, I have grown a lot of petunias, gazanias, busy Lizzies, ageratum, geraniums, fuchsias, ancolia, agastache and other plants to fill the gaps. At present, these plants are well ahead of normal for the time of year and are filling my two 10ft by 3ft cold frames and half the greenhouse! Keeping them all alive in the extreme dry heat has been a big problem. I was contemplating the whole bluebell situation when I had a revelation of the non-biblical variety. Recently, I mused, every newspaper article dealing with global warming has been accompanied by a picture of a bluebell wood with pretty women and children frolicking around in bluebells which appear to be 6 feet tall! Obviously, the bluebell publicity machine is working flat-out. I then looked at all my bluebells, many of which are over 3 feet tall, much taller than usual, and the revelation came to me in a flash – Spanish bluebells are seeking to take over the world and, in an attempt to create the best possible circumstance for their proliferation, they have discovered how to cause global warming. So, there we are, global warming has nothing to do with pollution and everything to do with bluebells! It’s obvious, isn’t it? I always used to think that Convolvulus (Bindweed) was going to take over the world but I was wrong – it cannot compete in the same league as bluebells.

The National Patient Database: The penny is beginning to drop. The Public Accounts Committee has produced a damning report which criticises the Department of Health for the lack of any analysis of the benefits of the National Database against its cost, the lack of a coherent timetable and its failure to engage clinicians in the project. One member of the PAC has called for it to be wound up immediately (although it has already cost more than the regeneration of South London and putting on the Olympic Games) and the report calls for an urgent review, As you will recall, the dictatorship which passes for government in this country had decided that patient records would be “uploaded” into the national database without the patients’ explicit consent. Implied consent would be assumed and opting out was not an option. Unfortunately, the monomaniacs in charge did not consult with the rank and file GPs before developing the system or they could have predicted the problems. Currently, 80% of GPs believe that the patient care record will be a threat to patient confidentiality and 66% will not allow their own records to be entered into the database. Similarly, over 67% will not allow the patient records to be uploaded without the patients’ explicit consent. Many patients, as they learn about the situation, are asking the GP to mark their records against uploading. The response from Lord Warner, the minister formerly responsible for the system, is to accuse GPs of being Luddites. The BMA has demanded that explicit support should be sought from each patient. The government is claiming that the process of obtaining consent from every patient would take 100 years of GP time, so we should go ahead with the implied consent version to save GPs the bother. Watch this space! Best wishes to you all. 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

NORTHWOLD YOUTH CLUB

May has been a busy month for the Youth Club. Gary Hodder, Rural Sports Development Officer from Kings Lynn, spent a hectic hour with Youth Club Members. They all went through their paces playing team games including Rounders with a Cricket Bat (imagine that if you can!), Goal Scoring with Frisbees (how many adults can do that?) and Volleyball-cum-Netball-cum-“Statues”. All had a great time. The weather forced us to abandon the Parachute Games planned for another outdoors event – but the Youth Club M e m b e r s o v e r c a m e t h e i r disappointment by taking part in obstacle courses and individual and team games centred around innovative use of cones, poles, balls and “ground ladders” (i.e. an Agility equipment pack the Youth Club has been able to purchase through a kind donation from a member of the Village). While this mayhem raised the roof of the Sports and Social Club, older members volunteered to help spring clean some Church pews and were later shown the ropes in the Bell Tower by Charles Askew and Steven Eyles. A big thank you to Charlie and Steven for giving up their time for us. Also thanks to Jane Luckman and Betty Akers for supervising the polishing – I am reliably informed that you can slide well on the seats now! The planned Youth Club for 30th May had to be cancelled – but only because

the Circus was in town on that date! The next Youth Club meeting will be 13th June. For any 7-14 year olds who wish to join in the fun just contact either Jane Luckman on 728921 or Sharron on 727675. Steve Freemantle PS The final total raised and donated to Comic Relief via the Youth Club was £141.17. Thanks to everyone who helped raise this sum.

Whittington Church

On Saturday 23rd June

At 7. 30 pm

A Fun Musical evening For all the family

Presented by April and Shelly

(Who entertained us in our concert last June)

Admission

Adults £4

Children under 13 £2 Pay on the door

Price includes:

Strawberry tea and Punch

Proceeds to Church Funds

The Late Bill Bly

Thanks We would like to say an big Thank You to everyone who send cards, and messages of sympathy in our recent sad loss. Also those who so generously gavel donations for C C U at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital. This amounted to £ 600, in appreciation for the wonderful care they gave Bill. Once again many thanks Duff and Sue

Bowls Club 100 club draw for May 2007 Janette Eyles £ 20 Mardy Cater £ 15 Jean Bartlett £ 10 Sylvia

Page 4

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For Bookings or info call 01366 728888

Then And Now This is the fourth picture in the series and shows the Manor House opposite to the Church gate.

This is the Manor House of yesteryear. Nobody seems to know exactly when this picture was taken but the house is obviously well kept up and lived in. The house would have been much lighter because the nearby trees are nowhere near as big and appear to have been cut down recently. The bushes in the front of the house are neatly trimmed, and the windows and doors are in good condition

This picture was taken on Tuesday, 29th May 2007. It was difficult to get a similar shot owing to the size and volume of the trees. The bushes in the front have run wild. The Brickwork is deteriorating. There is little or no paint left on the doors and windows, which have been boarded up, and the pot is missing from the top of the chimney stack. Incidentally, the gates to the Churchyard appear to be a different set to those on the left

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 D W Services Gardening and T V Aerials. Grass Cutting, Hedge trimming, Tree pruning and general garden work. Also Digital TV aerials fitted, CCTV, Signal boosters etc Tel. 01366 728403 Mobile 07752 587111

The Nija Levis Health Column Health and your environment I’m going to take a slightly different approach this month to my article. Spring has sprung and there are even signs of summer with hawthorn blooming and swifts returning early. So how can our health and wellbeing benefit from our environment? I’m not proposing to bombard you with climate change, just some simple thoughts to help you to a wonderful summer. How better can it be than to embrace nature in as many ways as possible? After all before the world became so commercial, nature was all we had. I’ve recently returned from a short holiday where there wasn’t a chocolate egg in sight at Easter, instead families celebrated with candles and firecrackers, though most importantly they celebrated with their whole community. Whilst it is fair to say the Aegean sunshine & c l i ma t e c l ea r l y he l p e d celebrations at midnight is was so warming to share the celebration. Being able to walk in beautiful surroundings with lovely weather was really confirmed by being accepted into the lives of complete strangers, some of which we shared the English language and those where a mere smile was so uplifting. The power of the sun was vivid on a visit to a 14th century church during Easter. A local lady was praying alone in the empty building with nothing more than a small shrine, burning incense and candles. However she still welcomed us in with a smile and we were memorised by a beam of light shining through a small window to the floor and the incense smoke travelling up the beam like a glass tube up to the window. It was such a powerful moment and proved that sometimes the most simple things are the most powerful.

We all have the opportunity now to enjoy our current warm sunny spell, eat healthily and exercise with lovely walks in our beautiful part of the country. Take every opportunity to experience our natural environment and you can benefit from so much uplifting energy from the sun and the forest. It may also give you the ability to share an uplifting smile with someone else. Our health and wellbeing can be enhanced so easily by taking stock of our busy modern lives and returning to a simple enjoyment of our surroundings. I hope you all enjoy the coming month. You never know, if this weather continues I may end up massaging in the garden! Nija

It is understood that Nija, having gone on to Broadband has had the usual problems with her e mail that everyone else seems to have had . So for those with a computer and the associated expanded vocabulary that goes with one, here is an amusing little story. " I was having trouble with my computer so I called Ronnie the computer man to come and have a look. Ronnie clicked a couple of buttons which immediately solved the problem, and gave me a bill for a minimum service call. As he was leaving I called after him "So what was wrong"? He replied, "It was an ID ten T error. I didn't want to appear stupid but nonetheless I enquired, " An ID ten T error, what's that in case i need to fix it again? He grinned, "Haven't you heard of an ID ten T error. I said "No" so he told me to write it down and I would probably be able to figure it out. So I wrote it down..................... ID10T I used to like Ronnie

Page 8

Established over 19 years

An Invitation From Our neighbours At

Mundford Hello, my name is Deborah Cosstick and I am one of the organisers of Mundford Village Funday which will this year be held on Sunday the 10th of June from 12pm to 5pm. As you may know, it is a family day with all monies raised going to local village charities. Our nominated one this year is to help replace the children's play area. It is a day that includes, car boot, charity stalls, arena and static events, ie dog show, pipes and drums, harley davidsons, emergency vehicles etc, and l i ve mus i c . The r e a r e competitions, food and a bar. All in all, a fun day, with this year it being the 30th anniversary of the famous Mundford Mile Fun Run. However, the day could not take place without the support and advertising of the local villages therefore I am

writing to ask if you might include our details on your web site and any village magazines that you might have contact with, as I have not been able to establish who or if, there is a parish newletter/magazine. I am extremely grateful for any help you may be able to provide, if you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to email me or contact either myself or my husband Shane who is running the event on 01842 878343 Thank you once again, Deborah.

Answers to the Worlds Easiest Quiz

1.......... 116 years 2...........Ecuador 3...........Sheep and Horses 4...........November 5...........Squirrel fur 6...........Dogs 7...........Albert 8...........Crimson 9...........New Zealand 10.........Orange

WELL? how did you get on ?

Thanks again to Frank Fendick for this fascinating item. Keep them

coming they are invaluable to me. Ed

Are there any Bee keepers out there?

Carole Hood at The grange asks "Would anybody like to put a couple of Bee hives on their newly established wild flower meadow" Please contact Carole on 728761

Northwold Spiritualists Meet every other Friday in the Village Hall. Service Calendar for June and early July 2007 June 8th Dorothy Cooklin 22nd Joyce Gobbett. July 6th Brian May Enquiries to Eileen Tel (01366 728289

Page 5

The Woodland Inn

Northwold Rockery Stone At Bryan Cater's

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Pebbles and much more

Check our Prices ! www.bryancater.co.uk

The Poplars, Thetford Road, Northwold, Thetford

Norfolk IP26 5LW Tel o1366 728342

We had a wonderful start to May with our usual May Day celebrations. The Royal procession looked marvellous with Kay Eyles as May Queen and Joseph Whiting as King. As ever Brenda Ayres kindly decorated the thrones and we were pleased to see so many of you in brilliant sunshine. All the children performed a dance and the variety was amazing. During the last week the children have all undertaken tests and the results will be given to children when the papers are back in school. We all (year six pupils) enjoyed breakfast together on each of the days and some children were heard to say that they had enjoyed the tests! Some year six pupils enjoyed a visit from John Townsend (author) with pupils from Hockwold Primary school. He brought a very interesting set of alarm clocks with him and used them all as he explained how he writes. Year six pupils have completed their cycle proficiency training and some year five pupils have also received some cycle training. Younger pupils have received some road safety training and all the children should receive a certificate soon. We look forward to seeing many of you at the carnival this year. Marion Dawe

Northwold W.I. The May meeting of the Northwold W.I. was held in the village hall on Tuesday 9th and was attended by 28 members. Last month 15 members of the lunch club visited The Chequers Pub in Eriswell where several members enjoyed their first Mexican meal. We were made most welcome by the Landlady and everyone enjoyed the experience. Plans were discussed for the carnival float and for our visit to Newmarket Races for Ladies Day on 12th July. On Friday 1st June, Ginny Robson Hull, will be hosting a Coffee Morning to raise funds for M.S. Research and all members were invited to support this very worthy cause. Three members were celebrating birthdays this month and the group was delighted to welcome new member, Dotty Adkins. The speaker this month was Stella Louise Brown, Couture Milliner. Stella kept the whole group spellbound explaining how her wonderful hats are designed and handmade – every single invisible stitch! Stella’s hats are quite beautiful and we couldn’t wait to try some of them on. We are looking forward to meeting her again at Newmarket Ladies Day, although her hats will, of course, put ours to shame. The competition this month was

“Make a Hat”. Brenda Ayres, our own hat fanatic, took first place, Jane Bodle was second and Jenny Langley, third. The next meeting will be held in the village hall at 7.15pm on June 12th. The speaker will be Janet Hurst, who will talk to us about flower arranging. As always, new members and visitors will be very welcome. On the evening of Tuesday 22nd May, Northwold WI hosted a quiz evening for other local Institutes. There were twelve teams in all representing, Mundford, Feltwell, Beechamwell, Great Cressingham, Hockwold, Downham Market and Northwold. Teams answered questions on General Knowledge, History, Wedding Anniversaries, Quotations, Stores on the Titanic, Anagrams, Local Village Signs and most popular of all, a musical round to recognise song introductions. The refreshments served at half time were much enjoyed by everyone and the raffle was very well supported. Scores at the end of the evening were very close, with the Hovellers team from Northwold narrowly beating the Wise Birds from Downham Market. On Friday 25th May Northwold WI Lunch Club visited Romford House in Swaffham. Everyone enjoyed their meal enormously and declared this to be the best lunch venue so far! Ann Howarth

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

It’s been more than half a century now since the 2nd World War came to an end, and although there has been constant unrest throughout the world ever since, WWs 1 & 2 still seem to be the ones we think of ( certainly people of my generation do ) when we talk about major international military conflict. We have always tended to be a warlike people as our history testifies, though not always on the winning side in the early days it has to be said. We have been overrun and conquered more than once in days long past, by the Romans, by the Saxons (a Germanic people whom we actually invited here to help protect us ), by the French (in the form of William the Conqueror), and by the Vikings, ( mainly the Danes in our area ) I’ll write more about all those invaders at a later date, even though they each had an enormous impact on us and our culture, but for now I’ll stick with those wars I mentioned at the beginning which have resonated on the lives of many, and continue to do so even today. Our churchyard isn’t the only burial ground here in the village, we’ve got 2 cemeteries as well. There’s the Old cemetery down Church Lane, now sadly overgrown and unused except for moments of quiet contemplation by a very few, and the cemetery in current use which is situated at the other side of the school. In support of my earlier point, it’s interesting to note that the very 1st grave dug in the School Lane cemetery was in fact a war grave, and it was for Harvey Chandler who was my uncles brother. Surrounding us however are the bones of many more fighters than that, like for instance the innumerable unmarked Saxon graves that are said to be scattered all around Dilton and the neighbouring countryside. The Danes and the Saxons fought many bloody battles in their conflicts with each other, frequently on our soil. The-rank-and-file amongst their dead would have probably been buried where they fell. Remember that the land was not forestry then and so the open ground would have made ideal killing-fields for such ruthless combatants.

In more modern times, we’ve been s u r r o u n d e d b y m i l i t a r y encampments, closest of which was the Army Camp called ‘Cranwich Heath’, which was operational as far back as the 1914/18 debacle, and continued right up to very recent times. ‘Cranwich Heath’ was also the site for a prisoner of war camp at one time, when it was said that the prisoners incarcerated there were engaged in building the road system that serves the Wissington Sugar Beet factory. Prior to that the crop would have been transported to the factory by boat and later by train as well. In the 2nd World War we had our fare share of Aerodromes in our area, like those at Methwold and Feltwell for instance which were amongst almost 100 others in this part of the world, installations that served our country as part of ‘Bomber Command’. Methwold was host to the famous Lancasters amongst others and for a time the Gliders that dropped many of our airborne troops into battle. At the village end of the footpath that leads from ‘Globe Street’ down to the cemetery, perhaps in fond remembrance of the stationing of those magnificent old aircraft in the village, stands Lancaster Farm. Along the road, ( now classed as a byway ) that links our village with Methwold, is a series of bends that eventually pass the ‘Wents Farm’ before straightening out to cross ‘Pot Run’. The first of these bends is still known as Gunnel Corner, as the fields beyond are where the Searchlights were positioned. These lights played an essential two-part role in the war and were ideally positioned to perform their allotted tasks. Firstly they spotted foreign airborne marauders before they could wreak havoc on our installations on the ground, and secondly they would have been a welcome sight for homecoming aircraft, we mustn’t forget that the electronics and communications that were available to our pilots at that time were pretty primitive by today’s standards Of course these were not the only Searchlights around here by a long way, as may be expected there were others at Didlington as well. At each installation there would have been a Blockhouse, or ‘pill-box’ close by, and because all such structures have become listed buildings (all-be-it somewhat diminutive ) they remain in

place to this very day. The one at Dilton stands in the open while the one at Gunnel Corner can be seen amongst the trees that divide the land. They’re uninhabited and unused now, save for colonies of bats that find them ‘just the job’ as dormitories for their nocturnal life styles, but Do Not Disturb! as the bats too are protected these days, not by Anti-Aircraft guns, but by law. Other tell-tale evidence of our preparations for possible invasion are to be seen near the bridges that cross the Wissey, both at Dilton and Hymer Drove. These are in the form of great concrete blocks which would have been used as ‘Tank Traps’ to slow the invaders down at least. ( I’ve seen similar blocks near the river at Castle Rising, along the old road to Hunston )(only outsiders pronounce the ‘tan’) Rivers are natural obstacles and in effect we have two of those here. Another prominent sight that I well r e m e m b e r w a s t h e ‘ G u n Emplacement’ that was positioned on the ‘heater piece’ ( triangle of grass at a road junction ) on the road below ‘The Watermill farm’. It was sited there ( being devoid of trees and bushes back then ) so as to get a clear view of the ‘Dilton-Beckfield’ road, ( known as ‘The White Road’ in days gone by, thanks to the Lime Pit at Beckfield ) and also of the road leading to and from Northwold via Little London. All that remained of the emplacement was a disk shaped slab on the ground which had a shiny mounting point in the centre onto which the gun would have been attached and swivelled as needs be. I don’t’ think that it’s there any more although it certainly was until a few years ago. No-one that I’ve spoken to seems to remember its removal however and so I can only suppose it was attacked from below by a band of subversive ferrets, or a 3rd column of rabbits. So there we are together, apart from the M.O.D arrow signs carved into the stonework of bridges and the like, which can still be spotted by the eagle eyed amongst you, that’s about it for this time. I hope you’ll all be Looking Forward to looking back with me again soon, ‘Til then take care, sincere 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

A huge range of bedding and basket plants Baskets made up to order

Cut Flowers available Free range eggs

Tel. (01842) 878288

Prime Quality Barley Beef which has been matured for a minimum of 3 weeks. Dingley Dell Pork which has been reared outside in a natural

environment. Best British lamb also reared in open fields. All meat is direct from local farms Norfolk /Suffolk) and prepared to the

highest standard cut to each individual customers requirements All our St Georges poultry is also local and RSPCA inspected

Home made pork sausages and chipolatas, flavoured sausages and beef sausages. Home made 100% Beef burgers, Pork and Apple, Lamb

Deli Counter with traditional cooked meats, cooked on the premises Large variety of cheeses both British and Continental.

Dry-cure bacon smoked & unsmoked Our policy is to buy as much locally as possible

We also offer an extensive range of preserves, spices and pickles. Range of home cooked pastries, fresh bread and fruit and veg. daily, freezer orders taken.

Opening times Tues, Thurs, Fri, 8am - 1pm and 2pm - 5.30pm

Mon 8.30am - 1pm Sat 7.30am - 1pm

Est. 1962

Riverwatch by Ivor Hook Time seems suspended. Everything is deathly quiet. It looks like another beautiful sunshine day. There is a low mist over the water and the haze gives a feeling of intrigue and mystery. The perfect calm is only disturbed at intervals by the tell tale ripples of fish rising to the surface. The ripples slowly increase and then fade away. A multitude of green and brown shades blend together and dominate both the water and the riverside. A smell of water mint lingers in the air. There is complete peace and this could easily be the magical place that all fishermen dream about. It is early morning alongside the river Wissey. The river is at its widest stretch. The banks are fully recovered from the mud and rain of winter. All growth is now lush and overhangs the river in volumes. A thick abundance of weed can just be seen below the surface. Lilies with gigantic leaves float on the surface and the many large buds seem ready to burst at any minute. Only last month the reed beds that marked out the river’s course into the distance were dormant but have since found new life and are thick again. The combination of water and heat has caused rapid luxuriant growth everywhere and gives almost a tropical feel to the surroundings. Beneath the surface is a different world and it is not always peaceful. The fish have finished spawning and the shallow waters now contain a mass of fry. Alas they are fast food for the fleets of herons and

kingfishers. If they are fortunate and survive the air raids they will quickly be at the mercy of the perch and pike predators who are always hungry. Despite the odds lots will survive. The deepest parts of the river contain the thickest and almost impenetrable weed beds so it is here that large numbers of fish find sanctuary. They venture out for food or to bask in the sun but they can quickly return when danger threatens. A monster pike with perfect camouflage is laying in wait and watching everything that swims past. He seems to be looking for something specific – rather like sitt ing in a restaurant and contemplating the menu. His lethargy is very deceptive as he can find instant speed whenever he wants. A party of perch swim past displaying their bold tiger stripes. A shoal of silver roach forever search for food. A host of bream appear and spiral upwards. They are bottom feeders so they are off to enjoy the new warmth. Their black shapes break the surface and disturb the mirror calm. A hatch of mayfly larvae head upwards to end months of inactivity. After changing to flies nature gives them but a single day to lay eggs whereupon their existence ends - if they are really unlucky and get intercepted by hungry fish their sad life can be even shorter! The ugly dragonfly larvae have also reached a state of readiness and are slowly climbing the long mace stalks. For many long months they have been busy devouring fellow insect life and will shortly transform into the most beautiful of all insects. On the surface tiny fresh frogs are swimming in and out of the reeds exploring the watery highways and byways. Little do they realise that they are an important protein for

other river life. Danger is everywhere and life within the river is certainly precarious. The hot weather has prompted this feverish activity and given everyone an insatiable appetite. Life below the water is not unlike our own world. We and all other living things only have a limited span and our well-being is often perilous. The countryside about us even including the tall and stalwart trees will one day drop and decay away. Alas we all come and go ad infinitum and the process cannot be stopped. The only exception is the rivers themselves who are timeless and hopefully they will continue for eternity. Ivor

Northwold Art Group

Such is the success of the newly formed Art group that they are holding their first Art exhibition in the Village Hall on Saturday 23rd and Sunday 24th June from 10 am until 4pm on both days. Admission is free and everyone is cordially invited to come along and see for themselves the work of all the local artists who have submitted material for this exhibition and maybe even buy something that you like the look of. There will be people on hand who you can talk to about the work being displayed and what the Art group is all about. It's never too late to start painting and drawing. Just come along and have look for yourself

GARY BOYCE Traditional Quality Butcher and Delicatessen 25a High Street Methwold (next to Fire Station)

Telephone 01366 728512