Village Weekend in peril?The 2006 Village Weekend festivities look like being the last, unless more people in Shouldham are willing to help stage an event in 2007.

At a recent gathering of the 2006 Committee, it was decided to hold an informal Open Meeting to discuss the future of community events in Shouldham. Everyone with an interest in village life is urged to attend the meeting, which will be held at 8pm on Tuesday 7th November in the King’s Arms.

What events would you like to see in the village? Fresh ideas are needed, along with fresh people to help see them through. Otherwise it is likely that no major event will be held next year. If you can’t attend the meeting but still want your voice heard, why not write to Shouldham News? All local news, events, letters and gripes are gratefully received.

Contact Phil Harriss (347244 or 01844 238868/philip.harriss@virgin.net). Or pop a note through the door of ‘Dunromin’ on the Green. Deadline for next issue: Sunday 26th November, 2006.

Shouldham festivities 2006The Village Weekend sports day and fete this year was blessed with warm weather and much merriment. Highlights included Geoffrey Hipperson’s vintage tractor rides around the village, the junior football competition, the family dog show and live music from the ever-popular Ugly Dog Skiffle Combo.

The inter-village sports cup was won by Brook Farm Bandits, featuring Chris Jones sporting an extraordinary hair-do of Samson-like efficacy. In second place was an unlikely looking bunch of Scotsmen from the Hipperson/Matthews clan (the ‘Hoodeehoodeehoos’), who narrowly beat a scratch team of assorted wrecks aided and abetted by our guest celebrity (and great sport!), Tim Bentinck (David Archer, of The Archers). Tim afterwards commented: ‘Farmers? Huh! Bunch of wusses. Bring it on next year I say! No suit next time and you won't get me off the slippery pole.’

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Shouldham Shouldham NewsNewsVolume 4 No. 4 Autumn 2006Volume 4 No. 4 Autumn 2006

Thank you!This autumn sees the departure of two great servants of Shouldham from the Village Weekend committee. Pete Batson, who is soon to move out of the village to Lincolnshire, was chairman of the 2006 Village Weekend Committee. Calmly and with much good humour, Pete organised this year’s event and is largely responsible for its smooth running. He had trained for the post for many years by leading a squadron of fighter jets; this no doubt helped him cope so admirably. Pete and Rita’s many friends in the village wish them all the best in their future endeavours.

Colin Chapman is also stepping down from the Village Weekend committee after many years of sterling service. Colin has (quite literally) been a tower of strength over the years, heaving generators across the playing field with effortless aplomb, putting up and taking down tents with rare skill, and giving much of his time and boundless energy to ensure each year’s event was a success. His expertise and dry sense of humour will be sorely missed.

Many thanks should also go to Steve Cato who this year had the task of patrolling the tank beneath the greasy pole. For several hours Steve stuck to his post, chest-deep in cold water, ensuring the safety of all participants. The      committee owes him much gratitude (and a mug of warm cocoa).

Rural links community transportThe West Norfolk Community Transport Project is appealing for volunteer drivers. The Red Cross minibus operates three days per week providing transport for The Happy Circle Club, The Blind Club, Silverdale and Silverthreads. A group of seven local men continues the tradition of volunteer driving and escorting, in order for local residents to participate in these groups. The ramp-equipped MPV is scheduled as a ‘demand-responsive’ service to transport people for medical, dental and

related appointments. Rural Links Co-ordinator, Brad Stein, is seeking more volunteer drivers, which would allow for best use of these two valuable vehicles.

Any person interested in the challenge of driving either the minibus or MPV (or both) would receive appropriate training. Please contact Brad on 01366 387165.

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Eat localAt this time of year – harvest time – Shouldham is particularly well endowed with food grown within (or just outside) the village. We are lucky. Many people are becoming concerned about the number of ‘food miles’ the produce they buy has travelled. There are tales, for instance, of Brussels sprouts being air-freighted across the world before landing on our plates, or of fish caught in UK waters being filleted in China before arriving on British supermarket shelves. Buying locally helps cut down on all the pollution, greenhouse gases, and packaging involved in these industrial processes. The food will be far fresher too.

There are many treats to be found on a trip around the village: freshly dug carrots

from Ronnie Large’s stall on New Road,

perhaps, or just-cut cabbages from

George Bell’s allotment off Westgate Street. Beetroot, runner beans, onions,

shallots, leeks, apples, plums,

courgettes, Brussels sprouts – all can be found in their season, packed with flavour and in peak condition.

You won’t usually have to travel far to find top-quality eggs, either: from Gina Hart’s on Lynn Road (look for the ‘free-range eggs’ sign), or at Paul Burton’s farm shop at Woodlands (on Lynn Road just before the A134). Paul also sells a range of local fruit and vegetables, including, perhaps, sweetcorn, tomatoes, potatoes and pears.

Although meat isn’t sold directly to the public in the village, you won’t have to travel far to Jeff Sargeant’s butcher’s in Stowbridge to buy Shouldham-reared pork and sausages (from Geoffrey Hipperson’s

farm).

A short walk out of the village in the other

direction, along the Norwich Road, will take you to Eddie and Pat Offley’s house where, if you’re lucky, there’ll be a sign outside advertising their delicious honey.

Shouldham Thorpe doesn’t lose out either, as this year a new enterprise on Middle Road, The Herbary, has opened to the public. Here, Karen and Alex Vallance of Church Farm have around 126 acres, 26 of which are certified organic by the Soil Association. Their shop is open 8am to 5pm Monday to Friday, and 9am to 2pm on Saturdays. A variety of vegetables and herbs are sold in season, but the speciality is baby salad leaves (packed on the farm). All salad and vegetables are grown without pesticide. From mid-October, pumpkins should be for sale at The Herbary - both whole and (if ordered in advance) ‘ready-prepared’ with scary faces!

Finally, there’s another couple of advantages to shopping in Shouldham for food: you’ll often have a free chat into the bargain, and you’ll never have to queue at the checkout.

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Dates for your diariesThursday 19th October, 2pm, St Martin at Shouldham School: AUTUMN

FAIR. All welcome. Proceeds will go to help families in developing countries.

Thursday 26th October, from 8pm, King’s Arms: QUIZ NIGHT. Free entry. Prizes for teams in first and second places.

Saturday 28th October, 7.30pm-midnight, Shouldham Bowls Club: H ALLOWE’EN PARTY WITH MUSIC BY MICK MAX. Meal

served at 7.30pm. Menu: bangers and mash with onion gravy, cauliflower cheese, peas; cobweb crumble; wine and punch. Tickets £10.50; limited number, so book

early. Phone Elsie (347636) or ask at the bar of the club.

Saturday 28th October, from 8pm, King’s Arms: HALLOWE’EN DISCO. Free entry and free buffet. Prize for the best-dressed.

Tuesday 7th November, 8pm, King’s Arms: EXTRAORDINARY OPEN MEETING. To discuss the future of community events in Shouldham. Everyone urged to attend.

Saturday 11th November, 7.15pm, Shouldham Village Hall: AUTUMN QUIZ. The usual fish and chip supper will be served – £6 per person,

tables not to exceed six persons. Proceeds in aid of All Saints’ Church funds. Please bring your own cutlery and

drinks. Contact Ann Hullah (347814) asap.

Saturday 18th November, King’s Arms: SINGER. Free entry.

Tuesday 21st November, 10am-2pm, Duke’s Head Hotel, Tuesday Market Place, King’s Lynn: WEST NORFOLK HOME WATCH ROADSHOW. This event is open to everyone.

Saturday 25th November, 7.30pm-midnight, Shouldham Bowls Club: MARK STEEL (guitar/vocalist). Meal served at 8pm (braised beef in beer, plus vegetables and assorted desserts). Tickets £7.50; phone Elsie (347636) or ask at the bar of the club.

Thursday 30th November, 7.30pm, King’s Arms: VILLAGE WEEKEND CHRISTMAS DINNER. Phone John Dovey (347802) for details.

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Saturday 23rd December, 7.30pm-midnight, Shouldham Bowls Club: CHRISTMAS DRAW PLUS LIVE ENTERTAINMENT BY PHIL CHRISTOPHER (guitar/vocalist). Free night.

Christmas Eve, Sunday 24th December, 7.30pm-midnight, Shouldham Bowls Club: SOCIAL EVENING (without loud music). We will be playing

our own music for dancing, and perhaps ending with a singalong: something nice and Christmassy. Free night.

Come along and enjoy yourself!

Christmas Eve, Sunday 24th December, King’s Arms: SINGER AND FREE BUFFET.

New Year’s Eve, Sunday 31th December, King’s Arms: DISCO AND FREE BUFFET. Free entry.

Bell restoration project

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Shouldham Church Council has recently obtained the ‘faculty’ (permit) from Ely Diocese to proceed with the refurbishment of our peal of six bells. The work is likely to begin in July/August 2007 and will be carried out by Whites of Appleton, Oxfordshire, a firm of long-established bell-hangers.

Although this is a fairly costly project, we are already well on the way with fund-raising – thanks to some very generous donations. The Parochial Church Council and

bell-ringers now have almost 50 per cent of the costs set aside; the Ely Association of Ringers has pledged a grant of £3,000 (ten per cent of the estimate, plus VAT); and we are applying to English Heritage and the Council for the Care of Churches for further financial help. For anyone interested in buying a share in the project, a list of the average prices of the new working parts is available from Brian Hullah (347814); or a copy of the scheme can be read on the noticeboard in the church porch.

Village Sport Co-ordinator

The West Norfolk Sports Council wishes to appoint Village Sport Co-ordinators across the Borough. The posts are voluntary, but an expense payment of up to £300 is available. Appointed co-ordinators will encourage the development of sport in their village, a role that may include some of the following activities:

inspire an entry into the West Norfolk Inter Village Games co-ordinate a loan of equipment into the village to start a new activity form an organising group to arrange coaching courses co-ordinate a transport scheme to a sporting facility co-ordinate a village come-and-try day.

If you wish to find out more, contact the Sports Council Chairman, Paul Brandon, for an informal chat on 01553 768719.

Mayor’s Civic Awards for Voluntary Service 2006

Each year nominations are invited for the Mayor’s Civic Awards for Voluntary Service. If you are aware of suitable candidates, please ask the Civics Office for a nomination form. The awards are a form of recognition for people from the Borough of King’s Lynn and West Norfolk who give of their time and efforts, without reward, for the good of others, or to enable money to be raised for charity. Nominations can be made at any time between now and the middle of January 2007. The awards are        presented at a ceremony in March. Those who

have attended these ceremonies come away quite humbled by what they hear.  Many people do enormous amounts of voluntary work. This is an opportunity to acknowledge the contribution they make and simply to say ‘thank you’.

Penny HarrisonCivics Officer, Town HallKing’s Lynn PE30 5EU01553 762124

civics.officer@west-norfolk.gov.uk

In addition, don’t forget to keep aneye on the signboards outside the pub, which will let you know all the new and exciting things happening.

News from the King’s ArmsWe hope you all enjoyed the summer and are now looking forward to the winter season (!). To help with the cold nights and murky weather, why not try our new food menus? Eat in warm, friendly surroundings, with an open fire to keep things cosy. As well as our restaurant and bar menus, we’ve a special offer of a ONE

COURSE SUNDAY LUNCH for ONLY £5 BEFORE 1.30PM. If you miss the 1.30pm deadline don’t despair, as you’ll still have until 2.30pm to try our fantastic lunch.

To keep everybody entertained during the forthcoming season, we’re planning a host of activities, including:

Halloween disco (Saturday 29th October); free entry and free buffet; prize for the best-dressed; why not get into the Halloween spirit and join in?

Live music (Saturday 18th November); we’ve a singer who’s sure to keep everybody in the bar and restaurant singing into the night.

Live music and free buffet (Christmas Eve); a singer will help everyone get into the Christmas spirit.

Free disco and free buffet (New Year’s Eve); come and enjoy the passing of the year with all your friends, family and neighbours.

On the last Thursday of every month we are starting the quiz nights again. Prizes will go to

teams in first and second

place, but it will be fun for all and

it’s free to enter. Treat yourself to a night out with friends and come and have

some fun. You might even find yourself winning! The quizzes will start on Thursday 26th October.

We wish everyone in Shouldham a safe and enjoyable time.

Dave and Ben Hall

LETTERSShouldham News received the following letter a few months ago, forwarded by the Parish Council.

Warwick CottageOrchard LaneWestgate Street.

Dear Shouldham Parish Councillors

Re: The concern voiced at the Parish Council Open Meeting on Monday 24th April, 2006, on the issues of the installation of the wind turbine at the St Martin’s School at Shouldham.

I attended the open meeting and would like to thank the Parish Council for providing this forum for open discussion in the village.

I understand the concerns raised, particularly relating to the lack of consultation of the villagers and parents of pupils at St Martin’s School. However, after the meeting I felt ashamed that I did not voice my unhappiness with the statements made, that this issue would make many local people unwilling to support the school.

This local school is an excellent school, with an excellent Headmistress and I think this should still be acknowledged. It would appear there was an error of judgement on the part of the Governors of the school, which I do not fully understand. However, this should not cloud our judgement of all the good provided by the school to the local community. At times ‘to err is human’!

I believe a satisfactory solution can be arrived at in relation to the location of a wind turbine or another form of a renewable energy source, and I hope that the community will continue to support the school now and in the future.

I would like the sentiment of this letter made public within the community in the most appropriate way.

Yours Sincerely.

Jane Rose-Land (Mrs).Cc Mrs M Mears