A Monthly Publication

NOT ANOTHER ESTATE AGENT

I can only assume that Mr Shaw did not take the time to read the write up in the Lynn News, The Hunstanton Newsletter or even our shop window as I am sure he would have realised quickly we are not ‘another estate agent’. We have been quite clear in all our marketing that we are a Letting Agent, dedicating 100% of our time to residential Lettings & Management. In fact the only Agent of its type in the town.

I am very keen to stress to people that we are not an Estate Agent, we don’t sell houses and we don’t arrange mortgages!

Its a shame people don’t take the time to research their concerns before committing them to type and it is this sort of negative attitude that does not encourage people to open up new shops in the town. Estate Agents or not! Perhaps he would have preferred the shop to remain empty with its ‘white washed windows’?

Luke Loades

KEEP THE PRINCESS THEATRE

Firstly may I please introduce myself. Some of you may know me already but my name is Gemma Parsons (a life long performer at the Princess Theatre). I would like to tell you a little about myself and my thoughts about the Princess Theatre and if it was to close.

My family and I have lived in Hunstanton all our lives. I was born in 1983 and the Princess Theatre has played an absolutely massive role my whole life in many, many ways and my career. From the age of 3 I enrolled with the amazing Jane Ashley Emile Theatre Dance School in Dersingham. Who you well know has been a major influence and close friend to the Princess Theatre.

I was one of Jane’s students until I was 18. I then went on to do my professional dance training at the Bodywork Company Dance Studios in Cambridge where I graduated with the highest level and now for the last 5 years I have worked for Carnival Cruise Lines in the USA as a dancer in their multi million dollar production shows onboard.

I have lost count of how many shows and productions I have done at the wonderful Princess Theatre. I did the annual Pantomime from the age of 7 to 16 with productions companies such as Trafford & Parnell, British Stage Productions and many more. Of course this is where I worked with the Legendary Keith 'Appy' Hopkins every year. I also appeared in hundreds of Jane’s shows as well as her own school productions and guest shows such as A Night With Lindsay Hamilton, Laban Boldero Show, Think Floyd a tribute to Pink Floyd, Jimmy Cricket the list is endless. Basically anything Jane was involved with in that theatre I did! Not only did I perform at the Princess but I also worked there as an usherette as soon as I turned 16 so I could absorb even more of the theatre atmosphere. And then went on to bar tend,  I would still come back whilst I was at college training and work during half terms, the pantos at Christmas, summer seasons etc. etc. if I was not performing!

I consider the Princess Theatre my second home. I have meet so many people there, people who have encouraged me to pursue my dreams as a performer, so many people I have learnt the tricks of the trade from, people who have inspired me but most of all unforgettable people who have left a mark in my life whilst I continue in my own professional dancing career. And there was nothing better than performing for the late Diana, Princess of Wales and her two boys who came to watch the pantomime in 1990.

I have recently come home from the cruise ships to spend Christmas with my family and I am told about the rumours for the possible closure of this beautiful theatre and I feel compelled to try and do something about this, express my opinions and stop this from happening.

I personally have so many happy memories of the Princess Theatre and this was the place where I learnt everything I know today about the theatre and the stage. Without the Princess Theatre I would not be anywhere near where I am today.  I learnt about stage etiquette, performing for a live audience, how to perform, building relationships and working relations with other artists. If the Princess Theatre was to close the young and upcoming dancers and performers would not get the same opportunities that I did and I think this should not be an option whatsoever.

In my opinion you can not put a price on live entertainment at all. Closing this theatre would be a great shame for the entertainment industry in this area and the overall benefits that the town of Hunstanton gets when a show is on especially the panto season and the summer seasons.

I have heard that if it was to close the Panto would be moved to the Corn Exchange in Kings Lynn, which I think is a disgraceful idea. The Corn Exchange is NOT a proper theatre it has no wing space, or sufficient dressing rooms and would not give the same effect the Princess does for the needs that a pantomime and other shows require. I recently went to the see the panto Beauty and the Beast at the Princess and really enjoyed it even as a 26 year old. I can safely say I would not be as impressed if it was to be moved. It would not have the same charm and atmosphere which the Princess has always maintained over the years.

With all this said I guess I am asking that you reconsider the possibility of the Princess Theatre closure.  I know it would not only break my heart and cloud over some of my childhood memories but I also know that the majority of the local community does not want to see this closure either.

Please would it be possible to have any feedback on this and please, please listen to what the people want and not what the accounting books say. These times we are facing have been very gloomy and dark, I know whenever I visit the theatre I forget all my troubles and woes and leave happy and inspired after I have watched a live show. I’m sure I’m not the only one. Please do not take away the future memories and possible careers of the young and old talent that still lives here.

Without the Princess Theatre I would not be the performer I am today. Please enable future generations to follow in my footsteps and keep the Princess Theatre, Hunstanton open and alive.

As I write this I am currently packing to return to the United States to begin another dancer contract on the cruise ship. I hope when I return in August that the Princess Theatre will still be thriving and alive.

To all readers please do what you can and write your own letters of support to the council to stop this closure.

Thank you

Gemma Parsons

TALK UP HUNSTANTON

There is much good going on. It is easy to criticise and understandable. The ex-Mayor and Mayoress, worked tirelessly for our Town, as does our current Mayor, Christine Earnshaw, supported by the rest of the Town Council. Fears expressed empty shops! Generalisations do not help.  The High Street is NOT full of empty shops, nor is the Town. There are two empty in the High Street, ex Fudgetastic and Tartz, and the possibility of a “National Store " taking on the ex Woolworths shop. 27 others are open and thriving. There are 11 vacant shops out of 129 around the Town Centre, most in Westgate. I have counted and checked. The footfall through the Tourist information Centre was up 12% during the year and the statistics for Car Park Occupancy is reported as being up 15%

A correspondent commented on Rounce and Evans opening up in Westgate. “Just another Estate Agent " Wrong! There is a need within the Town for rented housing/ social housing/ affordable housing. Your Town Council are trying their best to assist in this, in liaison with The Borough Council who are dealing with Tesco and the Sheepfield site. Support and applaud their efforts and stop the niggling.

Rounce and Evans, through Luke and Kathy, will deliver a much needed service in Hunstanton as the only solely, dedicated, letting agents. THEY ARE NOT LETTING HOLIDAY HOMES!

How about a bit more praise to those business people who put their cash on the line and take a risk? Like the ladies who opened Cherry Hill Chocolate shop in the High Street. Like the lady about to set up a hairdressing business in Westgate. Like Glynis who has just bought and re-opened the Marine Bar and the Marine Hotel. More praise and less criticism, may I suggest.

And just to round it all off, what about the person who complained to the Town Clerk, Mrs Lisa Powell that there was too much grit and salt on the pavements and it was dangerous!

Michael Ruston

CAR BOOT SALES

The Car Boot Season is looming fast and I’m getting the odd tap on the shoulder and being asked ‘when do the car boots start at Glebe House School’.  I am just finalising the dates and the first one will, hopefully, will be towards the end of March, beginning of April.  The dates will be in next month’s news letter. So get rummaging!

The Hunstanton Lions are returning and we are jointly doing several car boots with Old Hunstanton F.C and the Hunstanton Sea Eagles.  If any local organisation would like to hold a carboot to raise funds but don’t have a field please contact me and I would like to hear from you.

Joanna Bostrom 07786 167579 or 01485 533984

A HAPPY NEW YEAR

May I wish everyone a good New year – we would all like to have a trouble free year, but we know that life is not all ‘sunshine and roses’; but as well as celebrating a New Year we could be celebrating a New life with someone who knows our future and can help us through every circumstance. That is why God sent Jesus at Christmas. God longs to be our helper and guide through life, but our sin has separated us from Him. That is why Jesus died and rose again to take our sins upon himself, thus making the way back to have the relationship God longs to have with us.

We need to recognise our need, asking God for his forgiveness and asking Jesus to come into our lives. May you come to know him for your selves and continue into 2010 with God by your side whatever life may hold.

Miriam Hodson

DESPOTISM OR TYRANNY

Democracy, what democracy? When did we give the King's Lynn and West Norfolk Borough Council (BCKLWN) a mandate to spend our council taxes fighting the Boundary Commission over its Single Unitary Authority proposals that so many of us see as a highly desirable and sensible economy? When were we fully consulted? Whose interest is really being served by its continuing belligerence at our expense? Do we want to afford it?

Many of us would rather see  Hunstanton's sub standard Sea Defences brought up to mandatory standards and that is council's chosen but long neglected direct responsibility! Is 1953 so easily forgotten? Such neglect could again put lives and property at risk in Hunstanton. In the event of another storm or tidal surge and predicted rising sea levels, property owners may even be faced with being unable to claim successfully on their own property insurance. We all relate to insurers finding any excuse to refuse a pay out!

I am not aware of any council exemption granted from meeting Environment Agency standards and the existing condition compromises the already improved Environment Agency defences towards Heacham.

Why in so many ways is the council able to ignore widely shared public opinion and fail to act in the best public interest? It has left questionable matters undone, unreasonably favouring a few and neglecting the interests of the many in its varying capacities.  When presented with irrefutable evidence and challenged at a public meeting recently, its leader rudely claimed  "not to understand" and proceeded the very next day to finalise an agreement the majority opposed.

Autocracy is government by a single person without limitation  of power, without consultation or proper electoral support, approaching despotism or tyranny!

Mark Harriman