A Monthly Publication

The Town Hall was packed on Monday 13th December for the annual Town Carol Service, this year led by Rev David Hulse of Union Church.

With the Mayor in attendance, readings and carols were punctuated with entertainment and this was followed by refreshments.

As people arrived at the beautifully decorated Town Hall, the Hunstanton Concert Band was playing a selection of Christmas Music which immediately put one in the mood for Christmas. Doreen Reid read one of her humorous poems between ca...
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Mary Rhodes

In 1925 the vicar of Castle Rising wrote in his parish magazine of a problem concerning Sunday Evensong.

‘The excessive motor traffic passing close by Castle Rising Church on Sunday evenings during the summer months, causes so much disturbance and distraction, that it has been found advisable to transfer the 6.30pm service to the comparative peace and quiet at Roydon, where it is much appreciated.’

And again in 1928 he had to admonish his parishioners by saying, in a round...
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This is a first for the Newsletter; it may work, it may not. If you would like to reply to either of the following please note that your envelope should be marked on the outside with the reference ( BF1 or ML1) and sent to the editor at:

Hunstanton Newsletter, PO Box 39, Hunstanton PE36 9AE. Your sealed envelope will be passed to the advertiser unopened.

If you would like to have a listing in the personal column, please contact the editor by e mail at:

CLOAKING or ...
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At approximately 1.20am on Thursday December 16th, two male thieves smashed the front window to Westgate Optical and reached in to steal six pairs of Gucci glasses frames, setting the security alarm of the security alarm off in the store. Crime number 58859/10 refers.

If you saw or heard anything suspicious in the area at this time or are aware of such items being sold please contact the police on 0845 456 4567.

Keith Barnes, Food and Beverage Manager Operations

Happy New Year to everyone from all of us up here at the ‘Ancient Mariner’

Hope all your party’s went well over the New Years Eve celebrations, as I write this article for the January 2011 edition, are preparations are in full flow, the music is booked, the food is ready to cook, the tickets are selling fast and we’re looking forward to a great night.

Watch out for our Tinsel & Glitter night… Saturday 8^th January, there will ...
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13 Account overdue!

January 1st is the beginning of a new year, but to regard it as starting afresh with a blank sheet may be wishful thinking. The reality is that it is also the time for settling overdue accounts. Prior to Christmas many will have been spending lavishly - using their Credit Cards. But now is payback time. Alarmingly, there are so many devices which lure folk into spending money they haven’t got that there will certainly be many, who as a consequence, will be plunged deepe...
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Dick Melton

Well now! All this snow and ice has not affected me much as I lay here, on my bed, with my leg in plaster. The roads around the estate have been very bad with no sign of a gritting lorry. My daughter, who lives at Dodds Hill on the Sandringham Estate, tells me that they have their roads gritted twice a day. I wonder why? A few years ago I wrote to the Ministry of Transport saying that they should grit the minor roads first so that folks could get onto the main roads, but nothing ...
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Peter J James

They have, for many years, inspired artists, poets and song writers to reflect, with a wistful romanticism, on the dying year and, this year, that death has been dramatic indeed. Driving round Hunstanton and district over the last few weeks I have been overwhelmed by the blaze of Autumn Colours which have transformed our woodlands. The russets of the beeches, the scarlets of the acers, the raw and burnt siennas of the oaks and the lemon yellows of the humble hawthorn have all f

Regular times of Worship:

Sundays: 8am Eucharist, 10.30am Parish Eucharist, 5pm Evensong

Weekdays the Eucharist is celebrated at 10.30am on Wednesday, [10am on Thursday at Ringstead] and 9am on Saturday. The regular Tuesday evening Eucharist is in abeyance until April.

Come and join us for worship at any of our services and discover that God does love you and does want to share in your life. Give him space and invite him to come to you.

Father John Bloomfield, Vicar.

Tel. 532531

Brian Ogden

One minute I was asleep and the next moment wide awake. Well, you would be if someone threw a bucket of cold water over you.

‘Get ready to pack the camels, Achmed,’ shouted my master, ‘and make sure we have enough food for a long journey.’

My master was standing over me laughing as the water dripped down my face. He was not a cruel man but today something seemed to have made him very excited.

‘Last night, when you were dreaming,’ he said, still smiling, ‘I saw it...
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Church of Our Lady & St Edmund with St Cecilia’s Dersingham

Fun and friendship was the theme for the ladies lunch held at St Cecilia’s, Dersingham on 16th October. With over 45 people attending from a number of churches or organisations in Dersingham, Heacham and Hunstanton, the lunch was a great success. The ladies as usual each provided a plate of food, which amounted to a scrumptious banquet! New and old friendships were made or renewed as the ladies enjoyed a quiz, a sing-song or

Beware intruders! Normally this is a piece of sound advice, especially to those of us who live alone. We should be vigilant and make sure that doors and windows are locked and secure, and we should make it our practice to ask callers to identify themselves. You can never be too careful. January is in the spiritual life January is the month of intruders, or to give it its technical title ‘the month of epiphany.’ In it we seek signs of God’s presence and purpose among us in this mortal lif

Minister of Union Church

Recently I visited one of my family who was proudly showing me his new mobile phone, or was it a mini computer? I humbly showed him my recently acquired device that could take photographs and even tell me how many steps that I had taken in any given day. I was told that there was so much more it could do, and then he proceeded to press keys that brought maps to the screen. I was amazed to find that my exact location could be shown on the map. Wow! So I need never be ...
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Shop Hunstanton!

Stella Gooch

Shop Hunstanton! This is a phrase  that is gaining momentum in our local area and why not?  There are many reasons to shop in village and small town High Streets.  How often have you gone off in search of that special something to Norwich and Kings Lynn only to find it on your doorstep right here in Hunstanton.  I know I have done it myself numerous times. I often think of the time and petrol I would have saved if only I had shopped local first.

There ar...
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To help fill the buildings we have discovered over the last 2 years with memories and people, we would very much like to hear from you if any of your family or friends spent time at Sedgeford Aerodrome when it was an operational base during the First and Second World Wars? – whether in the Armed Forces, helping to build it, taking deliveries onto the base or driving one of the steam trains. If so, then could you please contact us either at CLOAKING or by post ‘Sedgeford Aerod

Dave Hawkins Visitor and Publicity Officer

Titchwell Marsh RSPB nature reserve

If like us, you love birds and want to help them, then the Big Garden Birdwatch is your chance to do something that really counts.

All you need is a pen, some scrap paper and an hour to spend watching the birds in your garden on either Saturday 29, or Sunday 30 January 2011. Then simply record the highest number of each bird species seen in your garden, or local park at any one time, and let us know what you s...
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David Rawlings

As a relatively new employee at Searle’s, one thing more than any other is clear, the family really love Hunstanton. How do I know? They’ve just given me the job of implementing their new community strategy, and it’s chock full of initiatives to continue to help and improve not just the town and the environment, but hopefully the lives and businesses of the people that live in it too.

As a new comer to Hunstanton and to Searle’s, learning about the company and its rel...
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Norman Whye

The ministry of transport annual testing of motor vehicles first came into law in1960, and I think its price for carrying it out was a meagre seven shillings and sixpence old currency-about 37.5 new pence, and all cars over a certain age were required to be tested annually. In the early days it was a general inspection, and a check of the important functions of the car, the brakes, lights and steering operation being the basic requirements. Nowadays it is much more comprehensive ...
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Geoff Needham

With only two shouts since my last report, both related to missing persons and were resolved before our assistance was needed, life at the station carries on as near normal as one can when you have the builders in, it is looking most likely that the scheduled completion date for the beginning of December will not be met, this is not a criticism of the on site work force, they are getting on with the job, I think it was an optimistic forecast, and things are taking shape.

Fri...
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Sandra Hohol – Publicity Officer

Oh wow, what a year we have had!  A varied selection of non-stop events throughout North West Norfolk; fetes, garden parties, two shows at the Princess Theatre, released a CD called ‘Onwards and Upwards!’, recording carols at KLFM, a visit to Norwich City Football Club, a show at Park House, carol singing in residential homes and the icing on the cake - by the time you read this, we will have taken the youngsters on a trip to the Chicken Shed Theatre i

A funny old game!

John Maiden

As I sit down to write these few words I am still wondering how Norwich lost at home to a Portsmouth side, which looked good on paper, but only managed two shots on target throughout the whole game.

Norwich created enough chances to have won this contest by half time, but a combination of poor finishing by the home side and last-ditch defending by the visitors, enabled Pompey to end City's unbeaten run of six games.

The busy Christmas period, with�...
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Quack.... Quack... Quack

The ducks are back,

Strolling round the Town.

The drakes a resplendent greeny- blue,

Their mates a dowdy brown.

I think Hunstanton should be proud

That these birds are not afraid

To walk our streets cheerful and loud -

Shame this trust is so betrayed.

For though they seem to make us glad,

And their presence does us good.

Am I odd to find it sad

That no one thinks to throw some food?

And what about the pigeons, starlings,

blackbirds, sparrows, gu...
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Cllr. J. R. Smith

In 1937, for the Coronation of King George VI, Hunstanton’s gardeners celebrated the occasion by planting red, white and blue flowers in their gardens, window boxes, planters etc. The Council Gardeners also followed the theme and Hunstanton was awash with a sea of patriotic colours. To celebrate the marriage of Prince William and Katherine Middleton on the 29^th April, Hunstanton Council is planning a great weekend of festivities for the Bank Holiday weekend. So why not pa...
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Hunstanton charity shop, Break, held their annual volunteer helpers Christmas lunch at the golden Lion on 9th December.

Pictured is shop manager Vicky Craig presenting Maggie Limb with an award in recognition of three years service.

Also due to receive awards were Ruby Wilson (8 years) and Iris Hawkes (20 years) unfortunately they were unable to attend on the day.

Break provides homes for children and young adults, supported holidays and respite care, assessments for families in crisis, ...
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John Maiden

Most people will have heard of the Christmas Truce of 1914, when the great war stopped for a couple of days as soldiers in some of the trenches decided that singing carols and playing football made more sense than sniping at one another.

In the same festive spirit, I have decided it is unfair to subject readers to further installments of correspondence with Jim Welham on matters relating to Hunstanton Pier. I am now reconciled to waiting patiently for the next few months...
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J. R. Smith

No, this time, not to Hunstanton St. Edmund! At the time of the outbreak of World War I there was a concerted effort to eliminate all mention of the name of Germany. In Hunstanton, the small novelty china ornaments, the items of crested ware, all marked “Made in Germany” and so beloved by the tourists were hastily withdrawn.

At the same time, The “German Ocean” was quickly renamed “The North Sea” and even “German measles” became “Belgium Flush.”

In Octobe...
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Clive Dellino. Trustee, Heacham and District Community Car Scheme

I’m pleased to report that the Car Scheme continues to flourish in its now customary manner.

Regardless of the weather (up to the time of writing these notes in mid-December) our “clients”, co-ordinators and drivers have carried on using and providing the Scheme’s services with only a short hiccup when the road conditions caused a few cancellations (by users, but not by our dedicated drivers!) and November saw a total...
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Christine Earnshaw

Is your wedding dress still in your wardrobe? Perhaps it has it been there for the last 10, 20, 30, 40, or even 50 years carefully wrapped up. Would you like to put it on display once more together with a photo as part of the town’s celebration of the marriage of Prince William and Kate Middleton?

M&Co have kindly agreed to mount an exhibition of wedding dresses of local people in their shop window around April 29^th. If you would like to help the Town Council with t...
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Peter Mills

Well it’s very nearly the end of 2010, and we’ve had a very successful year. We are now looking forward to next year but firstly we have to report on what happened just recently. In the beginning of December we held our “Turkey & Tinsel” lunches for our senior citizens and what a success that was. From Monday to Thursday we served around 350 meals of fine festive fayre. Our thanks go to Nick, Sam, and Amy Fox at the Green Lodge Restaurant for providing the excellent f...
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– The Old Bank Snettisham

Tim Hearth

We have had a tiring and successful first six months at The Old Bank - and are extremely grateful to our ever increasing group of loyal local customers who keep returning - so we must be getting it right!

We've had "pinkie breakfasts" - to the uninitiated there are bird-watchers who greet the dawn by walking to see the thousands of pink footed geese, that rise from the marshes to fly to their feeding grounds - which inevitably gives you an appetit...
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Neen Riseborough MGBT. MASLMS

There are several options for non-invasive surgery and we are able to offer all at SLC.

To begin, I would like to write about laser work, great for younger looking skin. This is a very successful option and comes under the heading of;

SKIN REJUVINATION

All year around the skin has to defend itself against the elements and other external influences, we are exposed to damaging light on a daily basis, with time visible red thread veins, pigmented marks, enlarge...
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John Smith

The Strange Sexual Behaviour of the Slipper Limpet

Anyone looking for shells on the high tide mark will soon find a rather unusual shell from the Slipper Limpet (Crepidula fornicata).

These oval shells with white, cream, or purplish lines on the upper side and a “shelf” of mother of pearl on the underside are easily identified. However finding them at low tide when they are always covered with hundreds of small barnacles is slightly more difficult.

3 Slipper Limpets atta...
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15% off our products in January*
(Hoping Debenhams don’t mind me competing with them!!!)

Debra Buckby

This may tempt you into our lovely shop jam-packed with beautiful and unusual gift items for all ages. Writing this article before Christmas seems rather strange but we hope you all had a restful and peaceful Christmas, if however, you feel you are now in need of therapeutic care come and see us for one of our lovely tailor made treatments with myself, Stephanie, our Acupuncturist Charlo

..to raise funds for the Norfolk Hospice

The Hunstanton based Princess Theatre Club thoroughly enjoyed all four performances of their Old Tyme Music Hall ‘Down Memory Lane’ recently. There were comedy sketches to be enjoyed and the audience participated in the well known tunes from yesteryear. The Music Hall organised by David Wright and the committee of the Princess Theatre Club decided on this occasion to raise money for a charity rather than their theatre club and chose local chari...
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Julie Goddard, Consultant

Happy New Year to everyone!

At Heacham we are expecting a bumper New Year with more members than ever joining our group to lose weight after the Christmas holiday.

What better time to start a programme to lose weight than right after all the festivities when we are all in the right frame of mind for a new start to a New Year. If your New Year’s Resolution was about trimming down and toning up then come along to St Mary’s church Hall in the High Street on a Tue...
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Cllr Peter Mallam

Hello All, I hope you are doing your best to keep warm. I can honestly say this is the coldest winter I have known and I would ask that you are all good citizens by keeping an eye on your elderly and vulnerable neighbours.

The remainder of the year was a very busy and enjoyable time for me. The Hunstanton Christmas Cracker lights switch on was a fabulous event excellently organised by the Chamber of trade, we had Santa on his sleigh, the Community Choir, pantomime characte...
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Margi Blunden

The New Readers Book Group have recently read A VIEW FROM THE FOOTHILLS by CHRIS MULLIN published by Profile Books in 2009.

This book may not be for everyone as it is about our political system and how it works, but having said that if you are curious about how we are governed and want to know more then this is the book for you!

Chris Mullin demonstrates very well how the balance of power is held in this country. Despite whatever politicians say or the media decry, the rea...
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- a Norfolk Police Constable of 170 years ago

Jim Welham

Thomas Bocking was born in Brancaster on 30 December 1820, the son of the High Street grocer. In 1840 when the Norfolk Constabulary was formed he became one of original members of the new rural Police Force.

He was over 6 feet in height and of considerable strength. His first posting was to the Downham and Welney beat and his only instructions being, ‘to make the best of it’. He was an absolute stranger to the area, had little ...
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Town Council to get new Planning powers

By the time you read this, Christmas will be over, heads cleared and the impetus for getting on with 2011 will be well in place. That said, then get ready for the next shockwaves to break over Hunstanton.

The Government is to change the planning system so that local parish councils will have the power to grant planning permission for development, and smaller projects like extensions will be taken out of the system completely. The Borough Council woul...
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Martin Chown – Committee Member

Not too many folk are interested in Annual General Meetings – but the HCS meeting in December took about 60 members up to the North Col of Mount Everest, brought them back down again and gave them a finger buffet and wine. Not bad for £10 per year plus 8 further Talks per person.

AGMs can be quite dull – although this one became quite lively when – completely off the script I constructed for the evening – there was mention of a planning application...
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If not, why not? There are so many reasons to become one and, with more and more people visiting Norfolk libraries a lot of people agree! Throughout January Norfolk Library and Information Service is promoting all the benefits of becoming a library member with a month-long promotion called 'Join-Up January'. There are county council-run library buildings and mobile libraries across Norfolk, which means there is likely to be one fairly close to where you live, and there's so much more to them t
...
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Hayley Johnstone

I sat there thinking of something to write, and I occurred to me that I could tell all you lovely people about my lovely year of 2010.

So my year started when I was still pretty new to my college, New Year was spent with lots of new friends and I could slowly see myself settling in to my lessons. My lessons were going good, I liked media, journalism and English…Sociology was a tad hard but I got there in the end. There were a lot of positives at the beginning of 2010; I h...
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Joining Anita for 2011 are three new part-time stylists; Linda, Suzanne and Deborah.

Linda started hairdressing in 1968 and trained at Elite Hairfashions in High Wycombe and then worked in her parents salon until she married and moved to Aylesbury where she worked part time whilst looking after her young family. She then managed a salon in Wendover for two years before moving to Milton Keynes where she did mobile hairdressing until she opened her own salon 15 years ago.

In 1998 she was t...
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Established since 1979 Country Kitchens, formerly of Norfolk Street, has recently moved to Nelson House, Bergen Way, King’s Lynn and 8^th December was the date of their Grand Opening Party. The Company not only has a new address but a new name too and is now called Town and Country (Kitchens, Bedrooms and Bathrooms) Ltd.

The large and fantastically designed showroom has a wide range of kitchens and bathrooms on display together with appliances, worktops, sinks, taps and a myriad of other it...
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Everyone in and around Snettisham is being encouraged to find their voice and enjoy better health as a new community choir is launched in the village. A new term runs from 12^th January for 12-weeks, not including 23^rd February and the sessions run from 10am – 12pm. The Choir is open to everyone, even those who are less than confident about their singing abilities.

After the success of the Sing For Wellbeing group that has been established for over a year in the village Carol O’Neill has d...
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Shoe Boxes 2010

The final Shoe Box total for 2010 was 760 boxes from Hunstanton, Old Hunstanton (and churches along the coast,) Heacham, Ingoldisthorpe and Snettisham. This is a tremendous result, given the current difficult economic situation and the content of boxes was as generous as ever. The collector from Boston said that our total was among the highest he had encountered, as many areas had received significantly fewer boxes this year.

A huge thank you to everyone who was involved in...
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Every year thousands of unwanted Christmas presents are either thrown away or hidden at the back of wardrobes nationwide.  This January, Sue Ryder in Hunstanton is appealing for local people to donate any unwanted gifts to its local charity shop.

All money raised from the sale of donated items in Sue Ryder’s shops supports the healthcare charity continue to provide end of life and long term care to people living with conditions including; Cancer, Stroke, Brain Injury, Multiple Sclerosis,...
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Joanna

Well it is certainly ‘chill December’ as I write this on 7^th of the month. I am not so sure that all those birds made a right choice as they headed into our countryside, however according to my friends in Norway it has been even colder there, so maybe it wasn’t such a bad move. We really have been lucky so far as my sister in Perth in Scotland tells me, as she has had to clear yet more snow! Actually it was really beautiful yesterday as I drove into Kings Lynn, there was a silve...
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Once upon a time Hunstanton had its very own Princess. She lived in a splendid theatre overlooking The Green and for many years welcomed residents and visitors to her annual pantomime.

Just imagine the disappointment when it was announced last summer that the Princess was to be robbed of her panto!

However, once the shock had subsided, the good townsfolk decided to put on their own panto. With the Princess out of bounds, the Town Hall was chosen to stage Robin Hood – Norfolk Style.

A ba...
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Happy New Year!

January starts with the Hunstanton Pantomime and as a little taster you can see part of one of the backdrops together with Robin and Princess Marion on this month’s front cover. This is the artwork of the very talented Kate Dunbar and you really must see it (and the other two backdrops) in glorious colour at our Town Hall.

The first of the ‘Indoor Car Boots’ is on 16th and a public meeting to make Hunstanton’s plans for the forthcoming Royal Wedding is on 19th. Bot...
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