THANK YOU LIONS

I would like to take this opportunity to give a ‘big thank you’ to the Lions for the excellent meal on Monday 7^th December.

              From the first greeting to the end, the event was so well organised  -  the waitress/waiter service from the Mars people was first class  -  the music also, and very nostalgic!

              Well done everyone who was involved.

R.S. and M Hodson

STAINED GLASS

Something to look forward to in 2010 - ...
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 By Peter J James

 The first of these collisions was a Cathy-Heathcliff embrace writ large and it has already lasted for some fifty million years

This embrace was, of course, the collision between the Indo-Australian plate and the Eurasion plate, which thrust up the Himalayas and produced a spectacular geography as complex as any on the planet.  The second collision, or rather an annual series of repeated collisions, is an indirect consequence of the first.  The annual monsoons which swe...
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 On Remembrance Sunday I was just one of the many taking part in the parade from the United Services Club to the Cenotaph and then onwards to the Service at St. Edmund’s Church. Always a poignant celebration it was suddenly all the more significant because reading the names on the Cenotaph, listening to them being read out, and then reading them again on the memorial in the church, many of the names were familiar to me from my researches into t...
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Breast Cancer Reconstruction Support Group
By Sue Henry

 Keeping Abreast was established in September 2007 by two patients and a Breast Reconstruction nurse specialist at the Norfolk & Norwich University Hospital. They recognised there is a great need for women, both newly diagnosed with breast cancer facing the possibility of mastectomy, and also women further down the line who are also considering reconstructive surgery, to be able to meet and talk to other women who have been through sim...
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              The appeal was started in 2007 with the aim of providing a youth club in Hunstanton because since youth facilities were withdrawn some 10-15 years ago, there has been nowhere for young people to meet socially outside the school or home environment to hone the skills of communication, teamwork and growing up. This ‘club’ is to be open to all regardless of their financia...
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 By Jim Welham

 During the 20^th century there have been several schemes to dam the Wash for reasons as diverse as protecting the fenland from being flooded by seawater, creating a huge area of farmland, or a vast freshwater reservoir.  Other ideas involved changing the courses of the four main rivers so they all had the same outfall, or diverting them from the Wash altogether allowing it to silt up. Due to apparently insurmountable difficulties none of these projects passed the discussion ...
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We have had a very interesting and varied year, with demonstrations and workshops in various mediums, from both local and nationally known artists.

   In June we held our first exhibition at the Coal Shed Gallery and recorded over 800 visitors.

  Our weekly meetings are held on Wednesdays, 9am-12 noon in St Edmund’s Church Hall. If you would like to come along and join us you will be most welcome.

We have members of all abilities including complete beginners. Why not make a New Year...
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PACT's Hunstanton Supporters Group has had a busy, and successful, summer fundraising for a new cattery for our feline friends.  

              We were lucky enough to be invited by Hunstanton's Rotary Club to take part in a fundraising weekend at The Norton Hill Light Railway owned by Mr & Mrs M Schumann.   The event was extremely enjoyable and successful and George Rockingham from the sanctuary was presented with a very impressive cheque for £2,000.   Over in King's...
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By Andrew Murray

 Readers will remember that an article in the November Issue of the Newsletter asked:

"Do you have difficulty getting to the Shops, Library or Doctors ?

Would a Town Circular Minibus Service help you?

As a result of that article, one person who is an experienced minibus driver and six potential users of the service made contact.

The first trial run of the service on Wednesday 16th. December, brought four people from different areas of the town to the centre.

One person w...
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 Supplied by Kathryn Gigg, Chartered Accountants, Hunstanton

 1st January 2010         VAT – the standard rate back up from                                              15% to 17.5%

                                          VAT – various changes to Intrastat                                                    reporting requirements, the place of supply  �...
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By Cllr Christine Earnshaw, Mayor of Hunstanton

 With the Christmas season now virtually over most of us will be resuming our thoughts to the serious matter of how to make 2010 as good a year as possible in spite of the financial climate of gloom and doom. The Town Council has a number of issues to discuss with the Borough and County which will affect us all. 

Consideration is being given to reversing the one-way system along Beach Terrace Road to allow traffic to enter the Car Park by tu...
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By Robin Sainty 

 “It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent, but rather the one most adaptable to change”

 The words of Civil Liberty lawyer Clarence Darrow seem particularly apposite after one of the strangest investment years that I’ve seen in over 25 years in the industry. We started January with everything looking bleak, saw the FTSE Index slump in mid March amidst talk of a Depression akin to that of the 1920’s, and then witnessed a re...
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By Sandra Hohol – Publicity Officer

 November has been busy – we had the Christmas Cracker – very wet, but everyone soldiered on!  Turkey and Tinsel at Searle’s set sail to be a traditional carol evening but when Hunstanton Concert Band and the Lavender Hill Mob Theatre Company joined forces, there was no stopping either group!  Neither had rehearsed what the audience heard and saw, we all just played it by ‘ear’ and ‘went with the flow’!   The holidaymakers joined in w...
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 Hunstanton Brownies

We enjoyed taking part in the Shoe Box Service at the Union Church and we had a good turn out. We have held a race night, and made fancy hats, took part in lots of races and were awarded gold medals, this took up a lovely 2 meetings.  On the 2nd December we borrowed the county handchimes, which are kept in Lowestoft, we had a member of the Trefoil Guild come and join us and have a session with all the Brownies teaching them to play the handchimes, we finished our meeting...
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The Committee would like to thank all those who were able to support the Friends Lunch at Hunstanton Golf Club. As a result of this and other successful events we have been able to send the sum of £650.00 to the Save the Children Fund.           

We are currently looking for new members to join our Committee. If you feel you would like to know more about the Save the Children Hunstanton Branch and hopefully join us, then please contact the Secretary on 01485 534081, you would be mad...
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By Debra Buckby

 A New Year......A New You.... We are very excited to announce that Charlotte is replacing her husband Tony as our Acupuncturist here at Serenity. Charlotte will offer traditional Acupuncture but also offers Facial Rejuvenation Acupuncture.......tell us more we cry!!....

              Facial Acupuncture uses "qi" our own natural energy to stimulate the production of New Collagen, boosts Circulation and helps the Lymphatic System drain away toxins. Specifically...
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Clive Jones sends a seasonal rant about health care – or lack of – in the US of A

 Dec. 17^th 2009: The awfulness continues... made the mistake last night of watching coverage of the well-co-ordinated right-wing populist 'Tea Party' movement against the introduction of any worthwhile health care plan.  A total stitch up by the insurance companies making squillions out of the privatised health care industry here, at a cost to the individual of twice as much as any nationally-run system in a...
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 ... ABOUT THE CROWN PROSECUTION SERVICE?
By Robert Warner

 The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) is the organisation responsible for prosecuting criminal cases investigated by the police in England and Wales.  Nationally there are 42 areas and in Norfolk the CPS is based in Norwich with over 80 staff including 30 lawyers.

Our work takes us to Courts and police stations in Norwich, King’s Lynn, Great Yarmouth, Thetford, Swaffham and Cromer.

Each year we handle around 14,000 cases in the Ma...
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Dick Melton

 Well, the Christmas Lights were switched on, though, unfortunately, I was unable to be there.  The weather could have been better but the lights – especially those in the Spinney - do look splendid.  What a shame we have so many empty shops at the moment but it is great that the Marine Bar is open again.

Once in while I like to relate a few tales from the sea and the foreshore.  Here are a few memories from an old fishermen and wildfowler.

The trout came on to the beach...
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http://www.wikaniko.com/index.php?un=1003311

Have you ever thought about doing your bit to help save the planet, to go green or just to save money. Well now you can by having a look at the Wikaniko (we can eco) site. It is full of useful ideas and products to help, even if only a small way, save our planet. From organic gardening tips to non chemical laundry products to no toothpaste toothbrushes.

By Peter Mills

 This year has all but closed, and what a year we’ve had. At the time of writing this we are extremely busy setting up our “Christmas Grotto” and “Craft Fair”, and will report on these in the next edition of this Newsletter.       

Our newest venture, “Turkey & Tinsel” has just ended. This week we treated the senior citizens in our area to a three course Christmas Lunch at the very low cost of £3.00 per head. We had a splendid turnout every day, an...
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By David Woolley

DipCAH, HPD, MPNLP, CertSCS, MNCH (Reg), MNGH

Certified Smoking Cessation Specialist.

If you are reading this article now, chances are you are either a smoker who wants to quit or know someone who is.  The truth is the vast majority of smokers do want to quit.  The intent of this article is to highlight why many people either fail in their attempts or are too scared to try.  It is also my intent to give you personally, a little help in quitting the habit and enjoying all o...
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By John Smith

 With the current ongoing discussions concerning the future of the Princess Theatre it is perhaps a good occasion to reflect on one of the many highly successful shows from the past which were performed on the stage of what was then the Capitol Cinema.

The scenario is 1952 and whilst it is difficult to envisage now, this was the period of the Cold War and Hunstanton was embarking on one of its most exciting and challenging periods in its history, with the welcoming of the first...
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By Mary Mackie, for the PTC.

 Who’s afraid of the big bad wolf? We are! His name is Backlawn and he’s threatening to Huff and Puff and visit all manner of horrors on our beautiful Princess... Look out! He’s behind you!!

              By the time you read this the 2009 season of Beauty and the Beast will be over, but our story does involve a Pantomime, and a Princess (in the shape of Hunstanton’s Theatre) and a Big Bad Wolf, aka the Borough Council of King’s Lynn and W...
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By John Maiden

 Scrappy New Year

The Canaries are still flying high in League One, but they are out of the FA Cup and the Johnstone's Paint Trophy. The manner of their exit from the Trophy was cruel indeed, losing to Southampton on penalties after conceding an equaliser inside the last ten seconds of added time.

              At the time of writing, the Christmas and New Year fixture list promises an opportunity for the Canaries to consolidate their place in the top three of L...
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By Dave Hawkins

Visitor officer, Titchwell Marsh RSPB

 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.

For the past 30 years, we have been asking our supporters to count the birds in their gardens. During this time, more than 3 million hours have been clocked up by people watching and enjoying the birds that visit our gardens. That’s more than three hundred years’ worth of watching and every year, some ...
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By a Wayfarer

4  On the treasure trail

 What did you get for Christmas?  Was it what you wanted, expected, or even deserved?  I wonder how many  “presents” were actually thinly disguised bribes hoping to buy some affection from someone, or even improved behaviour from ungrateful children? I also wonder how many presents will soon cease to delight the recipient because they know of someone else who now has an even bigger or better one!  Were any of you naive enough to believe th...
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Premier Airport and Chauffeur Services has been trading for eight years and is a family run business based in West Winch.  The      proprietor is Terry Greenall a former Police Officer with the Metropolitan Police who has an extensive knowledge of London.  We have associate drivers throughout West Norfolk and a modern fleet of vehicles including 2 Kia Sedona People Carriers (licensed for six passengers), a Chrysler 300c saloon, a Volvo Estate and a Mercedes.  All our vehicles are cle...
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 I recalled the recent article by your “agricultural expert” while waiting at the check-out at a local supermarket. The article had correctly criticised these emporia for being neither “super”, nor “markets” (to paraphrase Voltaire – or was it the other one?).

For weeks I have been searching for turnips and found never a one – not even a spectacularly priced, gold-plated organic specimen. Plenty of swedes – big as cannon balls: twice as hard: and jus...
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 The Hunstanton Branch of the Royal Naval Association had its December meeting hi-jacked by its President, Roy Clark and his wife, Doreen, who used the occasion to celebrate sixty years of married life in the company of their shipmates. They had, of course, already enjoyed a celebratory lunch with their children and grandchildren. 

              The couple were married at the Church of St Michael at Bowes in Wood Green on 3rd December 1949, which was such ...
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Thank you, all Newsletter readers who showed an interest

and wished me well.  This poem is for you.

 
What a day!

When thirty thousand came to Grosvenor Square!

Charities, pressure groups, nature lovers embracing,

Wanting a real climate deal that is fair.

Travelling in from so many different places,

Spending scarce time and money to be there.

More than a few even painting their faces!

(We didn’t, it’s true, but we did wear bright blue).

Babies on backs and toddlers in buggie...
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By John P Crofts

 Sadly the taking of drugs is no respector of the best of families and it is for this reason that Glebe House School has invited Jonnie Leach to come and give a presentation to parents and grandparents and carers on drug awareness at 7.30pm on Friday 29th January and we would like to extend that invitation to anyone in Hunstanton and the surrounding area. Tickets will be needed, but they are free and application details are to be found at the end of this article.

Jonnie Leac...
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An exciting new event is about to happen in Hunstanton.  Professional musician, Claire Bloor, is starting a Community Choir based at Glebe House School.  Claire has previously worked with Gareth Malone from BBC’s ‘The Choir’.  She also directed the Hanse Choir and is still choir director of Singers Inspired in Downham Market.

The Choir will meet every Tuesday evening from 7pm to 8.30pm starting on Tuesday 11^th January.  Everyone is welcome, there will be no auditions and no experie...
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The Town Carol Service at Hunstanton Town Hall on 14th December was hosted this time by the Methodist and Catholic Churches of Hunstanton.

              It was lovely to welcome the children of Ingoldisthorpe Church of England Primary School, who to the delight of the gathering played Little Donkey, Away in a Manger and Silent Night on handbells.

              Bible readings by local children telling the story of the Birth of Jesus were interspersed with music. The ...
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By Veronica Welham

 Last month I reported that our Shoe Box total looked as if it would be around 800 - much the same as 2008. I am delighted to announce that we loaded 1021 boxes into the lorry on November 23rd. They are destined for Kyrgyzstan (western border of China) and Serbia. The driver told us that most places in East Anglia had collected fewer boxes this year and we had bucked the trend.

  Again my thanks are due to everyone who has contributed boxes, donations or gifts, includin...
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The service of rededication of Hunstanton Methodist Church on Saturday 28^th November 2009 was a very happy and I like to think important event for the worshipping congregation and for our town of Hunstanton. The service was led by the President of the Methodist Conference, the Rev. David Gamble. We were pleased to welcome the Town Mayor, Christine Earnshaw and consort, Parish and Borough councillors, clergy and members of other denominations in Hunstanton. In all 160 folks were present at th...
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At the moment many people in Hunstanton are preparing to enjoy Christmas.  Presents are being wrapped and food bought in.  By the time you read this article many of us will be fed up with rich food, determined to get out of our armchairs and do things to make us feel better.

Some of us may make New Years Resolutions with a determination to fulfil all that we have promised ourselves.   I found a list of typical resolutions and maybe one or two of these may very well reflect our wishes li...
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By Peter Davidson

The Gardeners’ Association held its Annual Meeting recently in the Community Centre, when the Committee for the next twelve months was elected.  Plans outlined for the year included an excellent line-up of speakers for the winter lecture season, most of whom are endorsed by the Royal Horticultural Society.

A number of two and three day holiday suggestions for the Spring of 2010 were put to the members for their comments, and it was subsequently established that there w...
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By Norman Whye

I have a wad of fond memories of the old council owned allotment, that my father acquired, and my family used until, not all that many years ago, I relinquished it, as I was gardening for a living, and the amount of work to cope with a full allotment became prohibitive. I can quite readily recall the happy hours, and the success of home produced crops, that rewarded us and kept the freezer full for months. There is always a feeling that home crops have definitely a better tas...
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By Geoff Needham, LPO Hunstanton RNLI

As another year draws to a close, we can look back and reflect on what our volunteer crews have been engaged in, for us at Hunstanton, August and September were our busy period, the fact that we were able to carry out these tasks is down to the support given to the RNLI.  On behalf of Robin and the crew at Hunstanton we hope you all had a good Christmas, and we wish you all a Happy New Year, also a big thank you to all those who have worked so hard in�...
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By Kirsty Woolsey

 The Friends of Hunstanton Infant School held their AGM on Monday 16^th November.

The Treasurer reported that there was a healthy balance of £745.80 - our biggest success of the year, once again, was the sponsored walk, raising £383.  Everyone agreed that it should continue to be an annual event as it really brought everyone together and was a great family occasion.

Some committee members resigned their posts; the committee would like to say a very BIG thank-you to th...
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Happy New Year and welcome to the January edition of the Newsletter.

          Once again this is an issue crammed full of interesting articles, information and events, so thank you to all the contributors. New Years mean new beginnings for so many and after what has been called ‘a financially challenging 2009’ you may wonder what is in store for this year. Perhaps reading Robin Sainty’s article on page 34 will give some clues.

On pages 38-39 there is an updated list of club...
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