‘February brings the rain, thaws the frozen lake again’ so runs the old poem that I quoted last month, it remains to be seen what it will bring, according to all the old Country sayings it is a wet month, hence the title. Still that is in the future, we certainly had our share of cold and snow recently and I have a feeling we haven’t seen the last of it. I am still feeding lots of Blackbirds, I think 28 is my best count so far but that means many more as they come and...
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 Figures released on the 25th January 2010 by RNLI Headquarters show that Volunteer lifeboat crews have had their busiest 12 months in the 186-year history of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution.

The charity launched lifeboats on 9,154 occasions in 2009 across the UK and Ireland.  This is the first time the RNLI has exceeded 9,000 launches in a year.  The lifeguard service operated by the RNLI also had the busiest year since lifeguards we...
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By John Maiden 

 Perhaps I should say: "give us a break" - especially to people in Hunstanton who complain about what they call 'negativity' by those of us who want the town to have a future more in keeping with its past. For example, the response of the Civic Society to the proposal to build 25 apartments on the Kit Kat site, should not be seen as negative! Committee members took the trouble to come up with an alternative proposal for a site swap that would allow the appli...
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 Once again the end of the tax year is looming, so it’s time to try to maximise tax-planning opportunities for the current year, as well as 2010/11. It is important to bear in mind that there are four key changes to income tax from 6^th April, which are:

· The standard personal allowance will be frozen at the 2009/10 rate.

· The threshold for higher rate tax will be frozen at £37,400

· The new 50% rate will apply to taxable income above £130,000

· People with...
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Anyone near the front in Hunstanton will have seen the magnificent spectacle of the windsurfers and kite surfers on the water at the North Promenade. Truly a year-round sport, they bring colour and excitement to our shoreline most days of the year.

              At a time when many seaside businesses are taking a winter break, Hunstanton Watersports has already started its 2010 season of kitesurfing lessons available as one to one tuition or in groups. Although most lessons start...
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By Tony Foster

 At 10 a.m. on 5^th April, Easter Monday, Holme-next-the-Sea will be holding its popular annual Easter Egg Quiz. The question sheets can be purchased, at £1.50 each, at the Village Hall .

              Participants then have two hours to follow the easy directions and wander around the village searching for the picture clues and answering a question. All answers are to be returned to the Village Hall by 12 noon and the results will be announced shortly afterwards. ...
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By Joy Webb

 The hardest winter for years.  Hunstanton businesses struggling, residents worrying over heating costs, among other things.  Not an easy time.  And yet, when the earthquake struck Haiti, thousands of miles away, what an outpouring of compassion, what a desire to do something to help filled our little town! 

As early as 30^th January this found a practical expression when members of our churches, and the WI, got together to run the Help for Haiti bring-and-buy Pound Sale, held...
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By Mick Mossendew

 There will be an organ recital given by Andrew Reid, who is the Director of Music at Peterborough Cathedral on Thursday April 22nd.at 7.30pm.   Mr Reid was formerly Sub-Organist at Westminster Abbey.

              Admission is £5 which includes light refreshments and the proceeds, after expenses are for Flower Festival expenses.

By John Smith

 St. Edmund’s Church Hunstanton is busy organising a Spring Town Quiz as part of this years Church Festival. The quiz will be based on identifying the whereabouts of many small architectural details on the buildings that comprised the early development of our town. The quiz will be on sale from the end of March, with final judging at the end of May. Entry forms and booklets will be on sale at Whitley’s in the High Street at the end of March, so there will be lots of time fo...
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“Twittering” or “tweeting”, I think that’s how it is put, is part of the social networking revolution that is happening all around us. If I have correctly understood twittering then it’s a bit like “blogging”, but less structured and more random! None the wiser eh! It’s not something I go for exactly but as someone who claims to be on the spiritual side I like to think that I go in for something that is rather similar in some aspects. Twittering is a kind of outpouring of com...
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I wonder if everyone is getting excited about the coming election!  Maybe politics is not the most scintillating subject on our list of favourite things to think about or do.  Are we tempted to be a little more thrilled at the thought of this Summer’s Football World Cup from South Africa being on our television screens taking up lots of peak-time viewing in June? 

There is one subject that ties them both together.  Much media time has been devoted to the moral values of the main player...
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(Church of Our Lady and St Edmund, Sandringham Road, with St Cecilia’s, Dersingham)

 In January a Coffee Morning and Bring and Buy sale was held in our parish rooms in aid of the victims of the earthquake in Haiti. We are very grateful to the many local people who gave generous support to this event.  The proceeds, together with the results of collections taken in Church on successive Sundays, enabled us to send over £1055 to CAFOD who are a member of the Disasters Emergency Committee. ...
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I have always been a fan of the late Joyce Grenfell. She was a talented actress as well as a writer of songs and monologues. She was also a Christian and wrote prayers. It was in one of her monologues that she gave her character the lines ‘with a face as long as Lent’. It sums up what many people think of the churches season of Lent. A long dreary time when we give something up, and then we’re miserable because we’ve denied ourselves. That misses the point of what Lent is all about.

...
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KNITTING, CROCHETING AND SEWING

I am writing to ask if there is anyone who might be interested in attending an informal basic knitting, crocheting or sewing evening. The venue will be Hunstanton Methodist Church Hall on Wednesdays starting at 7pm 17^th March 10.

For any further information please contact Pauline Scotney, tel 01485 535001

Pauline Scotney

OUR LOCAL BUSINESSES

Whilst reading your excellent magazine I was reminded of just how important to us locals all the adverts you disp...
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The Fifth Column at Work – Molotov Cocktails

By Kingsley Pearce

 As small boys explosive devices always had an attraction for us, not a fatal one I am glad to say, or else I would not be able to relate this story.  During our surveys of military activities in the town during the early war years we had noticed that interesting trench works were taking place in the rear gardens of a large building situated on Cliff Parade, occupied by troops and known as Lydgate House. After the end of the...
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By Emma Todd-Ward, Weight Watchers Leader

 Hi all, believe it or not, spring and summer are just around the corner. 

Do you want to lose a few pounds, so you feel comfortable and confident in your summer clothes? Then join us at the Methodist Church on a Thursday evening, where you will learn how to lose weight and keep it off by getting the Weight Watchers habit.

We have a friendly team of staff and members, who have been attending our meetings and are now feeling the benefits of weight...
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Police have stepped up activity in the Burnham Market area in response to a recent rise in outbuilding thefts.

Seven thefts or attempts in the village have been reported since the start of the year - representing a rare spike in an otherwise low crime area.

After forcing entry to sheds and other outbuildings, the thieves have stolen items including bikes and an outboard motor. The local church and primary school have also been targeted although nothing was stolen on these occasions.

Sgt Rob...
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 ...AND VOLUNTEERS

By Paul Roney, Visitor Centre manager

 Big skies, a fabulous sandy beach, bird filled reed bed and marshes are just a few of nature’s gems tucked away inside Titchwell’s treasure trove of delights. It is not just birds and visitors that find Titchwell Marsh attractive; we are also a major site for RSPB volunteers as well!

Over forty volunteers of all ages and backgrounds help at the reserve. You don’t have to be a bird expert to volunteer because we can give you any...
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All aboard! Step forward on Saturday 17 & Sunday 18 April 2010 to raise funds for Macmillan Cancer Support. Your small steps could go even further towards helping cancer patients and their carers to give them as much help and support as they need.

The annual event which takes place in Mid Norfolk between Aylsham and Wroxham includes a trip on a Bure Valley Railway narrow gauge steam train and all walkers receive light refreshments at the end of their walk.

This year’s event is even bigge...
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At the end of January Danny Mackintosh visited the Goldstar Boxing Gym in Heacham and he trained the young boxers for two hours.

 Danny is due back in the ring himself as this newsletter goes to print. He is fighting in a Ricky Hatton production which is to be screened on Sky Sports 1.

 Leon Gyton, proprietor of the Goldstar Gym, was pleased to welcome Danny to the Gym and said how much young boxers appreciate meeting, and being trained by one of their heroes.

Sponsored by ....?

 It crossed my mind to combine two stories under the headline "The Kit Kat and the Canary" but by popular request this column is back, in its own right, after some sham reluctance on my part to sing the praises of the high-flying Canaries while fans of other local league and non-league clubs may feel more like singing the Blues! There was a real inclination to wait until issues of promotion and relegation had been settled, because it tempts providence to c...
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Glebe House School ‘is a happy school. Pupils are well behaved and enthusiastic about their learning. Personal development is good and a strength of the school. Pastoral care is also particularly effective’ and ‘Pupils of all ages and abilities make good progress as a result of the good teaching.’ according to the Independent School Inspectorate (ISI) who visited the school in September 2009.

The ISI inspects schools according to a standard framework for inspection which it has laid do...
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By John C. Crofts, Headmaster

 National Youth Choir

In December auditions were held all round the country for places in the prestigious National Youth Choirs.  We were delighted to hear that 11 year old Grace Thomas, who lives in Hunstanton and whose family is well known in the town, had been awarded a place in the Girls’ Choir for 11 – 16 year olds.  Grace’s singing teacher Claire Bloor, who recently founded the Hunstanton Community Choir, said, ‘I am delighted for Grace.  She ha...
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PACT's Coffee Morning held at The Golden Lion Hotel on 27th January was extremely well supported and raised a massive £447.47, which will pay for a room in the new cattery.  

              Chris and George Rockingham at the Sanctuary were thrilled with the total raised and hope to see the building work on the cattery begin in March, weather permitting.   We were literally overwhelmed with supporters at the event and must apologise for not being able to speak to everyone indiv...
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By Peter Mills

 After our really hectic December (and we mean hectic), January and February have been rather quiet. The overwhelming response to our “Grotto” was extremely satisfying but now with Spring fast approaching we’re getting ready for another busy year of activity. Our Car Boot Sales will be held on every other Sunday at the Glebe House School starting in the beginning of April. They start at 8.00am, so come early to snap up some of those bargains. We will also be holding some...
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There’s been a lot of changes recently at O.H.S.C. It’s under new management chaired by John Pesci, with a new Steward, Caroline. The bar area has been completely refurbished and there’s a lively calendar of events, so here are some dates to put in your diaries :-

March 5th  (Friday) Bingo. 7.00 for 7.30pm.

March 6th  (Saturday)  R.N.L.I. Race Night. 7.00pm.

March 12th  (Friday) St. Mary’s Church Quiz Night. 6.00pm.           Teams of six people £36.00 including refresh...
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By Carol Bower

 Since early January a new local group has been meeting every Tuesday evening at Glebe House School – at last, Hunstanton has its own choir.

After only five weeks the choir has almost 50 members and is preparing for its first public performance, at the St George’s Day Concert in the Princess Theatre. This event is a joint venture between the Town Council and local businesses to raise funds for the Town Hall Basement Appeal, showcasing local talent.

Director Claire Bloor,...
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By Edward Wheatley

The Civic Society is concerned about the natural erosion of the cliffs but in the same article they report that this unique landmark would be destroyed by becoming the southern end of probably the biggest man made monstrosity in the UK  -  The Wash Tidal Barrier.

              In the report of a recent meeting, the man behind the scheme, Peter Dawe comes across as an altruistic environmentalist, but to be fair, he describes himself as an “entrepreneur ext...
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Glebe House School is a forward looking Preparatory School based on traditional family values, which aims to provide an excellent education to children between the ages of six months to thirteen years. We are seeking individuals who are interested in being considered for membership of the Board of Governors. 

              The school is run as a Charitable Educational Trust and is keen to ensure that the board is a balanced organization, although not looking for particular skil...
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Dick Melton

 I was riding around the town on my bike this morning when a gentleman shouted to me and asked what I would be writing about this month.  “I don’t know,” I replied, “but I do know that it won’t be about piers, cycle paths, empty shops or car parking charges.”

A lady gave me some very old newspapers.  One of them was The Lynn News and Advertiser

dated 28^th December 1951 and in it was the following report, entitled: ‘Looking back, Looking forward at Hunstanton.�...
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This term started with us working on our Centenary Challenges entitled Adventure 100, We started off ‘Selling a Product’, which involved each group making an advert to sell GirlguidingUK. Then we had a Penny Hike, where every time we reached a corner we tossed a coin to see which direction to take. We then celebrated Burns Night and held a mini Highland Games, learnt to dance the Gay Gordons and enjoyed Shortbread and Iron Brew (we do enjoy our food).  Once again this year, we will be col...
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By Andrew Murray

Talks -  On February 2^nd. local author Mary Mackie gave a fascinating and very humorous account of the history of the Princess Mary’s Royal Air Force Nursing Service founded in 1918.  Several previous attempts to write the history had faltered.  In a chance conversation, her son Kevin, a Wing Commander and now Matron of the Military Hospital Wing at Peterborough, mentioned that his mother was an author, led to her involvement.  The book “Sky Wards” published in 2001...
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By Clive Dellino, Trustee

 The Community Car Scheme continues to flourish.  In the months of December ’09 and January ’10 a total of 1,336 trips were made; taking local residents to doctors’ surgeries, dentists, opticians, chemists etc. -plus the occasional shopping trip when no reasonable alternative existed.

Hunstanton residents are making an increasing use of the Scheme.  In the period above, their usage of the Scheme accounted for 422 of the 1,336 trips, that is to say, one thir...
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Every now and again it’s good to have a change round and so this month I’ve moved my letter here.

              If we stick to tradition this month we’ll all be spring cleaning our homes and chitting our early potatoes ready for planting on Good Friday, which this year falls on April 2nd. Before then we have Mothering Sunday on 14th March and before the month is out, we change the clocks as British Summer Time starts on 28th.

              This has been one of...
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