FREE - Issue Number 281 - JUNE 2020
2
Wayland Show
Offers Community
Groups and
Charities Covid-19
Support Loans
The annual Wayland Agricultural Society
Spring Ball held at Lynford Hall Hotel
(just prior to lockdown) saw a full house
enjoying a fabulous evening of food, wine
and entertainment. Guests dressed as
Peaky Blinders packed the Casino and
danced the night away to The Sax Walker
and DJ. Fabian Eagle conducted a charity
auction of 14 lots which raised £3,000
In total £8,000 was raised. Many thanks
go to our generous supporters and donors
for making the evening the success it was.
THIS PAPER IS FREE! COVID-19 Edition No.
Saham Women's
Institute
In 2015 a group of knitters spent many
hours and used hundreds of balls of
wool to create a tableau of life size
figures which were displayed in Caston
and surrounding villages. It was given
the title of Blossom and Yarn Festival
and was reported on TV and in the
national press and attracted more than
3,000 visitors. It was decided to repeat
the exercise in 2017 with some figures
being recycled and new ones being
created including animals on this
occasion. In 2019 the group put
together a 1950’s nostalgia week-end
(Nostalgia with Petal and Pearl) and
more figures were created including a
figure of Her Majesty the Queen in her
Coronation robes.
After this event a lot of the figures were
sold off to raise money for charity but
the Queen survived and was brought
along to our March meeting by Louis
Gill, a celebrated craftswoman who had
masterminded all of the events, and her
friend Louise. The figure had been
created on a dummy form to give it
stability and lots of knitted squares had
been sewn together and moulded into
the required shape. Embroidered
embellishments representing all the
Funds raised are intended for Norfolk
charity The Benjamin Foundation to go
towards it’s project to provide support
services for local children and families,
delivered from Watton Youth and
Community Centre. Unfortunately
current circumstances have now
determined that the charity has had to put
the project on hold for the time being.
With full approval of the Charity, and
until such time that the project is up and
running, the Wayland Ball organisers
would like to offer the use of the funds, by
means of loans, to local community
organisations and charities who may be
experiencing cash flow problems at this
time. There will be a cap of £500 per
organisation and awards will be made on
the basis of certain criteria being met.
Please visit www.waylandshow.com to
download an application form and for
more information please contact Claire
Bowes. Email
waylandspringball@gmail.com Tel
07789796937
Watton Surgery
Patient
Participation
Group
The PPG are very sorry to learn of the
sudden passing of both Helen and Ron
Thompson. They died recently within three
weeks of each other.
Ron and Helen were founding members of
the Watton & District Diabetic Support
Group and the PPG would like to place on
record their thanks for all that Ron & Helen
had done for the group. Recently they had
held the positions of Chairman, Secretary, &
Treasurer including organising speakers for
nations of the Commonwealth were
added to the dress as well as a
magnificent train, crown, orb, sceptre
and jewellery. It was beautifully done
by some very talented people and has
to be seen to be fully appreciated. A
most enjoyable evening where we
welcomed one new member and four
visitors.
We were very fortunate to be able to
hold our fundraising Pre-Loved sale
before lockdown kicked in and thank
everyone who donated items or came
along on the day to buy. Also thanks to
our members for running the event and
to the British Heart Foundation for
collecting the items that were left.
Following Government advice on the
Coronavirus it was decided to cancel
the Group Meeting and all other
meetings and activities until further
notice. This was disappointing as we
had lots of nice things planned for our
50th year but it is more important to
keep everyone safe. Members are
continuing to keep in touch with each
other by text, e-mails and phone calls
and hopefully a visual link-up soon.
Thankfully everyone is well and coping
at present and God willing we will all
come through this difficult time and be
able to enjoy our Women’s Institute
once again.
Gerry Daisey
the Group’s monthly meetings in Watton
and various outings.
The PPG would like to say how much their
support was appreciated at the open patient
clinics which they attended to promote the
Diabetic Support Group.
As far as it is known, the Watton & District
Diabetic Support Group will continue when
the present coronavirus restrictions are
lifted.
Tom Thurston, Chair Watton Surgery
Patients Participation Group
Ed: Helen wrote the Diabetes UK article
every month for some years. I should like
to express my sorrow at Helen and Ron’s
passing - they did work hard for the
community.
From the Editor
Once again, I would like to express my
appreciation to the advertisers, printers and
contributors for their support of The
Wayland News in these difficult times.
Many advertisers have continued to help
pay for the production of the paper even
though they have severely curtailed their
business operations.
If you need any of the services advertised
within theses pages, please tell the
businesses concerned that you do appreciate
their continuing to support your community.
And when this is over, I hope more and
more people will understand how important
these local businesses and community
organisations are to us.
And in doing that, realise that we can all
play a great part in contributing to the
rebuilding of our society.
These have been dreadful times and there
has been great loss of life and much
sacrifice. We must try to build a better
and more resilient community for the
future when this is over.
The Wayland News June 2020 Page 2
Thought
for the Month
Rev Jacqui Horton, Watton Methodist Church
A church member was really surprised recently to
see both flowers (in the form of catkins) and
acorns on the oak tree in his garden. He had never
seen this before. I am the sort of person who likes
to understand things so I looked it up. It seems that
oak trees have male flowers that pollinate female
flowers that become acorns and that last year’s
acorns can hang around into the Spring. Therefore,
both on the tree at the same time. So – the tree was
just doing its thing in its usual way. Was it that
Grant was just being more observant, and mindful,
in these unusual times? Certainly, it seems to be
the case for a lot of people, that they are noticing
more about nature and about their own lives.
I am also finding this with my reading of the Bible
and my singing of the hymns (which we do every
Sunday morning in our household with an ‘at
home’ worship sheet). The words seem to come
alive in a different way in the present context and,
because of the circumstances, one takes more
notice of them anyway. On a recent Sunday, our
worship sheet suggested that we re-read the words
in John chapter 10 – we had read it once – and see
what strikes us. What struck me was something I
had never noticed before, that the disciples didn’t
understand what Jesus was saying and he had to
say it AGAIN. How much do we not understand,
or misunderstand, or not notice at all? One of the
good things coming out of this lockdown is that
we are all taking more notice of things that usually
pass us by. It is a good job that we have a loving
heavenly parent who notices everything with us –
as it says in the Bible, even the hairs on our head
are numbered!
Watton &
District U3A
We hope you are all well, keeping safe and coping
with this dreadful Covid 19 Lockdown. As U3A
members we need to support each other and keep
in touch by whatever means you can. If you feel
the need for help at any time, please do contact
any one of our Committee Members. There is a
U3A newsletter available online, www.u3a.org.uk,
which has plenty of information, stories from U3A
members and great ideas to help occupy all our
‘spare’ time, and even includes an exercise
programme!
As previously reported, the April meeting/AGM
was cancelled. The committee will therefore
remain the same for the present time. In view of
the present Lockdown, it seems unlikely that
monthly meetings will be permitted for some time,
but we will keep members updated on this
situation. To help maintain contact with members,
if you do have an email address, would you please
forward this to our Secretary, Liz Codd at
VE Day
Remembrance at
St Mary’s Watton
While VE Day was an anniversary to
celebrate it was also a time for
remembrance at St Mary’s Church,
Watton. Some people may not be aware
that in the churchyard there are the
graves of quite a number of men who
gave their lives in the fight for victory.
St Mary’s held a special Service of
Commemoration of VE Day and
recordings can be seen by the Church
website at:
http://www.stmaryswatton.org
At the church there was bunting made
by children of the local schools and
Paul Weatherill’s historic jeep placed
outside on static display.
In a speech Her Majesty the Queen
said: “At the start, the outlook seemed
bleak, the end distant, the outcome
uncertain.
But we kept faith that the cause was
right – and this belief, as my father
noted in his broadcast, carried us
through.
Never give up, never despair – that was
the message of VE Day.
I vividly remember the jubilant scenes
my sister and I witnessed with our
parents and Winston Churchill from the
balcony of Buckingham Palace.
The sense of joy in the crowds who
gathered outside and across the country
was profound, though while we
celebrated the victory in Europe, we
knew there would be further sacrifice.
It was not until August that fighting in
the Far East ceased and the war finally
ended.
Many people laid down their lives in
that terrible conflict.
They fought so we could live in peace, at
home and abroad.
They died so we could live as free
people in a world of free nations.
They risked all so our families and
neighbourhoods could be safe.
We should and will remember them.”
Although present restrictions did
dampen the bigger celebrations and
parties that had been planned, it was
clear that around Watton at least, many
people found a way to enjoy a socially
distant party with others in their street.
millcouple@btinternet.com.
If you wish to remain a member of Watton U3A,
we will need to collect your subscription. At this
time we are endeavouring to find the best way for
this, and we will let you know in due course. In
the meantime, it would be appreciated if you could
advise our Membership Secretary, Christine
With spring time well under way now is the time
to appreciate all the trees coming into leaf, the
beautiful flowers and shrubs in bloom, the birds
singing, and if you are able to get out for a walk,
Wayland Wood is looking lovely.
Stay safe and keep smiling!
Grand Second
Hand Book Sales
It’s really sad to be writing this, but we have had to
make the decision to cancel our summer book sale
for 2020. At the moment, the one booked for
October 10th is still being planned. That will be
subject to review nearer the time.
We are also currently unable to accept donations
yet; when that changes notification will go on
various social media sites. With the proposed
loosening of the strict controls, it is to be hoped
there won’t be too much more of a delay. You can
of course always call us for more information.
In the meantime we wish you, our friends,
volunteers, and customers, good health. Stay well
out there. Keith & Caroline 880153.
The Wayland News June 2020 Page 3
A Quick Look
Round
By Orbiter
As a Senior Citizen I have been
confined to barracks, so perhaps I
should re-label this column A Quick
Lockdown, while I am obliged to look
at these four walls. Actually the long
spell of sunny weather throughout
most April made it possible to extend
my range to my garden fence and have
been able to enjoy the sight of the
blossoms on the trees in the nearby
orchard, as well as my own shrubs
coming back to life in their Spring
uniforms.
As I inspect one of my raspberry canes
my mind is taken back to 1957, when
my wife and I, five years wed,
emigrated from North London to
Essex and found that their new
bungalow had a garden about eight
times as long as the tiny one that we
had known hitherto. Our sum total of
gardening knowledge came to about
nil, so we were intrigued by an advert
from a local Nursery offering 30
raspberry plants for half-a-crown,
which my accountancy training told
me meant they were a penny each, a
price we could just about afford.
So we cleared a big space in the boot
of our car and hurried off to the said
Nursery, where I handed over my
silver coin, and received a small
bundle of sticks, each about nine
inches long, all held together by an
elastic band. Looking puzzled, I
peered closely at these bare sticks, and
the man said “Don’t worry, sir, they
are all there – 30 – I counted them
myself”. I did not stay to explain that I
had been searching for some sign of
life, such as a tiny root or a green
shoot, but in vain.
Obviously, I thought, this is what my
Mum would call a catchpenny, just to
get us in to spend more money. I put
the tiny bundle in the car, in the glove
compartment – no need for the boot –
and there was plenty of room left over.
No-one likes to admit they have been
conned, so I simply shoved the sticks
in the ground along one fence and
forgot about them until about three
months later when fresh canes began
sprouting.
The outcome was a fine crop of fruit,
and every year since then we have
enjoyed countless pounds of
raspberries, both from the original
plants, and from their descendants.
What a bargain – over sixty years of
fruit, with hardly any work!
Mention of my old London patch of
garden, reminds me of when I was just
a boy, when, one day my dad yelled
“Quick, son, the milkman’s horse has
left a present outside the front door.
Grab a shovel and bucket, I’ll have it
on my rhubarb !”
My uncle, who was standing near, said
“Funny, we have custard on ours!”,
which I thought was hilarious, though
years later I would discover that this
was one of the standard jokes on the
saucy postcards that families, before
the war and for some time after, used
to send to their friends, whenever they
were on holiday – in Britain, of
course, no-one went abroad in those
days. Nowadays the cost of postage is
so high that the custom has largely
died out, but in the good old days
nearly every seaside promenade
sported several kiosks that supplied
buckets and spades for the kiddies,
ices, refreshments, and those
postcards. To take a holiday and fail to
send your friends and families a card,
or take them a stick of rock, or
perhaps a tin of fudge, would be
regarded as a crime, even though you
might only be away for a few days.
Until probably the early 1950s there
were hardy any travel agencies so
holidays had to be arrange by the
individual, the first stage usually
being a postcard to the council at the
town in which you had chosen to stay,
asking for a list of all places offering
accommodation, and their rates and
details of location, and this would
invariably reach you by return post,
when you could select a likely address
and begin a series of communications,
stating dates and requirements. All
this had to
be done by post in those days, since
few people had telephones.
Having in mind the cost of holidays
today the amounts involved then seem
completely ridiculous, with bed &
breakfast from as low as £1 per person
per night, b & b plus evening meal
from £2 and full board from £3, all
charges varying with regard to how
near or far it was to the sea, or
sometimes if there was a sea view
from your room. Having agreed terms
it was probably necessary to forward a
small deposit, which was usually done
by Postal Order, since most working
class folks did not have bank accounts.
Of course once you had stayed
anywhere that had proved suitable a re
-book was much simpler, and some
guest houses became so popular that
folks re-booked on the spot for the
following year, often to meet again
other visitors with whom they may
have formed friendships, if only on
this annual basis.
In the 1930s, as the country gradually
recovered from the slump of 1931,
more varied facilities began to appear,
and the earliest holiday camps
emerged, such as the Butlin’s one in
Clacton-on-Sea, which brought a new
kind of vacation, with the emphasis on
communal jollity and entertainment,
as well as many camps that offered
accommodation in caravan or small
huts, where folks could stay at
minimal rates, providing their own
food. By about 1938 the Norfolk coast
in particular had a plethora of these
establishments, from near King’s Lynn
in the west right round to Great
Yarmouth in the east, and I remember
seeing a train at Liverpool Street
station in London bearing signboards
entitled ‘Norfolk Holiday Camps
Express’ which made its leisurely way
all round those venues, not reaching
Yarmouth until about six p.m. after a
journey of nearly nine hours. Hardly
an express !
Obviously there was no Trade
Description Act in operation in those
days.
Today many of the camps still cater
for many people, although they mostly
concentrate on the couples with very
young children, or older citizens
looking for a quieter life. The others,
who crave a holiday of sport,
swimming, dances,
this type of vacation in locations all
over England, though rarely are they
anywhere near the sea.
A recent news item tells me that the
football Premiership is about to re-
start, although the matches will be
played behind closed doors. I predict a
great number of crowd records. Such
as .’Abide with Me’,’You’ll Never
Walk Alone’,
‘We are the Champions;’ Never mind
– I’ve been locked down too long !,
‘My Ding-a-Ling’ and so on.
Good Afternoon.
living presence of the One who has the answers and comforts and
A personal guides us through all of life.
In her 80’s Mum entered a different ‘lockdown’ due to her
Memory: immobility and she became more conscious of her mortality. She
My Mother would have been 100 this would never actually talk about her belief, even though it was very
year, had she still been alive……….. real to her. When we planned her Funeral Service she declared,
Mum was born a Cockney and during the expecting the answer “Yes”… “You’ll take it, but David can be
war she worked in a Munitions Factory involved too of course”. Like his parents, she always referred to him
and was in service in the Red Cross. as ‘David’. There were two things which she particularly required.
She’d wanted to be a nurse, but that “Now, I don’t want any dirgey hymns”. I’m going to Heaven to
didn’t work out. Instead, she, like many meet up with your Father again and Himself, so let’s sing some good
other young women, had become an ones to send me on my way.
Apprentice Dressmaker in a London And she chose to be cremated and then for her ashes to be buried in
‘Court Dressmaking’ Outfitters. This my Father’s grave. “Let’s just make it as easy as possible…we know
meant that, in due course, she made her where I’m going”….
own wedding outfit. Her older sister In John’s Gospel, chapter 14, the doubtful Thomas said to Jesus,
made her hat, as she went into Millinery. who was trying to explain to the disciples that he would be leaving
My parents married during the war in a them, through being crucified and rising from the dead that first
church which was later bombed. Easter: “Lord, we don’t know where you are going”. Jesus answered
Mum, like so many of that generation, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father,
which we have been celebrating … and except through me”.
mourning … was very determined and My Mother…. Was she determined? Yes and some…. Was she a
undeterred by any complications. She ‘can do’, undeterred kind of person? Yes, always. And discerning?
was a ‘can do’ person. Many of us Yes, absolutely! But then I would say that, wouldn’t I?
remember all the food deliveries on the Praying for you…praying for Everyone: Your Vicar: Revd Gerry
doorstep. There was the grocer and the
greengrocer and the fishmonger and the
baker. They all asked: “Your usual, Mrs
Baker?” It was not quite ordering ‘on
line’, but delivering to order! Certainly
she had her basic list, which was
remembered by the Tradesman. He
would bring to the doorstep great big
baskets (just in case there was something
else she’d be tempted to buy), which
‘crunched and creaked’ when he carried
them, not plastic cartons, from which he
transferred her purchases into brown
paper bags.
Many of us recall the ‘Rag ‘n Bone’ man
in his horse and cart. You could hear his
call from way up the road. In the light of
that, the most laughter I ever remember
was from my parents watching ‘Steptoe
and Son’. My sisters and I didn’t really
understand what was so funny, but we
laughed at our parents with tears down
their faces!
My Mother lived in ‘lockdown’ most of
the time when we were children, apart
from an occasional trip to the local shops
and to walk my sisters to school. In fact,
by the time I was born my older sisters
walked themselves to school and back.
There was a respectful distance with
neighbours, who all referred to each by
the title Missus or Mister or Miss. My
Mother never went to clubs, but she
enjoyed the occasional chat with the
women she knew, including the Home
Hairdresser, who did her perm or
fortnightly ‘shampoo and set’.
Mum loved the garden, which is
something those fortunate to have one,
have been able to enjoy during this
‘lockdown’s’ glorious weather. Mum
didn’t go to church herself, but loved her
floral displays, from which she could
pick for Harvest and other Festivals, to
help dress the church. I loved to go to the
local Methodist Church with my Father
and sisters, but I was the only one of the
three to continue going to church. One
sister married a man who was not
interested and as they had four children
and, consequently, lots going on, she
kept her faith, but not that commitment.
My other sister was married to someone
who never let the opportunity pass to
remind us he was an Atheist.
Nevertheless, when Mum came to stay
with me, after I was married and later
with children, she always expected to go
to church where my husband was a
Church Leader and I must say, we had a
lot of fun with this, as we’ve been in very
many different contexts over the years.
Mum came into her personal faith,
despite the knocks it had taken during
her life, when she was in her 70’s.
Anyone who visited was invited to sit on
her special settee and after they’d gone,
she’d pray for them, believing in the
The Wayland News June 2020 Page 4
Councillor's Chat
With Cllr Claire Bowes.
Following a both glorious yet very
poignant VE Day Bank Holiday
weekend these words are from Tom
McCabe, Chair of the Strategic
Coordination Group, Norfolk
Resilience Forum and Executive
Director of Norfolk County
Council.
“Whatever the Bank Holiday
weekend held for you, I’m sure
most of us took at least a bit of time
to mark the VE Day anniversary on
Friday.
It wasn’t the event people had
hoped for when it was first decided
we’d celebrate it. But in the spirit of
the time it represented, we made the
best of it under the current stay at
homes rules. Perhaps you explored
our Museums online, or sang along
on TV, or just took a quiet moment
to spare a thought. The purists may
even say they enjoyed an authentic
spam sandwich….. I was really
pleased that our Norse colleagues,
supporting those who were working
at County Hall on Friday, were able
to fly the flag from the building on
the day.
VE day was a celebration of the
beginning of an end. And, while we
know that there were dark days and
big challenges after the euphoria of
VE Day wore off, it was a vital sign
that things would improve. It gave
people hope.
So it was timely that as the weekend
ended, we had the Government’s
announcement of its route map for
easing lockdown. A sign of hope for
us, like those who celebrated VE
Day 75 years ago, that the current
situation we are living in will
change for the better. But we have
to be under no illusion that this new
phase will be complicated, with
many likely twists and turns along
the way and we can’t be certain how
long it will last. That means we are
going to be facing renewed
challenges as we work out how to
deliver our services to the people of
Norfolk, as guidelines and rules
develop and change so that we can
ease us ourselves out of lockdown
safely.”
NEWS FROM NORFOLK
COUNTY COUNCIL (as of 11th
May)
Two reports discussed by the
County Council’s Cabinet in a
virtual, online meeting on 11 May,
highlighted the magnificent
response to Covid19 but stressed
that the Council’s Budget would
take a big hit.
County Council leader Councillor
Andrew Proctor paid tribute to
county council staff, schools, the
NHS and partner agencies for
working together to support
vulnerable people and the wider
community during the pandemic -
including the procurement team’s
efforts to source enough protective
personal equipment (PPE) for the
council and care homes.
Cllr Proctor said “The response to
COVID-9 in Norfolk has been a
huge community and partnership
effort spearheaded by local
government.
That has been illustrated so well by
the dedication and commitment
shown by colleagues across Norfolk
County Council, working with all its
partners, showing how the council is
making a difference in these
extraordinary and challenging times
to everyone in Norfolk.”
Councillor Proctor said the Council
was already working on plans to
help Norfolk recover from the
impact of the pandemic. Throughout
the COVID-19 crisis, the council
has been working closely and
effectively with district councils, the
NHS, police and other public sector
partners. It is proposing to set up a
public sector leaders’ board, to
ensure this approach continues in
the future.
“Although the Government is
offering support to a range of
sectors, there will still be a big
impact on our economy. The
council and all partners in Norfolk
are working with the New Anglia
Local Enterprise Partnership to
devise the best strategy to recover
from this economic shock.”
You can view virtual Council
meetings live on YouTube at
https://bit.ly/2YXHHBE
The Council re-opened eight of its
larger recycling centres on Monday
11 May so that Norfolk
householders could dispose of waste
and recycling that may have built up
at home and started to pose a health
and safety risk since the
Government announced ‘lockdown’
measures.
All twenty of Norfolk’s recycling
centres have been closed since 25th
March 2020. Norfolk County
Council has been working with its
contractors on the reopening plan to
help protect the health and safety of
customers, staff and the wider
community by providing a restricted
service that is in line with
Government guidelines and
legislation to prevent the spread of
Covid-19. To manage demand and
help ensure safe operations, the
centres will offer a restricted service
and:
 Require social distancing of two
metres by all customers
 Operate on a managed one in
one out basis for cars
 Only allow two adults out of a
car to unload their waste
 Assistance will not be offered to
help empty cars
 Be aimed at cars and car
derived vans only to manage
demand on the service
 Provide for the disposal and
recycling of the main waste streams
including green waste, general
waste and charged for DIY type
construction and demolition waste
Re-opened sites are; Caister,
Dereham, Hempton, Ketteringham,
King’s Lynn, Mayton Wood, Mile
Cross and Thetford. Times; 9am -
5pm For site information and
guidance on using Norfolk County
Council recycling centres during
Covid-19 visit www.norfolk.gov.uk/
recyclingupdates
NEWS FROM BRECKLAND
A major home testing programme
for coronavirus has been launched
to help track and manage levels of
infection in the community. 100,000
randomly selected people from 315
local authorities across England will
be sent self-testing kits to determine
if they are infected. Mobile Testing
sites have taken place in Norfolk
with the first in Breckland occurring
on Sat 2 May 2020. More mobile
sites will occur throughout the
District moving forward.
Business grants and rate relief -
Breckland Council is responsible for
administering, at a local level, some
of the Government’s national
business support schemes, such as
the additional Business Rates relief
for Retail / Hospitality / Leisure /
Nursery small businesses and
Business Grants. As of 06 May, the
council has paid out a total of £23
million through a total of 2,053
business grants (80% of eligible
businesses)
Additional Discretionary Funding
being made available to support
local Businesses - In early May the
Secretary of State announced that
Local Authorities would receive
additional grant funding to support
businesses that have suffered as a
result of Covid19 and who for a
variety of reasons were deemed
ineligible for the original grant.
The value of the additional fund will
be set at 5% of the main Grant fund,
and for Breckland this equates to
£1.5 million, which will be made
available once the council has used
all it’s existing grant funding.
Businesses mentioned in dispatches
by the Secretary of State include
Bed and Breakfasts, Market
Traders, Charities and businesses
that share rented premises but are
not registered for rates. Further
guidance is due to be released over
the coming weeks following which
the Council will need to follow
Government criteria to assess and
award discretionary grants.
Criteria announced for Bounce Back
Loans aimed at SMEs
From Monday (4 May) Small or
Medium sized Enterprises are able
to borrow between £2,000 and
£50,000 and access the cash within
days. Loans come with 12 month
repayment holidays and are also
interest free or the first 12 months.
Importantly these Bounce Back
Loans will come with a 100%
government backed guarantee for
lenders, meaning that no personal
guarantees will be required.
Housing and homelessness support
The Housing Team have, to date,
worked hard to successfully
accommodate all known (31) rough
sleepers in the district since
lockdown began, with the team
encouraging the public to report any
sightings of people living in cars/
vans or new sightings of people
sleeping rough via the service and
via street link. Temporary
accommodation has also been
secured for a further 84 households
otherwise at risk of homelessness.
Support for ‘Extremely
Vulnerable’ (Shielding) and
‘Vulnerable’ residents
Breckland Community Hub
In Breckland, we currently have
3647 residents who the NHS
consider ‘Extremely Vulnerable’
who have been advised to stay at
home, in order to ‘shield’
themselves from the virus for a
period of at least 12 weeks
minimum. Breckland’s Community
Support Hub has been prioritising
2,814 of these residents who have
said that they do not have access to
essential items, such as food and
medicine, while also offering
welfare checks to those who are
‘managing for now’ with the help of
friends and family. The increased
capacity of supermarkets to help
and prioritise vulnerable customers
means more of the people we are
contacting are saying they can cope
without the Community Hub’s
assistance. However, around 6%
have still needed immediate
assistance with food or medicine:
Volunteers
The Community Hub has also been
engaging with volunteers who
signed up through the Voluntary
Norfolk portal. We now have 292
screened volunteers available to
support us. All community
volunteers throughout the District
are encouraged to sign up to
Voluntary Norfolk.
Roll-of-honour to thank local
businesses
Breckland Council has created an
online roll of honour to thank local
businesses, community groups and
volunteers for the support they’ve
shown in helping members of the
district’s communities through the
Coronavirus pandemic. (see Council
website) The council has redeployed
more than 50+ officers to support
Breckland’s most vulnerable
residents, coordinating food and
medicine supplies and this has been
further boosted by the support
received from a significant number
of local businesses and
organisations. The local groups
have donated supplies, lent delivery
vehicles, and their staff have
volunteered to help with the relief
effort.
Service impacts
Critical services, such as Housing,
Waste, Customer Services and
Public Protection, all continue to
operate, albeit in some cases, this is
being managed in a more flexible
way. The Council continues to keep
all services under review, in light of
the latest Government guidance and
our staff resource, with the latest
updates available on the Council
website.
In the meantime, the Planning Team
has been able to progress a number
of outstanding planning applications
requiring site visits following the
introduction of a new, risk-assessed
process.
Breckland Council will be holding
its normal Cabinet meeting on 1st
June 2020 and the Planning
Committee on 22nd June 2020.
These will be held remotely using
video conferencing facilities.
Please refer to the Breckland
website for further information on
these meetings.
Finally, please don’t hesitate to
contact me with any concerns you
may have at this time and I will do
my best to help
Claire Bowes
County Councillor - Watton
Division,
claire.bowes.cllr@norfolk.gov.uk
Breckland District Councillor -
Watton Ward
claire.bowes@breckland.gov.uk
07789796937
Museum 4
Watton
This rare coin (shown about
twice life size), which is silver,
found in Watton, in 1992, is
known as a ‘Bury C’ type and
dates from c. 50 – 15BC, that is over
2000 years ago. On the front it has a
female head facing to the right
wearing an elaborate crown or
helmet. On the reverse is a stylised
horse prancing to the left with
several raised pellets around it. The
coin is made of silver, and was
exported to New Zealand, Museum 4
Watton found out about it, and a
benefactor managed to buy it for the
Museum.
Only 9 of these coins have ever been
recorded. The British Museum and
the V & A have both got one hidden
away, the others are in private
collections, ours is the only one in
the world on public display. It will
be available to view when
Government restrictions allow us to
re-open.
The first coinage produced in Britain
dates from the later second and first
centuries BC – this is the period
known as the later Iron Age. These
early coins, called potins, were
usually made from copper alloy and
cast in moulds. During the first
century BC coin production
developed, and by time the Roman’s
arrived in AD43, tribal areas across
the country could be mapped out
through their distinctive coin styles.
Norfolk is part of the ‘Land of the
Iceni’, and like many other areas of
the Britain, its coinage followed
conventions mimicking classical
coins. However, as the first century
BC gave way to the first century AD,
the coins of this region remained
distinctly ‘celtic’ in their style and
appear to be less ‘Romanised’ than
coins from other parts of south-east
England. This suggests that the Iceni
tribe had a strong political identity at
the end of the Iron Age, which is
seen right through to AD60/61 and
the Boudican rebellion against
Rome.
Iron Age coins were made by hand
using a ‘die’. In this case a pellet of
silver would have been positioned
between two dies, one with the
reverse image and one with the
obverse. The upper die would have
been struck with a hammer,
flattening the silver and pressing the
image into the metal.
Quite how coinage was used in Iron
Age Britain is much debated. In the
modern era, we use coins in
exchange for goods and services –
they are tokens with an agreed value
operating within a fully monetised
economy. In the later Iron Age, it is
likely that lots of exchange was done
through barter. Coins may have had a
transactional value, but they would
not have been the only or main mode
of exchange, or form of wealth.
What we do know about Iron Age
coins is that they are regional in
design, which suggests they
represent a local identity which may
be political. We also know that from
time to time, coins were collected
together and buried in hoards.
Whether this was done for safe
keeping or as gifts to the gods is not
known.
Museum 4 Watton, Wayland Hall,
Middle Street, Watton, IP25 6AG
www.museum4watton.org.uk
info@museum4watton.org.uk
The Wayland News June 2020 Page 5
KEEP IT LIVE
on line music workshops
There is no reason for the lock down stop
young people from rocking out and
making music with others thanks to the
new FREE online music workshops
being offered by MAP (Music Arts
Project).
Earlier this year MAP received funding
from Youth Music to deliver ‘Keep It
Live’; a series of workshops based at
their new Live Lounge facility at
Wayland Academy. The sessions
involved learning songs, forming bands
and performing in public.
Due to the current social distancing
measures, the MAP team have now
moved the project online to the Keep It
Live (MAP) Facebook page. Young
people from across the region aged 12 to
18 are invited to visit the site to find out
more, sign up, join in the music making
and prepare for a celebration gig for
In Your Garden
With Lotta Potts
Flaming June is a well-known saying about
this month. It depends on the emphasis and
the conditions when you are thinking or
saying it. Happy to be in the ideal warm,
gentle breeze is what was originally
intended I think. Unhappy to be facing
freezing cold gales and rain result in
‘flaming June? What? Are you kidding?’
we shall see and adapt what we are doing to
match. I think ideally a combination of
sitting in the shade and doing a bit of other
tasks is enjoyable. There are one or two
essentials. Keep cutting the grass. Dead
head flowering plants to keep them going as
long as possible. This applies to F1 hybrids
that don't produce seed as well as the ones
that do. All plants think that once they have
had their flowers pollinated and seed is on
the way their job is done so they stop. The
most obvious example of this is the sweet
pea. Let them form their seed pods and you
won't see another flower for ages and then
only after you remove every seed pod and
every flower. Then they wake up to the fact
that they had better start again.
If you grow veg you will know that what
applies to sweet peas also applies to veg
peas and to beans so those need to be picked
often. If possible keep sowing a few seeds
every two weeks so you don't get a glut.
You may well still have a glut but at least
you tried. A freezer is the veg gardener's
best friend. On the subject of veg, it can't be
said often enough: grow only what you like
and what is likely to be expensive in the
shops. I have awful memories of growing a
couple of runner bean plants. It wasn't until
they were in full cry that I discovered
neither of us likes them! Our then nextdoor
neighbour was foolish enough to admit to
liking them. Several carrier bags later he
moved. It has to be said that the plants were
truly majestic and it's no wonder that when
they were introduced to this country that
they were grown for the flowers not the
beans. There are white flowering as well as
the usual red and some bi-colour. They all
produce masses and masses of pods and
these grow incredibly quickly. This is fine
if you like them and/or grow for show. I
haven't yet found anyone who freezes them
successfully so you end up trying to foist
them off on to people who do like them.
June is for roses. They suffer from all sorts
of things like aphids, black spot, rust,
powdery mildew but the diseases have
largely been overcome in modern roses as
these have been bred for resistance. Aphids
(greenfly) can be overcome by predators –
ladybirds and feathered birds. If you feed
birds they will return and remove aphids
and caterpillars to feed their young. They
know where to get a feed of one sort or
another. The ladybirds tend to arrive as the
when the community can come together
again.
As part of the on line sessions,
participants will be able to select the
songs they want to learn, team up with
others to form on-line bands and receive
individual tips and guidance from MAP’s
highly professional and experienced
music leaders. The course is open to
individuals and bands and will include
exploring a variety of musical genres and
styles. It will also include online tuition
in stage lighting and sound technology.
This course is ideal for musicians who
already play an instrument and now wish
to take the next steps of learning songs
and performing with others.
Eugene Pryer, chairman of MAP, said:
“We have been delighted that in these
uncertain times Youth Music have
allowed us to redevelop our project so
that it can be delivered online. All the
MAP staff have been very proactive
developing an exciting free programme
that will keep young musicians positively
aphids start to multiply. It's sensible really –
no good going to a pub before opening time.
You can actually buy ladybird larvae from
organic suppliers of things like little wasps
for greenhouse pest control but it really isn't
worth it unless you have lots of bushes.
Baby ladybirds are incredibly ugly and look
like the world's worst pests. In fact they
resemble large caterpillars, black with
yellow stripes and little tufts along the back.
They are friends so please don't treat like
pests. A few years ago the Harlequin
arrived and caused a bit of a panic which is
still going on to a certain extent. These
ladybird
are bigger than our natives and are mainly
yellow with lots of spots. That's confusing
as our natives can also come in yellow with
lots of spots as well as the traditional red.
The initial problem appeared to be that the
Harlequin eats the native as well as aphids.
Subsequent investigation has shown that
they eat other pests and only resort to the
natives for lunch when nothing else is about.
Research is ongoing.
Back to the roses. Blackspot usually shows
up first and the leaves develop what looks
like ink spots but these soon spread until the
entire leaf is brown and black then falls off.
It used to be a disease of areas with clean air
so in towns when everyone burned coal and
there was soot in the atmosphere this
seemed to prevent the blackspot developing.
Now we all have clean air it's all over the
place. You can spray of course, but this
needs to be kept up for weeks. Rust and
powdery mildew are more weather-related
when it's hot and dry so if you keep your
roses well-watered chances are you can
avoid these. Unless you are really fond of
an old bush it's best to bin it and start again
with a disease-resistant variety. With a
scent of course. It's generally advised not to
plant roses in soil where a rose has been
removed. The old-fashioned way was to
remove the top 18” (36cm in new money)
of topsoil and replace it with new. That
presents its own problems that are so
obvious I am not going into them now! A
tip received from Beale’s of Attleborough
was to dig a big hole, put a large cardboard
box in it and plant the rose in it in good soil/
compost. By the time the rose's roots have
got out of the box (which will rot over time)
the sick soil will be fine again. Of course
this still leaves you with the problem of
what to do with the soil dug out to put the
box in. The other way is to plant something
else not related and put the new rose in fresh
ground. At least there are options.
If you need the space it's as well to dig up
spring bulbs once the foliage has died down
and dry off to store until autumn. This is
particularly recommended for tulips and
hyacinths but if you plant tulips deep
enough they will appear again but probably
with smaller flowers year on year. I have
engaged and allow them to develop skills
and have a live show to work towards.”
To find out more visit
Saham Toney
www.musicartsproject.com or contact Neighbourhood Plan Update
keepitlive@musicartsproject,com Shaping the future of Saham Toney!
Over the last month the Neighbourhood Plan Work Group has ticked
off a number of tasks that have been going on for some time:
The updated version of our Housing Needs Assessment is complete,
and the Parish Council will be asked to adopt it at its 1 June on-line
meeting, after which we’ll publish it on our web site
(www.stnp2036.org).
All accepted comments and study results to date have been
incorporated in the Plan, which now awaits the results of final
studies and reviews to confirm that it is complete.
The second stage of the Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA)
has been completed and identified the relative merits of five options
for the amount of new housing development, ranging from 34
minimum to a maximum of 107. We have used the report to help us
decide which option to continue with, and that option will now be
assessed for acceptability against a series of environmental
objectives and issues. In parallel the final stage of the Habitats
Regulations Assessment (HRA) is underway.
The Transport Study has been formally accepted by the Parish
Council and Breckland Council will be asked to refer to it when
making planning decisions.
So as mentioned last month, in the normal course of events we
left both types of bulbs in year on year and it would arrange a village event to update the parishioners on the last 9
does work but the flowers definitely shrink months work. Since a public meeting is out of the question, at the
compared to those stored correctly. The current time, instead we are putting the finishing touches to a set of
suppliers always suggest that treating tulips slideshow presentations that we’ll make available on-line at
as annuals works better than keeping them. www.stnp2036.org once complete and after the Parish Council has
Well they would say that wouldn’t they? first look at them. We will announce their publication by email to
There is some merit in it though as they will our mailing list, on our Facebook page, via Nextdoor, and on the
disappear eventually. Bulbs in containers home page of our website. If possible, later we will arrange an
certainly should be removed and stored. online Q&A session for any villagers who want to know more.
You can use the containers again as well but As usual, if you have any comments or questions on any of this, or
whatever you plant in there will need fresh the Neighbourhood Plan in general, or if you would like to be added
compost. You can cheat a bit if you plant to our mailing list, please get in touch with Chris Blow at
hardy annuals as these will grow in concrete stnp2036@gmail.com
– well nearly – but they will put up with the
soil or tired compost the bulbs had. Be kind
and freshen it up a bit and keep them moist
until they are established otherwise they will
wilt. Once they have established they can be
left more or less to their own devices but
water if there's no rain for a while. When
these containers are finished in the autumn
remove the compost once and for all and
use it for mulch. The sooner the better as
one (another) silly thing I do is take out the
dead plants for the compost bin and leave
the compost until another day when I don’t
have much else to do. There is no such day
is there? So I finish up in spring needing the
containers and have a small mountain of old
compost and it takes forever to get rid of it.
June’s offering for fruit is the ‘June drop’.
It’s a bit like the Chelsea chop for perennials
as fruit trees are pretty sensible as far as
crops are concerned. If there is a glut they
will just dump the excess. You can help the
process along as well. When the drop starts
keep an eye on the trees and if the spacing is
still too close remove some of the young
fruits. I don’t dare offer advice on the
spacing but you don’t want the apples or
pears or whatever to be too crowded as the
fruits won’t develop properly, may get
damaged due to rubbing and that will let in
more pests than enough. It’s probably
worth mentioning plums as plum trees have
a habit of offering an enormous crop one
year then nothing for the next two. If you
thin the fruit you may avoid this happening.
If you have a new lawn it may need
watering. In fact it probably will need
watering right through the late spring and
all summer if we get some good weather.
I just read a good tip on this. Give the
lawn a good soak once a week. This can
be measured by putting an old tin on the
lawn and leave it there until it has a
depth of 1” (2.5cm). It works much
better than a quick damp once a day.
There is an argument for sowing or
turfing new lawns in autumn but it’s
often done in spring so watering will be
essential but whatever you do don’t
water established lawns however hot the
weather. Grass will recover.
Regardless of how you spend June, one
regular activity is ongoing. Keep
weeding.
The Wayland News June 2020 Covid-19 Edition The Wayland News June 2020 Covid-19 Edition

A Wednesday in the life of Watton in the 1970’s

The present desolation of the High Street is put into even
starker contrast by theses pictures from the 1970’s which
all come from slides from the archive of the late Ruth
Dwornik, a photographer whose business went under the
name of Studio Khyber. The slides are undated, however it
looks as if they come from around 1973 or 1974 - but if
you know different, or can identify any of the people in the
pictures, I shall be very pleased to hear from you!
It appears that Ruth went around the town one Wednesday
capturing scenes from the activity and we start with much
loved and well remembered Archie Manning (right)
delivering the daily milk to Durrants in the High Street.
Next along the top is inside Butchers hardware store which
was demolished and replaced by Rudlings Hardware Store.
Then inside Adcocks - interesting to see how prices have
changed!
The middle row below shows Garnet Mitchell at work in
the pharmacy at Horsburghs Chemist (now Adcocks shop).
Next is a view inside Leeks near the New Inn, Then the
Watton Driving School in Middle Street.
Then Dick Marsham and seated an unidentified person at
Bretts Stonemasons.
The bottom row starts with an unknown lady in Harmans
Clothing factory on Norwich Road beside the Regal
Cinema, then inside Durrants - but who is serving? She’s
so familiar!
Then in the bar at The Crown - again three familiar faces
but the names escape me.

Lastly, left is Mr Charlie Wells, vegetable and fruiteer. The

business of CC Wells still trades on Watton market place today.!
The Wayland News June 2020 Page 8
Shipdham & District Book Group Great Hockham
Earlier in the year we discussed our book choices for 2020. We supplied
the library with a copy of this list just before they, and just abour
Gardening Club
everything else, closed thanks to the corona virus. Just in time we collected Corona Diary
a book which turned out to be the School at the Top of the Dale by Here we are in May and still locked down.
Gervase Phinn. Obviously there has been no meeting but most members I may have mentioned it before, but we feel
have kindly sent their comments on the book once again. so lucky to be out in the country, where
Newly qualified teacher Tom Dwyer has been given his first post in comparatively speaking, Prue and I seem
Risingdale, a sleepy little village at the very top of the Yorkshire Dales. hardly affected. Unlike the high-rise flats,
Unsure if he'll ever fit into this close-knit community, Tom joins a motley where following the guidelines would seem
staff at the village school with pupils who know more about sheep than to be impossible, here in our garden we can
they do arithmetic, Tom has his work cut out for him. Add to that an be completely legal in word and deed while
altercation with the beautiful but stand-offish Miss Janette Fairborn and an watching the season unfold. It seems to be
argument with the local squire's son, and Tom's first term proves a baptism the same for some of our members, as you
of fire. Tom soon finds himself growing fond of Risingdale, and with a can see, below.
class of lively and demanding pupils, an end-of-term show to put on, and a Margaret Linge writes: About 25 years ago
jewellery thief at large, he is soon at the centre of a drama, secrets revealed, I dug the tiny back garden you couldn't see
and plenty of love, laughter and new friendships. for weeds and discovered the flints etc. of
Once again there were mixed views on the book, many of us having read the old farm buildings. I used the hole to
Gervase Phinn when he first began to publish and noting great similarities create a pond, heaping up the rubble to
in the books. It was ideal to have a light hearted book at this time, apart make a waterfall and rockery. The trouble
from life being less than what passes for ‘normal’ we have read some is, the trees behind are now huge and pond
serious texts recently with a lot of war, rape and other atrocities. Most were gets full of leaves. The pump broke and the
glad of this less serious novel althouygh few gripped by it. Several pond also leaks, so I am occupying my
commented on its predictability whilst appreciating the descriptions of life time changing the whole thing. Yours
in rural Yorkshire, its characters and the humour. A background of mainly Margaret.
pasture with animal husbandry contrasted with the vast tracts of arable land Prue and I also have a pond; leaves are not
with which we are surrounded. We could not decide on the time set but the problem, it's blanket weed. We have
think late 90s early ‘noughties’. tried every kind of treatment, but none
There is a humorous touch to our choice including the fact thet when seems to work the way it's described on the
one member went to hear Phinn in Norwich several members of the treatment container. It also gets loads of
audience walked out quite early in the performance, it transpired that sludge on the bottom. We have a vacuum
they expected to see Ricky Gervais! The member who suggested our cleaner that will easily handle the sludge,
title had a fictional 1920s detective named Gervase Fen in mind but the blanket weed blocks it up in about
when she did so! It is good to have a few giggles at this time five seconds. So every few weeks we have
especially as we are missing meetings. to drag as much out as possible, which stirs
We have agreed on another ‘virtual’ meeting for May with members up all the sludge, so it's not on the bottom
choosing something they might not normally read. I note that several to vacuum. Best advice on maintaining a
have picked on classics and another on a children’s book, a classic pond? Don’t have one in the first place.
neverthelss.. Julie Brown writes: Hello Ed & Prue, Hope
Keep reading and phoning and texting etc. Sue Hart you are both OK and every one of our
members is too. What a difference a bit of
rain makes... A picture of the village hall
garden appeared in the Wretham newsletter
Now it's rained I will have to get down
there to do the weeding of the garden and
weed-kill the car park in case the
photographer turns up again. I'm glad it
rained, the earth needed it and I needed a
rest from digging stuff up and moving soil.
Having emptied the pond, removed the
liner and then filled the pond in, I could
move onto the bog garden, or so I thought.
I had been seeing a couple of red legged
partridges in the garden, I thought they
were looking at a spot right at the bottom of
the garden but no, I found the nest right in
the middle of the bog garden amongst the
double day lily that I wanted to dig out! As
the bird wasn't sitting on the nest and I
hadn't seen them in a couple of days I
decided to start digging. I dug up and filled
14 black backs with the day lily and the red
persicaria, leaving a circle of plants around
the nest.
I moved onto another part of the garden
that needed working on, weeded it, moved
the bag of soil stacked and tipped them
onto the pond area. Dug out all the nettle
roots, dug out a metal washing line pole
and managed to get a leylandii tree root
out, but the other 16 will have to remain, I
will just plant between then as the other
beds in the garden.
Each morning I went out to feed the birds I
checked the nest 7, 8, 9 and then 10 eggs,
still not seen the birds, thought this must be
a decoy nest? Still checking each morning
now we are up to 14 eggs! Done a bit of
research, yes, red legged partridge do have
two nests, and lay eggs in both. He
incubates one and she the other. 23 days
incubation but when will that start? She can
lay eggs into the 20s. Then when hatched
the chicks can fly at 2 weeks, I could be
over-run, they could be fodder for sparrow
hawk, I will be a wreck, like when I looked
after my sisters rabbits who had babies
when they were both girls!
I have bags of garden rubbish stood
everywhere, fortunately I gave found
someone who would let me dump it in their
'pit'.
Whilst delivering food parcels a few days
ago I got chatting with someone who
wanted plants for their garden and pond,
the pond was a 'boating pond'.
So now I can help someone fill their garden
with double day lily, which is still OK and
damp in these black bags, and the yellow
flag being damp to start with, can just be
dropped into the pond around the edges to
make its own way. Fantastic, so upward of
60 bags of garden 'rubbish' moving on to
help others improve their garden, ordinarily
I would have taken those bags to the
household re-cycling centre.
Finding the nest has made me re-think
where to work next in the garden and to
make some changes to my plans. I have
lots of plants in pots, many from my
Mum's garden, my childhood home, they
really need to go into the garden, I'm going
to plant them all as far as possible, the
bulbs may have to wait or I could just be
surprised in the spring when they come up.
The rain, although great, has stalled my
gardening a little, so decided to tidy the
patio, again, too many pots.
I have 2 large silver birch in the garden,
every year I have to rake the grass and
sweep the patio of the seed catkins that fall,
there are thousands. I have filled 4 pig meal
sacks, nice strong bags, still have a small
area to clear and they are still falling,
should I have waited, trampling them into
individual seeds to fall between the block
paves and grow into trees?
Hoping to finish the patio Sunday, sort
through those bags to salvage plants for the
pond garden and the rest to go into the pit.
That will be a great day, I hope to be
exhausted but happy and sleep well, and
you all too sleep well, stay safe and keep
well. Kind regards to everyone, Julie.
Shelia Mathers writes: Hello Ed, Been busy
planting trees to try and disguise the houses
that have sprung up next to us. Had a bit of
help from my chickens and fitted in a bit of
shed and gate painting. Always wear
overalls when painting as I always manage
to get some on me! Hope you and your
family are all well. See you soon after the
all clear. Best wishes, Sheila.
Sue Thomas writes: We have been very
busy in the garden, have even goy a sun
tan! We have renovated the poly tunnel by
giving it a good wash inside and out (you
can actually see out now), and the
structural bits that have rotted over the
years, have been removed, remade, painted
and replaced. The interior path has been
relayed and the soil on both sides replaced,
enriched with compost and been further
enriched with fertiliser. Just waiting for my
tomato plants to get big enough to transfer
into it. I thought I would try runner beans in
the poly tunnel this year, as I have quite a
bit of space to fill. Will let you know how it
goes!!
The Greenhouse has not fared so well over
the years, and is on the point of collapse,
but I have washed it inside and out, and
now done loads of seed setting, and hope
it lasts another year!! The raspberry bed
has been totally refurbished, and I have
now only got two rows of raspberries, but
feel sure that it will be enough. The
strawberry bed has been totally cleaned
up, and the runners, that I would happily
brought to the Horn Fair, have been put
back into a further bed. So instead of
having 132 plants, I now have 182 plants.
Having fed and watered them, the stupid
things are now coming into flower!!
Again, the rhubarb is over running us.
The Horn Fair was my outlet for the
excess, so my neighbours have borne the
brunt of my excess. So we are all 'regular'
so to speak. Asparagus now coming to
life, so not short of veg! The blossom on
my crab apple tree is magnificent this
year, but the plum and greengage not so
great. Wisteria going bonkers, even
though I cut it back to within an inch of
its life.
Do hope you are keeping safe and well,
and look forward to getting together when
the lockdown is over. Cheers, Sue
Nigel and Laura Lincoln Write: The hot,
dry April produced an abundance of
blossom, so the bees were very busy and
each colony now has a full box of honey on
board. Unfortunately it also means the bees
have been very keen to swarm, and we
have lost at least two lots recently. Give me
a ring (Contact Ed at
secretaryghgc@gmail.co.uk) if they have
turned up in your garden, and I’ll gladly
take them back home.
We kept the fruit trees watered during the
dry spell when the blossom was setting,
and it looks like we might have a bumper
crop of apples, pears, plums and cherries
this year – fingers crossed.
Seed has been high on the ‘to do’ list –
both for veg and flowers. We are still
creating herbaceous beds, so the garden is
still able to absorb everything we grow.
Plant sharing has continued despite the
lockdown. Our neighbours include some
keen gardeners and we have swapped
plants and seedlings by leaving them by
our gate for collection. The gap left by our
lack of butternut squash germination was
filled by one neighbour, and another is in
line for our spare sweet corn plants once
they have got a bit bigger. Who cares if the
garden centres are closed? Although to be
honest we do miss visits to Diddlington and
the Diss auctions.
We planted over 100 bare root beech
saplings over the winter and are now
making sure that the grass each side of the
hedge stays at least two metres apart.
Chippings have been put on the exclusion
zone. We have also been watering the new
plants and they are now just starting to
come into leaf.
Social distancing means spending all day
every day pottering in the garden – so
business as usual. Lockdown? What
lockdown? All the best, Nige & Laura.
Val Hester writes: Hi Ed, Attached is a
photo of my wisteria (below) which I think
is lovely but with only me to see it seems
such a waste. Hope you are both keeping
well. Best wishes, Val.
As secretary I am trying to keep the Great
Hockham Gardening Club going by
compiling this Corona Diary, and as you
can see, some of us are hard at it. I fear
there is the danger that if we don’t don’t
give them regular stimulation our members
will become soft, will just stop coming and
the life-force of the club will become
sterile.
Some people in our area are still working,
but are feeling the strain: with all the extra
demand the people running our corner shop
are going round the bend and even
shoplifters are feeling the pinch. If that
wasn’t bad enough our local coven didn’t
know witch way to turn until, after a spell,
they realised it wasn’t a crone virus.
Worse to come, keep safe, Ed.
Secretary GHGC.
The Wayland News June 2020 Page 9
easily recognisable. A quick check of marriage featured another member of the Dunford Wood recalled Peggy as being very attractive and
Hugh Diarmid records found the marriage of Hugh to Peggy family. Closer inspection showed it was a diary by possibly disabled. The wedding photo and a
Farlow in September 1939, possibly around the Hugh’s brother Colin, which he had kept during couple of the ones In Thompson show what may
Sherbrooke time war was declared, though a certificate is need the war years while in Malaya, where he became a have been a bandaged left ankle so she may have
to find the exact date. A check of the 1939 pilot, and through to his serving in the UK after the simply had an accident.
Dunford-Wood Register, which was taken on 29th September, war. It had been posted by Colin’s son in an Returning to the album and the military records of
By Bronwen Tyler shows that Peggy was by then Mrs Dunford-Wood attempt to learn more about his father, who had his crash we could see that Hugh was flying with
This is one of those research projects which had living in Harvey Street Watton, a married woman died when the son was still a boy. I alerted Julian, 21 Squadron which was based at RAF Watton and
very small beginnings and turned into a fascinating and former actress who was who made contact and we often flew from its satellite airfield at Bodney. The
story of one hero of WW2. born in 1915. suddenly learned a lot Squadron had become the City of Norwich
It began when Julian Horn was given a photo The following photos in the more. Hugh’s nephew was Squadron and some of the photos show Hugh on
album by a family whose mother, Peggy, had album show the couple delighted with the contact parade in Norwich. His many photos of aircraft on
recently died. Peggy’s first husband had been a enjoying life as newly-weds especially as he knew the ground and in the air, and of Watton airfield,
pilot at RAF Watton. He was Flying Officer Hugh at the Bungalow in nothing of the photo album. surprise us today with our heightened sense of
Diarmid Sherbrooke Dunford-Wood, RAF, service Thompson, having fun with In addition, other contacts security issues, but have left a legacy of everyday
number 40215. The family were not descended friends in what is clearly began to get in touch once life for the airmen of that time. The photos of
from Hugh but from their mother’s second good weather to be outside. Julian appealed for friends, colleagues and family show young people
marriage and so they had no personal interest in There are a number of information. enjoying life, despite the tragedy that was
the album and felt an appropriate place was with garden shots which have We learned that Hugh and happening all around them.
Julian’s archive of RAF Watton. helped confirm the location, his brother had come to On June 8th 1940 Hugh prepared to take off from
some of which are dated England to be educated at Bodney with his crew, Sergeant (Obs) Edwin
Easter 1940. They were Harrow. Hugh joined the Jones service number 566209 aged 24, born 1915,
obviously happy times school in 1928 and left in son of Hugh and Jean Jones, and Sergeant (W Op
despite the clouds of war. 1932. He was clearly Air) Donald Robert Charles Maclagan service
The couple are shown sporty and played in the number 551673, who was born in Northern
enjoying the more mundane school’s rugby team. Both Rhodesia in about 1921, so only aged about 19.
activities of married life – boys were in the house His parents were William Colin and Martha
gardening, washing up (the called Moretons, whose Amelia MacLagan.
men wearing pinnies over housemaster was Mr He also had a brother and at least two sisters. Just
their uniforms!) and would Boissier who later became before take-off from Bodney, Donald Maclagan
have been hoping for a long headmaster. There is a climbed out of the aircraft and walked across to an
Along with the album were various items of future together, while short gap in information armourer, a (very) big Irishman by the name of
personal memorabilia: a locket containing Hugh’s probably grabbing the until 1934 when Hugh joined George "Paddy" Woods. He shook Paddy's hand
hair; a pair of ‘ladies’ wings which the wives of moment in those precarious the Metropolitan Police and said "Cheerio Paddy. I'm not coming back."
RAF pilots often wear; a coloured image of Hugh times . Force. Electoral records Paddy told him not to be so silly and waved them
from a painting; and the commemorative scroll The war graves site had given show him living in a section off and of course they never did come back. Paddy
honouring his sacrifice. All of these had clearly us the names of Hugh’s house near Tottenham Court was quite affected and removed Maclagan's locker
been treasured by his widow. The album was a parents. His father, who was Road in 1935. In 1937, they card and kept it for the rest of his life. This was GL
fascinating archive with many photos of wartime deceased, was Joseph year he lost his father, he (Paddy) Woods of Ovington. Donald’s life had
RAF Watton among the family images. Some of Dunford-Wood, a barrister of joined the RAF. hardly begun. Tragically, his parents suffered the
the family photos were labelled as having been Middle Temple and Malaya. It isn’t known how and when loss of their other son, Hector Stewart MacLagan,
taken in Thompson so Julian brought the album to His mother was Margaret Hugh and Peggy met. She on July 1st 1944. He was in the RAF Volunteer
a Wayland Heritage Group meeting to see if I (Meta) MacNaughtoin was baptised Peggy Joan Reserve as a pilot under training in Zimbabwe
could identify the house. Although it is much Dunford- Wood of Duluth, Farlow on January 9th 1916 (Rhodesia)and the full circumstances of his death
altered and improved, I recognised the property as Lelant , Cornwall. A later at St Mary Magdalen are not known. He is commemorated on Harare
being in College Road. Clearly, the history internet search showed that Wandsworth Common, War Memorial
detectives in us couldn’t leave it at that and so Hugh’s name is on the Lelant daughter of Frederick James The third crew member, Edwin Jones, was born in
research into this young pilot’s life began. The War Memorial. A search of and Gertrude Edith Farlow Lewisham in 1915 to Hugh and Jean Jones. He
research took many twists and turns and hit a lot of the newspaper archives gave nee Merir. He was a fine art had a younger brother Claude who was born on
brick walls but to tell the story as it unfolded the announcements in the expert. Peggy became an December 31st 1916. It isn’t known at present if
would be too confusing to read so it has now been Scotsman and the Yorkshire actress at a young age; there were other siblings. Tragically, Claude was
put into some sort of order. Post, of Hugh missing in newspaper cuttings show also killed while flying with the RAF. He was in a
From the family we knew his wife’s Christian action and his death, but also reviews of her touring with a Wellington being delivered from a maintenance
name and we had learned that Hugh had been included some further details theatre company in 1934 unit which crashed on May 20th 1941at
killed while flying over Dunkirk in June 1940, of his family background. when she would only have Arthingworth, Northants with the loss of all three
shortly after the evacuation of our troops from the Eventually we learned that Joseph was born in been about 18. crew.
beaches. The initial research was relatively Leeds in 1885 to Thomas and Emily Anne Wood. At the back of my mind for some time had been Hugh’s widow returned to her acting career. She
straightforward. The war graves of Hugh and his Emily was nee Dunford and the couple had the niggling belief that Hugh and Peggy had had a may have needed the income as a widow with a
crew were easily traced via the War Graves married at Bramham Yorkshire in 1883. Joseph child, born after his death. young child to support. She
Commission to Abbeville Communal Cemetery had become articled to a firm of Leeds solicitors The photos and some of the seems to have been a regular
extension in the Somme region of France. The and became a barrister. Joseph died in Ipoh, archive gave no more than actress at the Hastings Pier, at
reasons for the crash are unknown other than an Malaya on September 23rd 1937 aged 52. hints which I couldn’t prove Westcliff, and on tour with
assumption it was as a result of enemy action. Two Margaret, Hugh’s mother, proved very elusive, without spending out on Harry Hanson’s Court Players
crew members died alongside him: Sergeant E and the information only came about slowly, partly random certificates on the both in the 1930s before her
Jones and Sergeant D R C Maclagan The aircraft by accident through a trawl of the British off chance. I had no idea if marriage and after she was
they were flying was a Blenheim Mark I/IV and Newspaper archive for information on Hugh and the child was a boy or a girl. widowed which suggests se
was lost on June 8th 1940 on a mission to attack Joseph. Research on Ancestry.co.uk and Find My I had begun to slowly work was welcomed back. She
German armoured columns along the Weygard Past showed she was born on August 21st 1883, through the diary pages and consistently received good
Line. RAF records tell us that it crashed close to a the second daughter of Hugh MacDiarmid of eventually found mentions reviews.. She achieved
village called Le Mesge which is not far from Argyllshire. Her mother’s maiden name was of Hugh, his death (which renewed happiness when, on
Abbeville. MacNaughton. She and Joseph married in Colin didn’t hear about June 28th 1946, she remarried
These are the stark facts, but what of the man Edinburgh on April 17th 1912. She died on immediately, presumably to Captain Robert Hutton RA,
behind this tragic result of October 10th 1962 in due to wartime and they had a son. Peggy
war? The trail to learn Hampshire. communication difficulties seems to have continued
more of him was a mixture Tracing Hugh’s birth has to Malaya). Then, there it acting at Hastings until at least
of easily found been more difficult and it was, a reference to the birth 1949. Peggy died in London
information, a lot of dead would appear that he was of a daughter to Hugh’s in 1999.
ends, and some surprises, born in Ipoh, Malaya. He widow Peggy. No name Unfortunately, my search
plus some ‘gut’ instinct. was 26 when he died, was given, or a date, but I discovered the death of
One of the photos in the which suggests he was had confirmation my Frances in 1963. This
album was of Hugh and born in approximately instinct had been right. Eventually I traced a birth explained why, with their mother now deceased,
Peggy’s wedding day and 1914. We were gradually of a child called Frances in the July quarter of the family had said that there was no one with any
it was clear it had taken building up a picture of 1940. She was Frances Meta Clare Dunford direct connection to Hugh who would have wanted
place in Watton at the family background of Wood born on 21st August 1940 at Fulmer Chase to retain the album and mementoes Peggy had
Wayland Hall, which was this handsome young Bucks. This was a maternity hospital for the wives treasured. Had she lived, Frances would have been
then a registry office. In airman, but we knew of officers with reduced incomes. A hint that the natural custodian. Sadly, the probate record for
the background of the little of his life before Hugh’s death may have left Peggy with some Frances showed yet another family tragedy.
happy picture was 1939. The internet proved financial problems. Frances was living in Bognor Regis and it was
Dewhursts, later a Chinese once again to be very Other correspondence to Julian brought reported that she was last seen alive on July 30th
take away next to what is useful. Having hit a bit of information from a man who, as a child, got to and her dead body was found on July 31st on the
now the Dutch Flower stalemate, typing in know Hugh quite well when his father was posted foreshore at Climping Sussex. Such a terribly sad
shop. The buildings various combinations of to Watton in 1939. He recalled Hugh’s car as end to another young life. The effects of war can
themselves have not his name into Google being an open, grey coloured Riley – the sort of have a long lasting and far reaching effect on the
changed a lot and are brought up a site which thing a young lad would recall! He also vaguely lives of families and those left behind.
The Wayland News June 2020 Page 10
Watton Evening WI
For those of us lucky enough to be
able to work in the garden, the
chance to be outside in the glorious
April sunshine has seen a resurgence
in gardening. Borders have been
weeded and dug over, seeds planted,
both vegetable and flower and the
colours of Spring are stunning. The
late April rain has brightened those
colours too.
Some WI members talk of Spring
cleaning and de-cluttering. Books
that have piled up, waiting, have
now been read, The WI book club
continues on line and contact is
made between members of all
groups, through 'phone calls and e-
mails.
A great deal of craft work is being
done, some personal and some for
the many great causes we read
about. Premature babies are
benefitting from hats and teddies
being knitted and hospital patients
are being presented with bags,
enabling them to carry round their
drain bottles in a discreet way.
Norfolk Scrubs volunteers are
making, not surprisingly, scrubs
outfits, hats and bags in which staff
can carry home their laundry.
Keep-fitters are following
programmes on television and many
walks are being taken.
There is so much good being done in
these unprecedented times let us
hope it is not too long before we can
share our 'exploits' and return to
what may prove to be the new
normal.
Stay safe everyone.
FORE!
By Ken Knowles
I cannot remember exactly how or
when it started, but somewhere in
my mid-forties I was overtaken by
an urge to take up golf. This may
have had something to do with a
visit to a local park in the Southend-
on-Sea area of Essex, near where I
lived, where the local council
operated a first class pay-as-you-go
golf course.
Anyone was welcome to play there,
whether they were beginners or had
experience of the game, and clubs
were available for hire.
Both my cousin and I were attracted
to the game, and it seemed a good
plan to arm ourselves with our own
equipment and were pleased to learn
of the existence of a store near
Victoria station in London which
advertised itself as Railway Lost
Property, where we both obtained a
golf bag plus five clubs for about
£20 each. Although it was possible
that some items on sale may have
been left on trains, the profusion of
golfing sets suggested that either
golfers were the most careless
travellers in the world, or that the
title of the shop was a bit mis-
leading.
Whatever, we were both now fully
equipped to play anywhere that
would have us, and we set about
honing our games so that we might
begin to enjoy our new-found
hobby. Or more accurately – craze.
Like most beginners we sought
every opportunity to practise, and I
recall that I once got up early to visit
our local park at six a.m. in order to
drive balls around, only to find the
place filled with dog walkers,
forcing me to change my plans.
But good fortune came in the form
of a golf range being opened locally
where 50p was charged for a whole
bucket of balls, and I could really
concentrate on improving my game.
Of course golf ranges are a great
help, but are no substitute for the
real thing – playing on a proper
course, so the next year or so I and
my wife spent many weekends
staying at hotels that boasted that
they had their own golf courses,
though many of these proved not
much more than a hole in a field, or
at best what experienced golfers
would call Mickey Mouse courses.
Then came a big moment when a
brand new course was opened five
miles away and in their desire to
reap in revenue they did not bother
too much about experience, so I was
accepted as a member and a new
phase of my life began.
In 1990 I moved to Norfolk and
hardly had I arrived than the
Richmond Park course was opened,
so once again I was able to become a
founder member of a golf club, and
over the years my wife and I have
played many enjoyable games there,
and in away matches all over the
county.
Although I never managed to attain
any great proficiency at the game,
my son has been a very low-
handicapper for some years, and my
grandson also seems to have an
inborn talent for the game. So all in
all my family can be grateful to golf
for a happy life, spent in the most
social atmosphere possible.
Wayland Mens’
Shed
Social Group, Church Walk, Watton.
"IN LOCK DOWN". By the time
you get to ready this write up it will
have been more than 8 weeks since
we shut our doors at our meeting
place at the Old School House in
Church Walk, and for me and im
sure many of our members its
beginning to feel like it, having been
used to meeting up once or twice a
week for a chat or taking part in
some of our regular outings or
activities it comes hard to suddenly
find ourselves loosing this important
outlet for keeping many of us active
both in mind and body.
None of us at this moment in time
have any idea when circumstances
will allow us to open our doors
again and resume what for many of
us has become our regular routine
meeting up at the Mens Shed. On a
lighter note we are told that our
Government may lift some
restrictions in the next week or two
but I dont think we should expect
too much freedom to roam for some
time to come. Apart from e mails
and phone calls there has been
limited contact between members
for obvious reasons but moves are
afoot as we speak to organise a
weekly "Zoom" or "Skype" face to
face meeting for members to help
keeping in touch, there will alas be
some who dont embrace this modern
way of doing things OR don't have
the computer hardware allowing
them to participate, so how things
will progress? only time will tell.
Our thanks goes out to one or two of
our members who have been
keeping the garden and small lawn
at our Hall clean and tidy, every
little helps. well done chaps.
Today is VE Day, WMS would have
been involved in assisting at the
events organised in Watton Town,
we usually help in manning the road
closures for the day but sadly it has
now become a non event, just one of
many events cancelled around the
country but hopefully we will be
able to make up for it next year.
As with everything in life there are
ups and downs, at this period in time
the Pandemic is our biggest down
but the up side is we are learning to
appreciate many of those things that
we have for so long now taken for
granted, our NHS, our Freedom, our
Families and those every day little
things in life, lets hope we learn a
lesson from it all.
Its normally at the point that I
remind reader that the kettle is
always on in The old School House
in Church Walk and to pop in for a
cuppa if you are passing, but as they
say in the Movies, we will have to
take a Rain Check until a later date,
Look forward to seeing you all,
some time soon.
Cheers, Richard, WMS
Finding Heaven
In a blur, I was met with splodges of
colour,
rained on by colourless shadows.
The liquid sun was pouring over
their familiar carved shapes,
As they faded at the edges of my
life.
But I heard no sound.
I felt no breeze to cool my flaring
skin.
I could not taste the falling elixir as
it melted on my tongue.
The fragrance of the country was
lost.
I was in sudden darkness
Shadows whirling around me.
The suffocating blindness set my
heart racing.
And then I was falling…
Flying…
Soaring…
Caught by a winged wind that
seemed to be following an unknown
path.
Below there were rows of yellow
dots and green stripes,
Printed onto square patches.
Rippling like a river of quilting.
I looked upwards,
Focusing with all my mind and
Feeling with all my heart.
It was there… a spot.
And as my eyes widened it grew,
As though curtains, pulling back to
reveal all colour and light.
There it met my waking eyes,
As they adjusted from the night.
Alicia Eldridge
Great Ellingham
Chit Chat Group
Every Wednesday 10-12 Noon at Gt
Ellingham Recreation Centre
INFORMATION CONCERNING
THE CORONAVIRUS & BELATED
VE DAY CELEBRATIONS
As with most of the other organizations,
we are still in lockdown and unable to
meet, however that does not stop us
from contacting each other, either by
phone, text or email. Many of the
group, especially those living on their
own, are finding much comfort by
chatting to each other. It is surprising
what we all find to chat about! Friends,
families, health, nature and of course
the television. Once again, I urge
everyone, Chit Chat members or not, to
please use their phone to make contact
if they think they have a problem.
Please do not SUFFER IN SILENCE. I
am sure Chit Chat like all other
organizations, are very aware that the
main thing at the moment is keeping
safe, however once the lockdown is
lifted we will most certainly party -
dressing up in 40’s outfits plus I am
sure many of us will be able to replicate
the 40’s hairstyles as us ladies are
having problems with hair-cuts and it
would be nice to try and copy the 30’s
and 40’s hairstyles! The Chit Chat
Group certainly know how to party and
celebrate thus, we really have
something to look forward to.
CHILD MEMORIES BOOK-A
SOCIAL HISTORY OF THE TIME
Obviously due to the lockdown, it has
affected sales of the book due to shops
being closed, however the articles in
Let’s Talk and The Norfolk Magazine,
(May editions) have evoked wonderful
responses from all over the County. I
was quite touched by a letter which we
received earlier this month from a
lovely lady who is 88. She was so
thrilled with the idea of the book that
she sent me a short tale of her time as
an evacuee therefore I thought I would
share it with local readers. ‘The book
has brought back many memories for
me as I was evacuated in 1939 aged 7.
Mostly I have short but good memories
of my stays as an evacuee. I only went
as far as Buckinghamshire. The care
was good, but local children were not
so welcoming. I saved my pocket
money and in late 1941 I made my way
into Windsor and caught a train to
London. When I arrived back home my
parents nearly sent me back, however
as the raids were not too bad, I stayed
until we were bombed out by a V2
Rocket dropping on the square
opposite. We then went to my
grandparents nr Daventry, right out in
the country (lovely) until the war
ended.’ I have put this to print because
it is so important to recall memories of
childhood etc. Once someone has
passed away unless their story has been
recorded then the life they lived is
easily forgotten. Sadly, one of our
group passed away, just before the
book launch. Dawn had recorded her
childhood memories and was so
looking forward to seeing it in print.
Her family have had much comfort in
the fact that she had the foresight to
write a small account of her life in the
book. There are quite a few of war-time
stories in the book and the book is most
certainly a delight to read. Book
available from Great Ellingham Post
Office, Rocklands Community Shop
and JC Books, Watton plus our
website. Once printing costs are
covered then profits will go to a charity
of the Chit Chat Groups choice
Great Ellingham Chit Chat Group
Contact: Ann Reeve
07733211410/01953 882065
annreeve2008@gmail.com
greatellinghamchitchatgroup.co.uk
Rotary Roundup
1st July sees the start of the new
Rotary Year: new presidents take
over and other club officers may
change too, and it is the same for
every one of the 35,000+ Rotary
clubs in 167 countries worldwide.
Elected earlier in the year, Everyone
will take office on the day because
they are elected earlier in the year
and it matters not that there will
probably not be a face-to-face
handover meeting in very many
clubs. A question frequently asked
of Rotary is why our year runs from
the middle of one calendar year to
the middle of the next? The simply
answer is that there are no other
‘new years’ - civil, religious,
financial or w.h.y – anywhere, thus
as an International organisation we
avoid any conflicts of interest whilst
maintaining a common aim.
So there is it is for our soon-to-be
Immediate Past President, at the end
of a most extraordinary Rotary year,
And here’s a message from him,
Peter Cowling:
”With sudden, regrettable speed I
have reached the last month of my
year in office as President of Rotary
here in Watton. One of the most
enjoyable parts of the job has been
to welcome guests a-plenty to our
weekly meetings. We have had
thereby the opportunity to meet a
wide cross-section of folk, local and
international, and to continue to be
part of that wide sweep of humanity,
able to focus help and send aid
around the world as well as to our
own patch. So the complete
upturning of our world, with
everything having to be put on hold,
has struck hard. There are a different
set of challenges ahead. Hopefully,
Rotary will be quick to spot them,
and respond. A different world
awaits!”
Taking the reins from 1st July is
Michael Haythorpe, shown in the
picture, aptly ‘taking the reins’
astride a horse, which is far too big
for him, at a VE day garden fete in
1945. It seems even at a young age
he liked to be in control but we
didn’t think it was shyness that
brought this picture to our attention
so that no-one would recognise him
in the street! Rotary is certainly not
too big for him; we wish him well
and look forward to making progress
again as we slowly approach -
what? - a ‘new normal’,
apparently! Martin Anscombe
St Mary's 150
Draw
May Winners of the 150 Draw: 1st
prize £50 – ticket number 1, Ann
Lusher; 2nd prize £25 – ticket
number 37, Marion Wheeler. Well
done!
The Wayland News June 2020 Page 11
PLEASE MENTION News from Watton
THE WAYLAND Town Council
By Chair Pat Warwick
NEWS Sadly, we had to cancel the big celebrations we had
planned for The 75th Anniversary of VE Day, so
WHEN SHOPPING some different plans were put together, which meant
that we couldn't have the kind of party we would have
WITH OUR liked. However, the whole community took it in their
stride and a great time was had by all. Most
ADVERTISERS
celebrations took place in people's front gardens, with
cream teas, lots of bunting and flags. It was lovely to
see all the colourful posters in the windows, Union
flags, rainbows and sunflowers amongst others, who
knew Watton had so many talented artists?!
Although social distancing was observed, it didn't
detract from having fun. To be fair though, it did get
quite noisy in some places, as people had to shout
across their gardens to hold a conversation with the
neighbours. I feel very proud of the children, some of
whom don't really understand why they can't go out
with their friends, but they just got on with it, calling
over the fence to be heard. It all added to the fun.
Community spirit has definitely come to the fore here,
our volunteers have been amazing, not only with
shopping and collecting prescriptions for vulnerable
folk, who are unable to go out, but also being that
friendly face at a time when some could otherwise go
for long periods without seeing anyone. I have spoken
to most of the volunteers, they're a really friendly
helpful group, some even asked if there was anything
else they could do. Amazing people!
I'm pleased to say that our Market has done a fantastic
job under difficult circumstances, ensuring social
distancing, whilst providing a much needed service to
our residents. It's been very busy, but the Market
Traders always manage to stay cheerful. With the
shops that are open, including butchers, bakers,
chemists, amongst others, this allows people to get all
their shopping within a reasonably small local area.
There are quite a few Societies and Groups in and
around Watton, including the Wayland Chamber of
Commerce (Wayland Directory being delivered as I
write), the Watton Neighbourhood Plan Group and
the Twinning Association, to name but a few, who are
still working away, making plans for when things get
back to whatever normal will be at that time.
Obviously, any meetings have to be held remotely,
whether this be email, WhatsApp, FaceTime, Zoom
or whatever, but they are there, doing everything they
can to plan for better times ahead. I know this, as I am
the Council representative for quite a few and as such,
am kept 'in the loop'. I won't name them all, for fear of
missing someone out!
This brings me to Watton Town Council. We are
communicating through email daily, with weekly
'catch-up' Zoom meetings and phone calls where
necessary. It was proposed and voted that I will
remain as Chairman and Mayor, until the first
meeting in May 2021. All Councillors will also retain
their existing positions, i.e. Chair of HR, Finance,
Neighbourhood Plan etc., until May 2021. All
decisions made are recorded and will be ratified at the
first Full Council Meeting that we are able to hold,
when current rules allow.
Once again, I give credit to our Clerk and all the staff,
without whom we could not function to any degree.
They keep us all up to date with which shops and
businesses are open and what they can provide
during the lockdown. Staff are also coordinating the
volunteers, ensuring that all those who need help,
are getting it. They are working remotely, but still
taking phone calls and emails, making sure that we
are aware of things we need to know, including any
new regulations and directives, either from Central
Government, County, District and Norfolk ALC.
Although there are a lot of businesses that have
helped out in various ways, too many to mention,
but I will make one exception. The Italian Job in
Watton High Street. They have cheered so many
people up, delivering over 150 free pizzas to the
staff at seven Care homes in the local area, Boots
the Chemist, Total Health, Wayland Prison, The
Ambulance Service and last, but not least, Fleur the
Postlady. I'm reliably informed that Dave Scragg,
one of our marvellous First Responders, also helped
out with logistics and delivery. Well done and thank
you to Hal and Fiona from The Italian Job, an
absolute credit to Watton.
That's all I have to report for now. I really hope that
by the time you read this, things have improved and
that we are back to a new kind of normal. Keep
safe.
Pat Warwick, Chairman and Mayor, Watton
Town Council
Ashill, Holme Hale &
District Garden Club
Keeping the Garden Growing
With the current rules on social distancing there
has never been a better time to get out into your
garden to get it (and you) in shape. While the
gardening club is currently not able to hold
monthly meetings we are providing gardening
advice via newsletters and our website to keep
everyone active with gardening tasks. The RHS
website (rhs.org.uk/) is also good source of things
you should do each month in your garden, as is
the BBC’s Gardeners World on a Friday evening
on BBC2.
As we move into May & June there are a number
of seasonal tasks around your garden:
Trees, Shrubs and Flowers: Pot grown Cannas
and Dahlias can be hardened off gradually, ready
for planting out once frosts have passed.
Dead head spring bulbs e.g daffodils and Tulips to
enable their energy reserves to be replenished for
next year’s flowering. Spring-flowering shrubs
such as Exochorda and Spirea x Arguta are best
pruned as they finish flowering. Cut back one in
three stems to ground level and take flowered
growth down to a strong sideshoot.
There is still time to sow annuals for a good
display, both for us as the gardener and for the
pollinators. During dry spells, as we have been
experiencing, keep seed beds and young plants
watered, a good watering every few days is better
than little and often.
Look out for newly hatched larvae of viburnum
beetle, especially on viburnum tinus and V.
opulus. Remove larvae by hand if they are not too
numerous.
Vegetables, Fruit and Herbs: If you have grown
tomatoes from seed or bought seedlings
remember to pot on into larger pots or into your
grow bag. Remove suckers as they appear, start
liquid feeding once the first trusses arrive.
Earth up potatoes as they start to show their
greenery above soil, drawing soil around the
stems to prevent tubers becoming green
(inedible).
Pinching out herbs such as lemon balm and mint
will prevent flowering and encourage bushy
growth. Successional sowings of tender herbs
such as Basil can be made now.
As we start moving into the hotter weather think
about shading on your greenhouse so it does not
get too hot, also good ventilation is important for
your greenhouse vegetables and plants.
Remove strawberry runners during early part of
summer to avoid energy being diverted from
developing fruit. For fewer maggoty fruit, monitor
codling moth numbers by hanging pheromone
traps in apple and pear trees at the beginning of
the month.
Wildlife Gardening
To avoid any disruption to nesting birds and
bumblebees, allow hedges to remain unpruned
until after nesting time.
Continue putting food out for birds, preferably not
whole peanuts, as fledgelings will soon be about.
Also in particularly dry weather keep ponds and
bird baths well supplied with water.
Garden Pests
The Club’s April monthly meeting was to be on
‘Mole catching’ but like all social gatherings it
had to be cancelled due the coronavirus
restrictions. However, on the club’s website we
provide some interesting facts about the European
Mole and how to catch these cute critters who can
make a mess of your lawn. Please feel free to visit
our website (address above) and by clicking on
the ‘Virtual Garden Club' page in top menu you
can access more informaiton.
TOP 10 Garden Pests
Moles can be classed as a garden pest, but if we
look at the Royal Horticultural Society top 10 list
of garden pests, the mole does not even feature.
Below is the latest top 10 list of garden pests you
should look to tackle as a priority:
The RHS’s top 10 pests for 2019 in terms of calls
for advice were:
1. Box tree caterpillar; 2. Vine weevil; 3. Slugs/
snails; 4. Fuchsia gall mite; 5. Alder leaf beetle; 6.
Woolly aphid; 7= Rosy apple aphid; 7=
Viburnum beetle; 9. Glasshouse red spider mite;
10. Plum leaf-curling aphid
Go to the RHS website (www.rhs.org.uk) to get
more information on each of these ‘garden pests’
and how to deal with them.
Wayland Chamber of
Commerce
I am writing knowing that the 2020-21edition of
the Wayland Chamber of Commerce Information,
Trade and Services Directory will have arrived
through your letter box over the last few weeks. I
believe the role of the Directory will this year,
have even greater significance and value than
previous years. Our local businesses have all had
to cope with unprecedented circumstances with
the COVID-19 lockdown; concerns about income,
staff, costs and future commercial viability have
arisen through no fault or failing of our making.
While some businesses have been able to access
the different Government schemes to alleviate
some of the problems, from the feedback we have
received at the Chamber, this by no means applies
to all of our businesses in Wayland.
For all, these are worrying times with concerns
about personal safety and health, but for those
individual business owners and managers whose
futures are dependent from week to week on the
revenue they generate through their own and their
employees hard work, it is doubly worrying. A
situation that is only likely to gradually improve in
the coming months and for restaurants and pubs it
could be even longer before it is possible to
welcome customers back through their doors.
For those businesses that have managed to remain
open, we are grateful for all of the efforts of
owners and staff. We appreciate that with only
minimal personal protection, reliant on everyone’s
commitment to social distancing, you have
managed to keep providing food and essentials on
the shelves and in our shopping bags. And many
thanks to our take-aways of course!
Of one thing I am certain is that things will
eventually improve and as the lockdown is
gradually relaxed so more of us can return to
some semblance of normal working life. It is at
that point that the Chamber’s Trade Directory will
this year really come into its own. Quite simply, if
Watton and Wayland businesses and retailers are
to rebound from this pandemic then in the same
spirit shown towards social distancing and
supporting the NHS, we need to rally behind our
local businesses and ensure we buy products and
services from those listed in the Directory and
from the shops on our High Street. So when the
lock-down starts to lift have a browse through the
Directory to see if there are a few jobs that
needed doing that can now be done, if there is
something you have been promising yourself
for a while, don’t buy it online - go to our local
shops. And in time when the restaurants and
pubs re-open, make sure you have a special
drink and a meal to celebrate. In that way we
will support our local businesses and once
again have a thriving Wayland.
David Dent, Chairman Wayland Chamber of
Commerce
The Wayland News June 2020 Page 12
The Concert that never was – but will be
Please support your local
businesses. You would miss
them if they weren’t here . . .
as we have all been
discovering!
Lesley Cowling (19/4/20)
** Should say ‘postponed’ but cancelled sounds better!
THE WAYLAND NEWS
PLEASE READ!!! Page space is allocated strictly on a first come,
first served basis. 12 Noon on the 15th of the month preceding
publication is the last date and time that copy will be
CONSIDERED for inclusion. Arrival of your copy before
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certain your entry gets published, then please make sure it
arrives in plenty of time otherwise you may still be
disappointed.
You can contact Julian by ringing (01953) 858908.
The e-mail address is now: newsfromwayland@gmail.com
Views expressed in articles in The Wayland News are those
of the contributors and not the views of the publisher or
printers.
While every care and effort has been taken to ensure
accuracy, the publisher cannot accept responsibility for
errors or omissions.
This issue of the The Wayland News was published by:
Julian Horn, 32 High Street, Watton IP25 6AE
and printed by:
Sharman & Company Ltd, Newark Road
Peterborough PE1 5TD. Phone: 01733 424 949
For all you West End Waiters this was to be a day
Of splendid celebration in every kind of way.
A decade packed with concerts raised five and twenty grand
To mark this great achievement – a special show was planned.
The hall was booked, the programme fixed, the posters were
designed,
Rehearsals started straightaway: old songs and new combined.
The Inner Wheel was brought on board to make and serve the tea
And everything was going well as far as you could see.
It wasn’t all plain sailing- at times the wrath could rise
‘Til righteous indignation gave way to compromise,
And all the team acknowledged that for the Concert good
You had to work together in love and Waiterhood.
Ken rehearsed his singing, Bren worked out what to say,
Roy got used to smiling and found it felt okay,
Derek’s eyes soon twinkled : he thought that he would see
How very very naughty his monologues would be
June went through her music to see what she could find
And made quite sure her glasses did not get left behind,
Graham sorted out his lines so all the words could rhyme
John disciplined the Major to gallop in on time!
Lesley was invited the Compere’s role to share
And even poorly Peter was hoping to be there
And then along came Covid with all its deadly power
It paralysed the country and stole your finest hour.
You learned that you were high risk and vulnerable and old
You needed to be shielded and do as you were told.
And as the world was reeling with fear and death and pain
You worried that the Waiters would never wait again.
This thought was so depressing, you felt in times of doubt
That such an evil virus could wipe the Waiters out.
The Show of course was cancelled,** you had to count the cost
You sat and suffered Lockdown consid’ring what you’d lost
And maybe things seemed hopeless, and joys were only few
Stay in and watch the telly was all that you could do.
And though time passes slowly, you’ve reached the concert day
I guess you’re disappointed it’s all turned out this way
So I have writ this ditty to try to raise a smile
Because I’m sure the Waiters will be back in a while.
You’d better all believe it – you are not done for yet –
Your friends and fans are ready and they will not forget
How much they love your humour, your songs, your jokes, your
mirth –
They cannot wait to see you, they’ll clap for all they’re worth!
So don’t give up! The Waiters shall have their Finest Hour
The girls will soon start baking (when they can get the flour!)
And what a celebration this Concert then will be
In every sense a triumph, over great adversity.
Inner Wheel –
Surviving The 'LOCKDOWN'!
How have you been surviving in these strange times? The
lack of our usual social life has left a huge gap and we have
had to find other ingenious ways to amuse ourselves. I
wonder how many people have taken the opportunity to
have a good clear out of all those shelves and cupboards
which we have been meaning to do but never found the
time! At home Ken and I have what we loosely refer to as
the library. It consists of a number of shelves and an even
greater number of books. The shelves are now half empty
(and need cleaning!) and half the books have been
transferred to the garage where they await the re-opening of
the Thompson Book Sale. Various drawers have also had a
tidy up, it really is amazing the amount of junk one hoards.
Like many I have been enjoying the good weather by being
in the garden as much as possible. No major projects like one
or two friends have attempted, but a good opportunity to
keep ahead of the weeds, renew the pot flowers , tie in the
clematis and roses, do a bit of light pruning and generally
have a good tidy up. Very satisfying to then be able to sit
down with a nice cup of tea or the occasional gin and tonic! I
hope many of you will have been able to do the same.
Inner Wheel and Rotary members have been keeping in touch
via Tandem, our in house newsletter and phones and social
media have enabled us all to hear each other and occasionally
digitally converse. Our son has been able to do our weekly
shop and deliver it to the doorstep where we can also have a
chat out of the window, and our daughters have introduced us
to an iPad App called House Party which enables us to have a
communal chat at a prescribed time each week.
What a blessing these contacts have proved during what could
have been a very lonely time
Very sadly our Inner Wheel Strawberry Tea will not take place
this year. We know many of our friends in the town looked
forward to it each year so we are really very sorry to have to
disappoint you. We are also sorry that our fundraising
especially for our overseas charities will have been reduced
this year.
As I look out of my window as I write this I can hear the birds
singing and the sun is shining on the blossoming trees, I can
see purple lilac, pale blue wisteria and dark blue ceanothus all
doing their blooming best!
We have much to be thankful for. Stay Safe. Brenda