Wymondham's Way Ahead Issue 7

Promoting all that’s best in one of Norfolk’s fastest growing towns

Wymondham’sWymondham’s

Late Winter 2014 Delivered by Royal Mail to 6,322 homes and businesses Issue 7

Serving us since the

Meet an extraordinary butcher still working at the age of 79 - pages 22-25

1950s!

02

WYMONDHAM • NORWICH • SWAINSTHORPE

All our panels are handmade & pressure treated against rot, mould & rainonly timber from English sustainable forests is sourced & used.

Full fencing service - planning, supply & erection.

Get ready for winter! FIREWOOD – SOFTWOOD £3.50 sack HARD £4 netFREE DELIVERY with 10 bags or more.

KINDLING £2.50 LARGE NET

For a FREE QUOTATION call

01508 471 736 or 07909 032 344

E: [email protected] Yard Sales – Greenacres, Brick Kiln Lane, Swainsthorpe

LES BALLSFencing Services

www.lesballsfencing.co.uk

6x4 £18.006x3 £16.00

Pointed or Rounded Tops

PICKETFENCING

CLOSE BOARDSFENCING

6X6 £31.006X5 £30.006X4 £28.006X3 £26.00

RUSTIC LAP PANELS

6x6 £20.506x5 £19.506x4 £17.506x3 £15.00

Manufacturer and supplier of all types of fencingFIREWOOD

FOR SALE!

With every issue of Wymondham’s Way Ahead magazine we strive to project something of what makes Wymondham a very special place.

The brown signs on our outskirts announce proudly “Wymondham – historic town” and it’s this inheritance combined with a determination to make the modern market town thrive that is driving Wymondham forward successfully.

This year will see the newly formed Business Group’s efforts bear fruit. On pages 14-17 its chairman spells out the ambitious agenda.

Meanwhile our traders provide a unique shopping service … Independent shops like the extraordinary Parke’s (featured on pages 22-25) are to be treasured while more recent newcomers like Puff Toys, for example, are worth our full support.

And demonstrating that ancient buildings and modern development can go hand in hand the Abbey is busily launching a huge development plan this summer (see pages 34-35).

All in all, 2014 is looking good for Wymondham.

Ivor HarveyHow to contact usTo advertise or to place your community news call Ivor on 01508 489280, email: ivorharvey @btinternet.com, or write to Ivor at Peplins Cottage, Top Row, Wreningham, Norfolk, NR16 1ARWhile every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of material published Wymondham Way Ahead Magazine takes no responsibility for the accuracy of statements made by contributors or advertisers or for loss arising from non-publication of any advert. This publication may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form in whole or in part without the express written permission of the publisher. Products and services advertised in Wymondham Way Ahead do not carry any endorsement or recommendation by Wymondham’s Way Ahead.

Editor Ivor Harvey writes:

Wymondham’s Promoting all that’s best in one of Norfolk’s fastest growing towns

This bi-monthly magazine goes into more than 6,000 households and businesses throughout the Wymondham postal sector NR18-0.

PUBLISHER AND EDITOR: Ivor Harvey, Top Row, Wreningham, Norfolk NR16 1AR T: 01508 489280

GRAPHIC DESIGN AND PRODUCTION: MDesign, Unit1, Europa Way, Norwich NR1 2EN T: 07766 544056

PRINTED BY:Warwick Printing Co Ltd, Caswell Rd, Leamington Spa, Warwickshire CV31 1QD T: 01926 883355

BUDGET TO BUILDYOUR BUSINESS

Size 6 Issues(per issue)

£45

£55

£80

FULL PAGE £140

HALF PAGE

QUARTER

SIXTH

Size 3 Issues(per issue)

£50

£63

£90

FULL PAGE £156

HALF PAGE

QUARTER

SIXTH

Size 1 Issue(per issue)

£55

£70

£100

FULL PAGE £175

HALF PAGE

QUARTER

SIXTH

* Special rates for premier positions

Affordable and effective way to advertise your business

03

Thanks to our advertisers

It’s looking good for Wymondham

We’re proud, too, of the growth of this magazine…thanks to a growing band of advertisers who recognise the value of reaching every

household and business in the town in a magazine that gives generous space to the often-neglected positive news

As more join those who have supported us since our launch a year ago we say Thanks to them all.

Ivor Harvey

04

FREEUNDERLAY ON SELECTED

CARPET RANGES.

GENUINE OFFER WITH THIS ADVERT

Carpets • Vinyls • Karndean

Safety Flooring • Wet Rooms

Bespoke Carpet • Natural Flooring

Domestic & Commercial

Supply & Professionally Fitted

Quality Guaranteed

Whether you’re moving or improving Norfolk Floors can help

you choose the perfect flooring. Let us inspire you with our

infinite options from traditional carpets to amazing design

flooring with many types of textures, materials, colours

and designs. We provide a professional, friendly service,

giving you expert flooring advice that you can trust.

Call for an appointment, we will bring samples to your

premises and offer a free measuring and estimating service.

Moving or justimproving?

For friendly advice, view samples or for a free quotation, please call:

email: [email protected]

01603 397082@norfolkfloors

05

Progress on of the A11 dualling has become a talking point with motorists who have to tolerate

the crawl through the 40mph limits. Lack of frost and snow in the early winter is, hopefully, seeing the work on schedule for completion before the end of this year so relief is in sight…

But talking to a couple of very experienced ex-policemen – one of them on traffic patrol for many years – they reckon it will be a red-letter day, too, for professional thieves.

The former police officers recall that when the M25 opened back in the 80s it led to a massive increase in crime along its route with plenty of options for thieves to make a quick getaway. The A11 won’t offer quite such a variety of escape routes but, nevertheless, they reckon Norfolk will need to lock up its treasures very securely to avoid them disappearing down the newly-completed road to riches…

Highway robbery on the horizon

Under the Market Crosswith veteran journalist Ivor Harvey

Letting off steam with the punks

Memories will have dimmed by now of the Dickensian Steampunk Fayre but by most

accounts it was a real success - blowing away the staleness of the old Dickensian evenings. . But one sore point was expressed to me vehemently by a member of a charitable organisation who thought it tough for stallholders to be asked to spend money on fancy dress and for tombola – successfully run for the previous five years – not to be wanted.

When I put this to one of the steampunk organisers, Pete Green, he explained how this came about… He said: “ One of the earliest decisions was that this going to be a community event, not primarily a charity fund -raising event, and we wanted everyone taking part, especially the stall holders, to ‘dress appropriately’.

“ If you look at the hundreds of photos that appeared on social media and the like you will see that there were very few hired costumes, it wasn’t necessary, the vast majority of people who did dress for the occasion cobbled together a costume from bits and pieces bought in charity shops. Which of course means more cash flow into these shops…

“Giving to charity is something that should happen all the time, not just on special occasions. But what I do know happened was that the charity shops themselves all did very well indeed.”So, is Mr Green right? I’d love to know what you think. Drop me an email: [email protected]

Steampunk dress code poser: did the organisers get it right?

Reporter circa 1960’s

Effective and affordable platform for advertisers

06

Better broadband proves baffling

Curiosity and confusion looms large over the installation of superfast broadband

in the town.

Our county council’s link-up with British Telecom to bring us the fibre-optic miracle of surfing the web at break-neck speed is designed to “transform broadband speeds across the county”.

The snag is that even in towns like Wymondham, let alone rural areas, the service will not be available to 100 per cent of consumers and it is being introduced this year bit by bit.

Consequently many people are unsure when they will benefit from a new technology that is not well understood by the average surfer.

Assuming you have some kind of internet connection there are a couple websites that might help www.betterbroadbandnorfolk.co.uk is the official site that attempts to explain what its all about and BT has a site where – if you are good at the jargon – you can check what’s happening with the broadband service in your local area. Go to www.dslchecker.bt.com

If you still have a copy of the last “Wymondham’s Way Ahead” magazine you’ll find it has a long article explaining some of the finer points relating to the birth of broadband and its development today.

Here’s an interesting statistic – over the last year four new

houses have been completed in Wymondham every week.

The figure comes from Royal Mail – based on their growing distribution numbers for this magazine to all households and businesses in the town.

At the start of 2013 the figure was 6,084 and a year later this has risen to 6,322.

At this rate the planners’ target for an extra 2,200 by 2026 would

be reached well before then since more than half this target number have already been built.

This leads to one big question… Will facilities to support the town’s growth keep pace with the building boom? Much for the powers-that-be to ponder on….

Wymondham’s Way Ahead” magazine concentrates

on all the positive things happening in the town – and there’s plenty of them. But let’s not forget that there are still issues bugging us as to when we are likely to see results. For example:

Kings Head Meadow projects…

Establishment of new town council offices…

New town centre CCTV cameras…

Restoration of the 727 bus stop…

Development of land opposite the railway station…

Are you troubled by Streptoppelia Decaocto. When disturbed at

dawn by the persistent cooing of collared doves I turned to Mr Google to find these elegant but irritating birds - known under the Latin name above - are now breeding at a tremendous rate with nearly a million pairs ready to start nesting this spring.

This from a standing start in the 1950s when the first birds invaded Britain. And where did they launch their invasion? It was in bird lovers’ paradise, of course – the north Norfolk coast.

Some of us wish they might have stayed right there!

Statistics set growing question

Coo-coo.. too much for many of us

Projects still on the waiting list

Under the Market Crosswith veteran journalist Ivor Harvey

Reporter circa 1960’s

Growing and growing… Wymondham from the air. Photo © Mike Page

Keeping pace with Wymondham’s growth

0707

Attleborough 4 Beds£205,000 SOLD

Wymondham 4 Beds£425,000 SOLD

Wymondham 4 Beds£330,000 FOR SALE

Wymondham 3 Beds£249,950 FOR SALE

SSTC SST

CMoney Properties16 Market Street

WymondhamNR18 0BB

01953 [email protected]

www.moneyproperties.co.uk

Are you paying too much to sell your house?

Why choose Moneylettings?• We take pride in the professional services we offer to both our landlords and tenants• We are large enough to compete but small enough to care• No hidden extra charges• No charge for inventories• Professional, friendly and polite employees who will do their utmost to ensure a streamline service

Money Lettings7a Whartons Court,

Wymondham NR18 0UQ01953 601300 [email protected]

“The local name you can trust!”Established Independent Estate Agent

Strong Customer SkillsMature Professional Staff

Extensive Local Knowledge

More properties like this required

Wymondham, EPC TBC £292,000

Spixworth, EPC Rating D, SOLD

Dereham, EPC Rating E Guide price £270,000 - £290,000

Easton, EPC Rating D £269,950

SSTCMore properties

like this required

08

Come and see our range of excellent value electric bikes!NEW!

Battery poweredfor easier cycling

WE ALSO SERVICE & REPAIR SCOOTERS, WHEELCHAIRS, BEDS & CHAIRS

NORWICH 01603 787070 HALES 01508 549900

See our new Hales Superstore

Mobility Superstore has everything you need in two great stores - Norwich, and now Hales. We’re here to help you with good old-fashioned service and unbeatable prices.

RISE RECLINE CHAIRS FROM ONLY £499ADJUSTO-MATIC BEDS FROM ONLY £499

MOBILITY SCOOTERS FROM ONLY £399WALKING AIDS FROM ONLY £499

Photo forillustrative purposesonly. Please call for full details.

19a Alston Road, Hellesdon Ind Est, Norwich NR6 5DS Yarmouth Road, Hales, NR14 6SP

HELLESDON PARK RD

DRAYTON HIGH ROAD

ASDA

SWEET BRIAR ROADALSTON RO

AD

TO NORWICH

TO BECCLES

LODDON

HALESA146

Open 9am-5pm Monday to Saturday.

Ample FREE parking at both Superstores.

www.mobilitynorwich.co.uk

A caring service from your independent mobility experts

WE ARE HERE

WE ARE HERE

09

Making your

look good!business

First impressions count, so give your business the look it needs with professional graphic design. Whether it’s a logo, business card, a multi page brochure or something much bigger, Mdesign produces top-quality design work that will grab attention and get you great results!

To discuss your latest project call:

07766 54405601603 455073

www.mdesign-online.co.uk

J HITCHCOCK TREE SERVICES LTD.

•  Plan%ng and pruning •  Hedging •  Crown Reduc%on / li5s •  Removal and Felling

Whatever your tree issue, we can help

•  Fully Qualified and Insured

Why not call us now for free and impar%al advice

Specialist in problem trees

•  Check our website for customer tes%monials

01362 820564 / 01328 854119 www.jhitchcocktreeservices.co.uk

Photo by D Wingate

@jhitchcocktrees

10

Wednesday 26 February - Saturday 1 March

Tickets: £5.50 - £16Box Office: (01603) 63 00 00

Book online: www.theatreroyalnorwich.co.uk

Wymondham Way Ahead (Horrible Histories)_Layout 1 07/01/2014 17:19 Page 1

11

Star skaters for ice show

Some of the world’s top ice skaters are set to bring the

Norwich Theatre Royal stage to life in a brand new production.Robin Cousins has selected skaters from around the globe to star in Ice, which comes to the city on March 19-23.

Between them, the cast have won countless Olympic and national medals, performed principal roles in some of the world’s biggest shows and delighted audiences on ITV’s Dancing On Ice.

*Ice, Wednesday 19-Saturday 22 March at 7.30pm, and Wednesday 19, Thursday 20, Saturday 22 and Sunday 23 matinees at 2.30pm. Tickets £6.50-£31.50. Discounts for Friends, Corporate Club, Over-60s, Under-18s and Groups.Box Office 01603 630000. To book online: www.theatreroyalnorwich.co.uk

A special display with the title “Wymondham and the First World War” will be launched on Monday, March 3, as the Wymondham Heritage Museum

opens for a new season.

This, the centenary of the start of the war, will be marked by a nation-wide commemoration and the museum’s contribution will take the form of a series of panels describing the impact of the war on the inhabitants of Wymondham.

The life story of Harry Daniels, Norfolk’s first World War One Victoria Cross hero, who was born in Wymondham will be told. Also the experiences of Wymondham men in the Gallipoli campaign will be illustrated in their letters, diaries and photographs. Those who lost their lives, are all named on a display which shows where they are remembered in Wymondham and on memorials all over the world. Some are covered in more detail showing how their deaths affected their families and the community.

The museum will also be launching a “Community Cabinet” that will document the lives of those who served during the first world war. Each month, a different person's artefacts (medals, letters, photographs and other memorabilia) will be displayed as part of a project which is supported by a grant from Norfolk Museums.

Museum to focus on first world war

Billy Liar star at the Regal

Billy Liar (1963) will be the main feature when the Regal

Experience revisit the Swinging Sixties for a screening on Sunday March 23rd (2.30pm) at the Wymondham Ex-Services’ Club (Regal Cinema). And Helen Fraser,

who starred in the movie, will be making a personal appearance.Set in a Northern town, Billy Liar sees Tom Courtenay as a lowly mixed-up undertaker’s clerk living in a world of fantasy.Helen Fraser, who plays a girlfriend, has appeared in numerous movies and television shows including Sylvia "Bodybag" Hollamby in Bad Girls.On Sunday April 13 (2.30pm) the Hitchcock thriller Dial M For Murder (1954) will be screened. Tickets can be obtained from Maureen Dodman (01953 605593) or Michael Armstrong (01953 603246) and at Simply Cards, Market Street, Wymondham, priced £5 (concessions £4).

Helen Fraser as Sylvia "Bodybag" Hollamby in Bad Girls.

Promoting all that’s best in Norfolk’s fast-growing town

12

We offer beginners and intermediate matwork and apparatus classes in small groups for individual

attention. We also work with a range of conditions from sports injury to frozen shoulder, back pain,

osteoporosis, pregnancy and more.

Please call 07958 270 864 for class times and prices.

www.regenerationpilates.com t: 07958 270 864

HetHersett, NorWicH Nr9 3AX.t: 07958 270 864 e: [email protected]

pilates for everyoneWe are a neW Pilates studio in station lane, HetHersett

13

Pupils from Robert Kett Junior School in Wymondham went

to Becket’s Chapel in Church Street to perform an annual ceremony honouring the town’s local hero.

In 1549 Robert Kett, a successful and respected Wymondham farmer and tanner, and his brother William, were hanged for their part in leading an uprising against social injustices.

In 1999 a major community event was organised to celebrate the 450th anniversary of Kett's rebellion, and each year since, children from Robert Kett School have marked the anniversary of the Ketts’ death with a visit to lay flowers at Becket’s Chapel. The historic building was a Guild chapel in the Sixteenth Century and has strong associations with Robert Kett, who would have known it well.

The building bears a plaque, erected as part of the Kett’99 celebrations,

providing a permanent record of the tumultuous events of 1549.

Local historian Adrian Hoare was there to remind the children about the reason for the ceremony, explaining that Robert Kett with his brother William led a rebellion against land enclosures. After several weeks of struggle in which the rebels took and held the City of Norwich, the uprising was put down by the King's armies. 3,000 rebels were killed and Robert Kett and his brother were hanged as traitors. In more modern times their actions have been recognised as a brave bid for social justice and reform.

Robert Kett Junior School Headteacher Malcolm Gray said: "This ceremony helps us to ensure that each new generation of

Wymondham children knows and has thought about these important events which took place so many years ago. Taking part in the ceremony means that we too have a special place in the town’s history. We are very proud to help keep the memory of the Ketts alive in our town.”

After the flowers ceremony the children visited the Town Council Offices, where they were welcomed by the mayor, Cllr Dianne Fernee.

Wymondham children honour town’s local hero

Honouring their local hero: Robert Kett Junior School pupils with Head Teacher Malcolm Grey lay flowers under the Kett memorial plaque at Becket’s Chapel

Kett Memorial Plaque at Becket’s Chapel, Church Street, WymondhamPhoto credit: Terence J Burchell

Delivered by Royal Mail to 6,322 homes and businesses

14

15

T he Business Group was formed with the express purpose

of devising ways of increasing the footfall into the town and improving and updating the general infrastructure, while protecting it's integrity and historical fabric.

We want increased accessibility for our visitors and to promote

meaningful events involving a variety of themes that will help regain a sense of belonging in the community for local people.

With a committee that includes business operators, local, district and county councillors we have an ideal mix of ideas and most importantly, a sense of urgency.

We meet to get things done, not to talk about it.

Yes, we follow a democratic procedure - we have agendas and take minutes for members who are unable to attend, but we aren't held up by unnecessary bureaucracy, and we look for the things we can do, rather than dwell on those we can't.”

With the government's introduction of 50 percent

business rate relief for vacant property, and further reductions up to £1000 to help those already

established, and monthly payments available to all, we hope that Wymondham will maintain and even grow its retail offer and ensure it's status as South Norfolk's most

important market town.The Wymondham Business Group will play an important role in doing everything within our power to make that happen.

Getting things done– not talking about it!- that’s the priority for new business group

Government aid to help us grow…

Since its formation last year the Wymondham Business Group has been meeting regularly both to champion the town’s claims to cash being made available under the district council’s Market Towns Initiative – and to formulating plans for putting the cash to good use as soon as it is allocated. Chairman of the group. David Disney, explains what’s happening…

15

Overleaf: Our job is getting a fair deal for the town

Bringing in the crowds… The Steampunk Dickensian Fayre did the trick in December - now the Business Group is planning more ways to bring visitors to the town.

David Disney


Our job – to get a fair deal for our market town

The Market Town Initiative is our main priority at the

moment. This is, in essence an amount of money ring fenced by SNDC for development of the four market towns in the area, and it’s

our job to ensure we get a fair share of that money.

We've submitted a very comprehensive wish list to the council, and as an example, one

of our first quick fix proposals is signage. Being a market town by definition means we attract visitors from both the local area and from further afield. We're a tourist destination too, and it's >>

16

On the event front, we've been very busy. The Carnival is being planned for 26th July, and

further details will be rolled out as they're available.

As part of Carnival 2014 our own version of a popular talent show Wymondham's got Talent” will begin with auditions at the end of February, and we'll then have further rounds culminating in the Final at the Carnival

itself, so all budding performers need to watch the media for entry details and audition dates.

We're also planning to continue to support the Dementia Awareness Initiative and will be actively engaged in reaffirming the need for business involvement. Other events will no doubt take place, and we'll be launching some fund-raising ideas soon too.

Carnival heads the list of plans for events

Carnival heydays - flashback to 1936 as the carnival procession passes through the town.

Continued from page 15

Your bi-monthly focus on what’s happening in Wymondham

17

The town’s annual Christmas shopping bonanza - revamped as the Dickensian Steampunk

Christmas Fayre - saw big Saturday afternoon crowds in the town centre. Street entertainment, festive music and Santa’s Grotto under the Market Cross made the event go with a swing.

Detailed plans for Wymondham Rugby Club’s new location went on public display. A new clubhouse and

five main pitches – three senior and two junior – will be sited on land between Melton Road and Norwich Common.

South Norfolk MPs George Freeman and Richard Bacon have urged the Government to provide £5m of funding to bring Caterham Cars

production from Dartford to their Hingham-based innovation centre.

Steampunk brings in shopping crowds

Rugby Club show plans for new home

MPs back Hingham innovation centre

Installation of fast fibre optic broadband is going ahead in parts of Wymondham as part

of the Better Broadband for Norfolk initiative, which boasts that 80per cent of the county’s homes will be covered by 2015.

The country market founded by the WI 35 years ago has a new home after being threatened with closure. The Friday market previously

housed at Central Hall and latterly at Kings Head Meadow, has been provided with facilities at the Ex-Services Club in Friarscroft Lane.

Fast broadband project is under way

Country market finds a new home

Wymondham Leisure Centre is to be upgraded with improvements that include a new café and children’s play area. The changing

rooms will also be revamped and the premises redecorated.

Leisure Centre in line for a face-lift

about time the visitor was properly guided, firstly to our car parks, and then to all the major attractions that exist by having town plans in all key areas with all the shops and places to visit clearly marked.

We're a heritage town, and have so many assets that are underexploited by local people and visitors alike. We don't make it easy for the visitors; they have to have serious detective abilities to unearth the jewels we keep so well hidden. The good news is we've already had confirmation that following our raising this important issue; it will be addressed early in 2014.

A survey of the signage has already been carried out and agreement reached on styles and typefaces by SNDC, so we just have to keep monitoring the progress. If we can get the majority of business operators on side as members, we'll have real credibility and can keep the pressure up, and ensure they deliver on promises made.

After our monthly meetings we circulate the minutes to all members, and that way people can see exactly what we're up to and decide to what extent they want to be involved. We are increasing our membership week on week, and we now have a really wide range of expertise and representation from most sectors of the business community. Some want to get involved and help develop and drive the plans forwards, and some just want to be informed and keep abreast of developments.

... from December

Keeping pace with Wymondham's growth

18

Struggling getting to grips with your PC? Don’t give up, Surf Assist is here to help!

We offer one-to-one tuition in the relaxed atmosphere of your own home and will get you using your computer confidently in next to no time.

With little or no computer knowledge to seeing you master the essentials in one hour book your session today for £25 per hour!

We can help solve your installation problems too!

Arrgh

!

Is your computer

drivi

ng you MAD!

Call:01953 711184 SurfassistAvailable throughout South Norfolk

FIRST HOUR

FREE

WITH THIS

ADVERT

To book your tuition session

19

20

21

Need insurance?

PersonalBusiness

All in one place

INSURANCE CENTRE

THE

For a free quotation call us on 01603 400 755 and quote

“TIC” for special offers

www.insurance-centre.comThe Insurance Centre, 8-10 Cromer Rd,

Norwich NR6 6ND

The Bird in Hand is a family run free house and restaurant combining all the atmosphere of a

traditional British pub with quality food and drink and comfortable surroundings.

FREE HOUSE WITH A CHOICE OF UP TO 6 REAL ALES FOOD SERVED IN THE BAR & RESTAURANT,

WIDE MENU WITH LOCALLY SOURCED FRESH INGREDIENTS

FINE FOOD, GREAT BEER, GOOD CHEER

. . . A TASTE OF THE GOOD LIFE

www.birdinhandwreningham.com Email: [email protected]

Church Rd, Wreningham, Norwich, NR16 1BJ

Call: 01508 489438 Thanks to all those who supported Clements and Marola’s

fund-raising e� orts for the Star Throwers charity at the Dickensian Steampunk Christmas Fayre.

As a result we were able to send a cheque for more than £400 to the charity.

19 Fairland Street, Wymondham, Norfolk, NR18 0AW

Call: 01953 602 847

MAROLA’S

Unisex HairdressersColouring - High / Low Lights

Hair Products · Manicures · Gi� Vouchers

Gel Nail Polish

HARDWARE & TOOL SPECIALISTS SINCE 1875HARDWARE & TOOL SPECIALISTS SINCE 1875

IRONMONGERS

SERVICEVALUE

WHERE ELSE?

01953 602104

WHERE ELSE?

CLEMENTS

24-7 LOCKSMITH SERVICEOUT OF HOURS PHONE CALL: 07799 897534

ENGRAVING AND TROPHIES SERVICE

FAIRLAND STREET WYMONDHAM

NEW

Peter Parke - Wymondham’s veteran 79-year-old butcher

– doesn’t believe in holidays. He’s at the shop every day of the week, including Sundays, and hasn’t had a holiday since he left the Army in 1953.

It's the customers that make Mr Parke’s life. He has known some of them from birth to grave and revels in a life that brings him into contact with them day in, day out.

He has been serving up Parke’s sausages and a host of other old-fashioned delicacies since the 1950s, having joined his father’s fishmonger’s business in 1953 before it became a butcher’s shop later in the 1950s.

Today the same pain-staking care goes into his butchery business as when he first learned the trade. At that time he reared beef cattle at Suton and the meat was sold in the

Peter Parke, aged 79 – still always at your service!

Early days for Peter Parke – flashback to the 1950s.

Wymondham’s independent traders bring a precious quality to our market town with a unique brand of personal service and individuality. As part of a series of articles about these businesses we focus

here on Parke’s, the Market Street butchers serving the town for more than sixty years.

22


23

shop. This stopped, his daughter Jane confided, “because he became too fond of the animals”.

After his father died in the Sixties Peter Parke took up the reins and ever since he has maintained a truly family concern with wife and three

daughters all involved in the running of the business.

Daughter Jayne now works full-time alongside her dad while his other daughters, Anne and Jill, plus wife, Yvonne, are all involved too.

Peter Parke with daughter Jayne.

Overleaf – No need to beef about supermarkets


24

The family butcher who sees no need to beef about supermarkets

At the age of 79 it’s still Peter Parke who keeps a firm hand

on the family business as he turns out his unique sausages…hams all cooked overnight on the premises… “pork cheese” (brawn to those uninitiated to Norfolk dialect)…pork dripping flavoured with onion…and so on…

All this makes his seven-day week a busy one, especially after losing his assistant and expert butcher of 30 years standing, Michael Cornwell, whose death three years ago left an enormous void to be filled.

Peter Parke stepped up to the mark and the locally reared beef, pork and

business but at Parke’s there is optimism about the future.

Daughter Jayne points to the benefits the independent butcher who can offer - locally sourced products…wide range of cuts, both fresh and cooked…infinite portion size, from enormous to very tiny…everything tailored to the individual customer…

Tastes have changed over the years with the Sunday roast giving way to more instant meals while chicken –

lamb all come under his cleaver according to his customer’s specific likes and dislikes.

“I get to know them all,” he says. “For one it needs to be all lean - with another it’s always plenty of fat…

“When it comes to beef its all in the hanging… At Parke’s the customer has a choice… well-hung and black or fresh and red – the customer gets whatever suits.”

The once popular Sunday roast has given way to more instant dishes as the supermarket has grabbed a share of traditional butcher’s


Above: Peter Parke and Michael Cornwell – they worked together for 30 years, Right: Parke's specialities

Published in February, April, June, August, October and December

P lans have been approved to build a power plant at a farm on Watton Road, Hingham, fuelled by farm products and raw animal manure.

The electricity produced would be sufficient to supply 1,200 homes.

A service of thanksgiving at Norwich Cathedral marked the death of one of Norfolk’s best known figures in the world of architecture,

David Mawson OBE, who lived at Gonville Hall. Mr Mawson, 89, was one half of the award-winning firm Feilden and Mawson.

Police are seeking information about a spate of vandalism in the town. Boundary fences and newly built brick walls have been targeted by

vandals in Ash Close, Park Lane and Ethel Gooch Road. Anyone who can help should ring the police on 101.

Farm muck to provide the energy

Cathedral service tributes to David Mawson

Information sought on vandalism

P lans have been launched for the replacement of the children’s hospice at Quidenham with a new purpose-built base at Framingham Earl.

The cost of the East Anglia Children’s Hospices project is put at around £10million.

Wymondham Abbey held a special presentation to explain its plans

to develop the abbey for the benefit of the whole community. The development follows the award of £1.75million from the Heritage Lottery Fund.

£10million plan for children’s hospice

Abbey’s plans for development explained

With the re-opening of the Heritage Museum for the new season an

appeal is being made for more volunteers. This year the focus will be on Wymondham’s involvement in the first world war. The museum re-opens on March 3rd. For more information call 01953 600205.

Volunteers sought for Heritage Museum

... from January

25

years ago a luxury food – is now an every-day option.

Minced beef and burgers prepared on the Parke premises have risen in popularity since the scare over horse meat - leading customers to seek out locally-produced meat with traceable origins.

Before Parkes became fully-fledged butchers all those years ago Peter’s father had sold fish and today crabs are still on the agenda in summer – though no longer cooked on the premises – and replaced by brawn in the winter.

Peter Parke and his family don’t see the arrival of another supermarket – Morrisons - as a problem. With rarities like pigs’ trotters. savoury ducks…pork cheeses… home-cooked ham…and the like all served up to individual requirements - plus every cut of meat prepared to order - they see no end to a business that’s thrived for more than half a century.

3 Market StreetWymondhamNorfolkNR18 0AJTel: 01953 603284

Parke's Butchers

Effective and affordable platform for advertisers

26

email: [email protected]

DISCOUNT SALE

01953 606202

+ HIRE AND SALE 2 & 3 BEDROOM STATICS FROM £75 PW+ AVAILABLE 2 DOUBLE BEDROOMS £29,995+ ALSO 36’ TWINS £42,995 AND 45’ TWINS £48,500+ ALL FULLY FITTED, FURNISHED AND SAFETY TESTED+ ALL FOR YOUR OWN LAND

BEST PRICED QUALITY HOMES IN THE UK

www.masterman.co.uk

BESTQUALITYHOMES

Friendly, professional, quality service with many years experience including alterations

for bridal and occasion wear.

Free advice and estimates

WE PROVIDE A BESPOKECURTAIN, BLIND & SOFT

FURNISHINGS MAKE UP SERVICE

Email [email protected]@candjsoftfurnishings.co.uk

Tel 01508 470078

CYNTHIA HILL

C AND J SOFT FURNISHINGS

Could you do with more BUSINESS?

[email protected] 489280☎Call Ivor to book your advert

27

www.noblelandscapers.co.uk

. Landscaping . Water features . Plants & planting . Brickweave. Driveways . Patios . Garden design. Fencing . Ponds and lakes . Tree surgery

I M P R O V E T H E VA L U E O F Y O U R P R O P E R T YL A n D s c A P E s & G A R D E n D E s I G n

call 01953 887346 / 07786 052205to find out more or for a FREE quotation

no obligations and all works carried out come with a written guarantee

half page A5 ad.indd 1 20/01/2014 12:27

28

29

Andy Free

Independent Family Funeral Director

Fairfields, High Street, Attleborough, Norfolk.

Andy Free and Jane Patrick have been quietly helping and guiding bereaved families for many years to arrange

a funeral service to reflect the life which has been led.

You can visit us at our relaxing funeral home or if you prefer, we can visit you in the comfort

of your own home.

Pre-paid Funeral Plans and Memorialisation Available We are very competitively priced.

“We believe the smallest of detail makes the biggest of difference”

Contact us on (01953) 452455 24 Hours Email. [email protected] www.andyfree.com

Andy Free






of your own home.




Andy Free






of your own home.




Andy Free

Contact us on (01953) 452455 24 HoursEmail. [email protected]

www.andyfree.com

30

[email protected] 562834☎

www.spring-clean-services.co.uk

Spring Clean, Bramblewood, Mergate Lane, Bracon Ash, Mulbarton, Norwich, NR14 8ER@Hollie_spclean

Follow:

We know that your spare time is precious which is why at Spring Clean we want you to spend more time doing the things you enjoy!

We deliver professional cleaning throughout Norfolk from one-off cleans to monthly cleans as well as providing a new laundry service. Plus we’re giving you 25% off on your fi rst month’s cleaning, so why not let us take care of your home for you.

Call Spring Clean now for a free quotation

and laundry pricelist

ON YOUR FIRST MONTH’S CLEANINGSERVICES

% OFF

25

Make your

last all week!weekend

At Tan Cars we specialise in local and long distance travel providing you with a comfortable, smooth ride to your chosen destination.

Reach your destination looking your best, call Tan Cars on

01953 602693

• Large fleet of professional vehicles• Can cater for up to 7 passengers in one vehicle• Local and long distance• Pet friendly• Luggage carrier• Can accommodate disabled customers• Local council approved• Large fleet of professional vehicles

31

We have seen enough cheaply built houses over the past five

years. What I believe Wymondham needs and deserves is some quality executive style houses sitting on at least half an acre with double garages similar to those built on the High Oaks site in Wicklewood or the lovely Georgian 6/7 bedroom house with triple garage just past Spinks Lane on the old A11 towards Hethersett.

You would be amazed how many affluent people who enter our estate

agents looking for properties to buy between £500k and £1 million. These can only be found on Chapel Lane or in Church St or Vicars St, but mostly out of town in the nearby villages. These would be a real asset to the town and bring some quality residents and business people to live in Wymondham.

I was so sad to see the destruction of the beautiful hedgerow opposite Waitrose, destroyed to widen the road. This will do nothing at all to help the flow of traffic and when you leave Waitrose in the future all you will see is the side of houses.

The replanted hedge will take many years to replace the one they destroyed.

Another must is bungalows. There is already a huge shortage due to the fact they are more expensive to build and the groundworks take up more space. Greedy developers prefer three-storey houses and can put three of these on a plot where one bungalow would have been built thus tripling their profit!!

As people get older it is hard enough for them to cope with one set of stairs let alone two!

As the development of Wymondham continues - with houses due to go up in their hundreds - local estate agent MICK MONEY describes the sort of new housing he would like to see created to meet the demand of local house-hunters.

Quality houses and bungalows – that’s what Wymondham needs

Continued on – page 32

High Oaks at Wicklewood


32

London Road – ideal site for a Sixth Form Centre

Bungalows a valuable asset

A good 80 per cent of people move to Wymondham to

benefit from our sought-after local schools. I once worked out if we had no more classrooms in all our schools the 1.2 children per household theory times 3000 new houses would mean we would have 42 children per classroom!

Ofsted reports would get worse and then people would look elsewhere. Leaving Wymondham with 3000 houses difficult to sell, they would then become rentals and change the whole complexion of our town!

A solution to overcrowding in schools would be to build a new Sixth Form Centre, again I believe this should be on the London Road between Wymondham High

and Wymondham College. The perfect position for this would be the Great Expectations site on the London Road at Suton. There would be plenty of room for study areas, parking and playing fields on the site. Most sixth formers go to work by car and many come from Norwich and surrounding areas so they could drive safely on the main A11 to the Spooner Row turning and then have easy access to my proposed Sixth Form on London Road, Suton, instead of the chaos they currently cause on the Norwich Road entrance

at Wymondham High School, and parking problems they cause at the Wymondham Leisure Centre. If my suggestion of a Sixth Form Centre on the Great Expectations site came to fruition this would relieve the pressure of overcrowding and secure the future of our two biggest assets -Wymondham High and Wymondham College - the main reasons why people want to live in our Historic Town.

I believe that bungalows will be a very valuable asset in the future and because of demand and a shortage

of them they will go up in value!

It would be nice to see another development like the one on Norwich Road where there are a number of quality built bungalows with double garages.

Once Elveden is bypassed more industry will be attracted to Norfolk due to the relatively cheap land and improved access to the rest of the UK.

This in turn will attract more workers to the area and more demands on our infrastructure can we cope? Only time will tell!

The high reputation of our schools is one of the main reasons for people moving to Wymondham, says estate agent Mick Money – here he puts forward an idea as to how to maintain this.


Great Expectations Business Park

Prime location - Vicars Street


33

34

The words “heritage” and “development” may seem

like strange bedfellows. But at Wymondham Abbey, the two will come together when work starts this year on the Lottery-funded Abbey Experience project.

“This is very much a project for the whole town community,” explains the Vicar, Father Christopher Davies, “which is why Heritage Lottery has given £1.75 million towards the overall cost of £2.87 million. It’s about opening up the Abbey

Ambitious plans for Wymondham Abbey will start to come to fruition this July when Heritage Lottery Fund money together with funds raised locally provide the launch pad for exciting developments designed to benefit everyone.

Bird's eye view of the Abbey showing the proposed new extensions in place

Abbey reaches out to everyone with ambitious new projects


35

for wider use, as well as providing displays, learning resources and facilities fit for the 21st century.”

As the town’s parish church, Wymondham Abbey is no stranger to change. Every century for over a thousand years – when an earlier Saxon church stood on the site - has seen significant developments either to the building or its contents.

For 400 years it was, in effect, two churches (monastery and parish) in one long building. Like a mini-cathedral, it was the largest building in the region after the cathedrals of Ely and Norwich and the great abbey at Bury St. Edmunds.

The original abbey part of the church was taken down after 1538, but the parish church remained and was later enlarged and enhanced, notably by the great organ and the glittering altar screen which is such a feature of the church today.

Modern amenities, however, are lacking. In 2012, church authorities, with the support of professional consultants, conducted extensive discussions with local people, schools and amenity groups. They needed to find out what today’s Wymondham people really want of their “heritage jewel”. The answers came back:

It is a long shopping list so this is where the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) have stepped in. HLF are clearly impressed by the ambitious scope of the plans. They see them as a way of catering for local needs as well as helping put Wymondham more firmly on the tourist map for visitors to the region.

They also like the way the proposed new buildings sensitively merge with the old, in essence filling in areas at the east end of the church which have been unused (and frankly a bit of an eyesore) since earlier structures were dismantled in the mid-1500s.

The Lottery grant of £1.75 million is a substantial one, but leaves the parish with over £1 million “match funding” to find. The good news is that much of this money has now been promised by a number of charitable trusts and some very generous individuals too. In January the Abbey authorities launched a “Final Fifty” appeal, hoping to raise at least £50,000 locally to enable the project to proceed.

Where the new extension will merge with the exisiting Abbey

• Better facilities for visitors and performers

• Lively displays to tell the story of the church and town • Learning opportunities for all ages • Access to the unique parish archives

• Improved sales point and re-opened west door

• More chance for trained volunteers to engage with visitors.

Delivered by Royal Mail to 6,322 homes and businesses

CLIMATE AIRCONDITIONING

CLIMATE VENTILATION

CLIMATE HEATING

Is your conservatory too hot or too cold?

We have a perfect, affordable solution . . .

Affordable, quiet & efficient

Provides both cooling & heating

Independent temperature control

Wall or floor mounted units

Supplied, installed & maintained

Domestic air conditioning units are quiet and discreet. They will cool down your conservatory when it is too hot, and provide heating when it is needed too. In short, perfect temperature control 365 days a year.

As your local cooling and heating experts, we supply and install a wide range of units. Our work is fully guaranteed and we provide exceptional after sales care.

Enjoy your conservatory every day of the year. Call us for advice and a free estimate.

For a free estimate please call 01603 869797

www.climateacltd.co.uk

Room-by-room temperature control. Perfect for conservatories, bedrooms and home offices

Your local cooling and heating specialists

Professionally installed Air Conditioning

Friendly service with first class, fully guaranteed work by our own staff.We also service & repair existing systems.

23 Badgers Brook Road, Norwich NR8 6EY

36

37

• REMOVALS & STORAGE

• DOMESTIC HOMES OR

OFFICE MOVES

• FREE ESTIMATES & ADVICE

• 3.5 TON & 7.5 TON VEHICLES

• FULL PACKING SERVICE

• FULLY INSURED

• 7 DAY SERVICE

John Ryder Removals and Light Haulage is a local family business based in Wymondham, near Norwich. We offer reliable removal services throughout the UK along with light haulage and house clearances.

Whether it is haulage to antique fairs for antique dealers or house clearances for solicitors, estate agents, auction rooms and private customers... We provide the full service from door to door.

Call 01953 605553 www.johnryder.co.uk3 White Horse Street, Wymondham, Norfolk NR18 0BJ Est 1987

FOR ALL YOUR REMOVAL AND STORAGE REQUIREMENTS

REMOVALS & HOUSE CLEARANCE SPECIALISTS

The Windmill Surgery, London Road, Wymondham, Norfolk NR18 0AF

Appointments and Enquiries Tel: 01953 607607Repeat Prescriptions Tel: 01953 600255

www.windmillsurgery.co.uk

We are a friendly practice offering a personal service with

a full range of quality clinical care from our well equipped

surgery with easy parking and wheelchair access.

Surgery Hours: Monday - Friday 8.30am - 6.00pm

Daily surgeries Morning and Afternoon

38

Come in & see us: 36, Fairland St, Wymondham.

Call: 01953 602272

Attleborough01953 453104

Dereham 01362 692975

Diss 01379 64265

Swaffham 01760 721272

Watton 01953 881552

MYHILL’S PET & GARDEN

www.myhillspetandgarden.co.uk

We stock everything for your pet.Foods & accessories for dogs, cats, rabbits, guinea pigs & birds.We have a wide range of pets for sale & our own brand of complete foods at very competitive prices.

If any item is too big, please ask about our local delivery service.

SAYINGIT WITHPASSION

Where art & heartmake a perfect mix

Mother’s Day... an occasion to express that special love for those closest to us.Saying it with fl owers is the classic way to convey those deep feelings that words can never express.At Jessica’s – Designer Florist of Norfolk – we add that personal touch that ensures your token of love is really special.

order online at www.jessicasdesignerfl orist.co.uk

Call 01953 789171or 07834 879631

15 The Fields | Tacolneston | Norwich | NR16 1DGE: jessica@jessicasdesignerfl orist.co.uk

Delivery is available locally, nationally and internationally.

39

Georgina ReadL A N D S C A P I N G

T: 01953 850802 E: [email protected]

CONTACT US TODAY ON

· Paving & pathways

· Pergolas & decking

· Ponds and water features

· Lawn laying

· Walls and brickwork

· Garden buildings

· Driveways & block paving

· Fencing & screening

At Georgina Read Design & Landscaping we specialise in

transforming gardens and our flexible approach means we

can always meet your requirements for all aspects of landscaping

dedicated to creating beautiful but functional gardens that you can

live in and enjoy. Our gardens are architecturally exciting, with an

emphasis on striking natural materials and modern textures. We

can work with you to find a garden to suit your needs and style –

and budget – in order to dramatically enhance your living space.

Be inspired at www.georginaread.co.uk

Documents

Wymondham's Way Ahead Issue 7