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Christmas Event Seeks Volunteers & Sponsors
It might only be the start of summer but Wymondham Lions and former town mayor Kevin Hurn are joining forces to begin organising a Christmas lights switch-on event for the town.
They are now appealing for volunteers to come forward to help plan and run the event (contact Wymondham Lions on 01953 789921 or email Kevin at kevin.hurn.kh@gmail.com).
Mr Hurn said: “We’re aiming for an afternoon event on Sunday 7th December which will give Wymondham folks three consecutive weekends of events in the run up to Christmas.”
“It will have Santa, Christmas lights switch on, Carol singing, Christmas singalong, and a few food stalls to create a traditional Christmas event for Wymondham.”
Community-minded businesses are also being sought to come forward to sponsor parts of the event or provide support with organisation and logistics.
Mr Hurn appealed: “There are no plans for the Town Council to hold a Christmas event this year. But I feel we cannot let the year go by without some type of Christmas event for Wymondham.”
If you feel the same, please contact 01953 789921 and kevin.hurn.kh@gmail.com to see how you can help.
Ashleigh Primary School Seeks New Governor
Ashleigh Primary has a vacancy for a School Governor and are keen to hear from people from the community who would like to get involved.
An effective board has a range of skills and we would welcome expressions of interest from people with knowledge and experience which would be beneficial to the efficient and effective running of the school.
If you’d like to learn more about this role, please email office@ashleigh.norfolk.sch.uk.
Leisure Centres Install Serious Bleed Kits
South Norfolk Council has launched serious bleed kits across all its leisure sites, including Wymondham Leisure Centre and Kett’s Park. In the event of a traumatic injury, a person can lose a critical amount of blood within minutes if the correct first aid isn’t available. These kits are designed to provide immediate assistance and potentially save lives in emergency situations.
South Norfolk Leisure staff have also undergone extensive first-aid training. This ensures that they are fully equipped and ready to respond effectively in the event of an emergency.
Chair of South Norfolk Council, Cllr Sharon Blundell, said: "The safety and well-being of our customers is our top priority. By introducing serious bleed kits and enhancing our staff's first aid training, we are taking significant steps to ensure that we can provide immediate and effective assistance in critical situations. These measures help create the safest possible environment for our customers to enjoy."
Junior Bake Off 2025 Kicks Off in July
This July welcomes a return of the very popular Junior Bake-Off Competition, which debuted last year as part of the North Wymondham Community Centre’s 50th Anniversary. Belinda Gallagher, part of the Centre’s Events Team, told the magazine:
“We had some very talented bakers last year. The contestants came up with fantastic ideas, and this gave the judges a very hard time deciding on the 2024 champion! It was a fantastic afternoon full of fun, with some very serious young bakers decorating their cupcakes, which depicted the Centre’s community activities over the years.
So, here we go again with Junior Bake Off 2025! As with last year's setup, there will be a theme to the baking - all to be revealed in the coming month. This year’s age group for contestants is 7-11-year-olds.”
The event shall take place on July 6th at the Centre (NR18 0HH). For more information, contact the NWCC Events Team at belindagallagher@hotmail.com.
Abbey to Host Eclectic Array of Summer Concerts
Close-Harmony Singing and Modern Jazz to be performed this summer!
There is always something going on at Wymondham Abbey. Over the summer, it is host to a diverse assortment of concerts, including a choral performance in July from the King’s Men of King’s College, Cambridge, and a duo performance in August from multi-talented pop-music performers Eleanor Grant and Gus McQuade.
The King’s Men are formed from the Choir of King’s College. The Choir is renowned for its yearly Christmas radio broadcast, A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols, and its regular BBC television programme Carols from King’s. The King’s Men, a separate subsection of the main choir, have performed globally and specialise in close-harmony singing.
Eleanor and Gus teamed up while undergraduates at the Royal Academy of Music. They specialise in strikingly eclectic genre blending. Their debut album, Seasons in Time, encompasses both 16th Century lute songs and modern arrangements of folk and jazz, and their concert repertoire ranges from Benjamin Britten to Joni Mitchell! Their first single, ‘The Cuckoo’, is out now and available on all major music streaming services.
Don’t miss out on the Abbey’s eclectic array of performers this summer. The King’s Men’s concert is at 7pm, Thursday 24th July, and Eleanor and Gus at 7pm, Thursday 7th August. For more information, visit the Abbey’s website.
Don't Miss the 2025 Ashleigh Summer Fête
Ashleigh Friends PTA (a group of fundraising parents) and Ashleigh Primary School and Nursery are delighted to announce that we will be having a Summer Fete at the school playgrounds on the 4th of July, 5-7pm.
We are preparing games, stalls, food vendors and some activities for the whole family to have a great time at the Fete. The event is free to attend and everyone in the community is welcome.
All the money raised will go to Ashleigh Friends to fundraise the school’s new all-weather games pitch. Hope to see many of you there, Wymondhammers!
Delicious Day Out at the Food and Drink Festival
Sunday 29 June, 10am–4pm. Free Entry
Get ready for a delicious day out as the Wymondham Food & Drink Festival returns on Sunday 29 June! Taking place in the heart of the town centre from 10am to 4pm, the festival promises a feast of fantastic street food, local produce, live music, and family entertainment - and it’s completely free to attend.
Visitors can explore over 70 stalls, including:
- 60+ food and drink stalls offering everything from global street food flavours to artisan cakes, breads, sweets, ice creams, and even doggy treats.
- 10 stalls in our Makers Market, showcasing beautiful crafts by talented Norfolk makers.
- 10 stalls hosted by local community groups and charities.
There will be plenty to sip and savour too, with a range of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks available.
The festival isn’t just about food - there’s entertainment throughout the day, including:
- Live music featuring a steel band and a local choir
- A traditional Punch & Judy show
- A lively Zumba dance display
Families will find lots to enjoy with children’s activities such as biscuit decorating and classic sideshow games.
Best of all, all profits from the festival will be donated to local charities and good causes, helping to support the Wymondham community.
Join us for a wonderful day of food, fun, and festivities in Wymondham Town Centre!
African Choir of Norfolk Raises £1050 for Children in Zimbabwe
More than 100 people turned up to listen to the African Choir of Norfolk in a concert hosted by the Methodist Church on Saturday 3rd May, as part of Wymondham Spring Arts Festival.
The choir, headed by Anna Mudeka, sang music from across Africa and thrilled the audience with their wonderful singing, fantastic dancing and beautiful African costumes.
The choir supports the Mudeka Foundation which raises money to pay school fees for orphaned and disadvantaged children in Zimbabwe who would otherwise not receive an education. Before the music began, Elisabeth Louis, a trustee of the charity, gave a presentation on the Foundation’s work, including some of the success stories of the children they have helped who have gone on to achieve great things.
The choir were accompanied by an African Drummer and various other instruments of African origin, and kept the toes of the audience tapping throughout. They performed around 15 songs, rounding off the evening by teaching the audience a dance routine to Jerusalema by Master KG and Nomcebo Zikode – if you haven’t heard it before, try it, it’s almost impossible not to dance to!
At the end of the performance, the audience could buy cakes and refreshments with all the money raised going to the Mudeka Foundation. In total, around £1,050 was raised.
Anna Mudeka was thrilled by the reception of the audience,:“I am still buzzing from Saturday. What an amazing evening. I am so moved to find out how much was raised.”
Announcement: Café Safari Challenge
Wymondham residents are invited to take part in a Café Safari Challenge during the summer months, as a means to support local independent businesses.
Café regular and town resident, Tony Vale, has come up with the idea. He said:
"Whenever we visit anywhere, the first thing we tend to do is to find a cafe, and when we are at home, we tend to have a favourite one or two.
The Cafe Safari Challenge is a fun way to explore all the cafes in the town during the summer and support them in these challenging times for independent businesses."
To find details of the Wymondham cafes, see the Visit Wymondham website.
Talking Newspaper Seeks News Gatherers
As we approach National Volunteers Week (2 - 8 June), Wymondham and Attleborough Talking Newspaper is inviting anyone interested in local events to consider being a news and information collator.
WATN produces a fortnightly digest of local news and What's On details, taken from a variety of sources (including Wymondham Magazine), for sight-impaired people.
For more information, we welcome you to the Annual General Meeting at 7:30pm on Tuesday 10th June at North Wymondham Community Centre, Lime Tree Avenue, Wymondham.
Annual Dog Show at Wymondham's Centre Paws
Dog friendly hub Centre Paws Norfolk will hold its annual dog show and open day on Saturday, June 21 at its home in Wymondham.
The canine centre on the Barnham Broom Road will celebrate seven years in business with its now customary dog show and a chance to look around the site which includes Centre Paws Pet Spa, The Farm Café, The Small Animal Clinic and Hydrotherapy, Canine Dip and Dive Wymondham, DB Dog Training and Walnut Tree Meadow Camping.
The social field will host two show rings – pedigree classes judged by Emily Bircham (Braegorse) and novelty classes judged by Lishia Poole. Gates open 9am, first class at 9.30am, free parking.
Rosettes will be awarded to fifth place and prizes kindly sponsored by The Raw Dog Food Company and Naturediet.
There will be plenty of stalls to browse from local traders and charities as well as food and drink from The Farm Café, Salvio’s Pizza and Dann’s Ice Cream.
K9 Capers Dog Display Team will be presenting their new routine during the event.
Town Council Watch:
Spring to Summer 2025 Roundup
Have a drink. Have a drive. Go out and see what you can find. That’s how Mungo Jerry celebrated summer back in the good old days. And so it is that Wymondham’s own drunken car crash of a column returns this summer, covering the last 3 months of non-stop intrigue at the Town Council.
But are the wheels staying on at Wymondham Town Council?
Praying the bills
They say never mix politics and religion. And regular readers will know TCW always steers away from controversy. But in March, the Town Council voted to remove a longstanding rule preventing them from funding religious groups.
The Damascene conversion came at a finance committee in February, where grant rules were amended to allow religious groups to apply, as long as the request ‘wasn’t for religious purposes’.
Pass me my worm can opener please.
Only Cllr Alex Perry (Lab) raised doubts about the public “not being comfortable spending taxpayer money on something they don’t believe in.”
But Cllr Julian Fulcher (Lib Dem) gave an example of funding a sign for a herb garden at Wymondham Abbey, saying: “I personally can’t see why that wouldn’t be ok”.
The new rules were approved by a majority vote. So religious groups, here’s a TCW top tip: if you need some new bibles, use the money from your park bench fund to buy them, then ask the Town Council for some help buying some park benches.
Hallelujah. Pennies from heaven!
Sign Me Up
TCW woke up to the crestfallingly sad news in March that he no longer lives in Wymondham.
New ‘Welcome To Wymondham’ signs funded by Norfolk County Council have been placed at various locations around the edge of the town centre, leaving the majority of the town outside.
The move leaves thousands of Greater Wymondhamers displaced and contemplating the bleak reality that we may now in fact live in Hethersett.
No news yet either on TCW’s campaign, nay crusade, to get our Wymondham twinned with Wymondham, Leicestershire.
Put that on the signs:
“Welcome to Wymondham. Twinned with Wymondham.”
And that’s the way we like it.
Spin Doctor
Now here’s a TCW teaser for you. What do you do if you’re a local authority with a bit of an image problem? Spend money improving the local area? Get out of your bunker and go talk to residents and businesses? In April, the Town Council gave their answer: spend ca. £30,000 a year on a new spin doctor to ‘create a positive image’ of the Town Council.
A foolproof way to attract positive coverage and get people on your side.
The new 28-hour week permanent role replaces an existing contract position, who was tasked with boosting town centre footfall and tourism, known as 'The Town Coordinator'.
As well as creating a positive image of the council, the new job listing also cites “the proactive publication and promotion of the Town Council news to local media” as one of its main responsibilities.
Hang on a minute. Intimate knowledge of Town Council activities? Superb public reach via the local press? This is sounding like the ideal job for good old TCW. The CV’s in the post...
The previous Town Coordinator, Corinna Pharaoh, had many commendable achievements under her belt. Launching a well-used Visit Wymondham website and social media accounts, amassing thousands of followers and email subscribers, new tourism signage around town, and teaching local businesses how to attract customers using social media. The new role will manage these too.
TCW wishes the successful applicant all the luck in the world.
Tune Change
Screeching u-turn news now and TCW notes the Town Council (annual spend just shy of £700,000) voted to stop streaming their sessions on YouTube in April, due to “negative coverage” of their undertakings in the press affecting councillors’ “wellbeing”.
You just want to reach out and give them all a big snugly cuddle don’t you?
Cllrs Suzanne Nuri-Nixon and Annette James (Lib Dem) first proposed YouTube streaming back when they were in opposition in 2023.
But since taking over the running of the Town Council, it looks like their enthusiasm for transparency has melted faster than your kids’ Calippos in the back of the car.
A quick rummage in TCW’s drawer marked “Ironic Quotes” from when the pair first proposed spending £3,000 on streaming equipment reveals this absolute corker:
“As councillors wishing to be as open and transparent as possible about how we conduct Council matters, I hope we can agree to have the technology costed and installed for our residents to watch our meetings on YouTube.”
Whoopsie. Must be the wrong type of openness and transparency now they’re the ones making the decisions.
Adios Amigos
March saw the resignation of central ward councillor Joe Barrett (Green) after two years in the post.
The detail-oriented member could often be relied upon to offer up previously unconsidered perspectives and will count the council’s ‘Climate Emergency’ declaration as one of his main achievements.
Giving CO2 the red card, so to speak.
Speaking of solving the world’s impending thermal doom, TCW notes that the carbon busting community interest company, Sustainable Wymondham, set up by Town Councillors, is shedding directors faster than a Maine Coon on its summer holidays. Two left in March.
As yet, it’s unclear if the exits are because the ensemble have successfully cracked global warming and can now be wound down.
TCW certainly hopes so.
Stealth Election
Having splashed out £500 on a troupe of dancing elves in December, £3,000 on now-mothballed YouTube streaming equipment and £30,000 odd a year on a new spin doctor, the Town Council decided it was time for some belt tightening in May.
So what unnecessary fat was ready for the chop? The democratic service of providing poll cards to tell residents that a Town Council by-election was coming up, of course.
With TCW estimating the cost of printing and mailing poll cards at around 4 - 5 troupes of dancing elves (or ca £2,500 if that’s your preferred unit of currency), senior town councillors revealed online they had decided the expense could not be justified.
What price democracy dear reader?
But the move prompted a social media backlash from residents complaining they had not been informed an election was happening:
“It makes a mockery of democracy,” said one. “How will the older generation get on if you need a mobile to find out where to vote?” asked another. “Makes me feel there is a hidden agenda.”
Perish the thought.
Cllr Michael Rosen (Lab) revealed his exasperation at the decision, saying it was essential people were able to “exercise their democratic rights”.
Now, if the Town Council’s hope was to avoid the by-election becoming a well-publicised chance for a referendum on their performance in office, the fearsome Wymondham electorate were typically merciless in their response:
Conservative Jonathan Purle romped home with over 55% of votes cast. The standee from the not-exactly-at-peak-popularity party received four and a half times as many votes as the candidate from the Liberal Democrats, who control the Town Council by majority.
Yeesh. That new positivity spin doctor’s going to have to put in some serious overtime.
As for Mr Purle, some internet research about his previous exploits as a councillor down in Kent suggests your beloved columnist won’t exactly be scratching around for material in the months and years ahead.
TCW will drink to that.
Words Vs Deeds
With the Town Council signing off a disability-friendly pledge last February promising to promote accessibility needs around town, TCW can’t help but wonder if they should be calling themselves in for a ticking off.
The charge sheet is adding up:
Cancelling accessible YouTube streaming of their sessions.
Refusing to print poll cards, potentially excluding vulnerable people from knowing that there’s a democratic election coming up.
TCW’s even heard a rumour that senior figures at the council want to stop the Tourist Information moving to the level-access Becket’s Chapel.
Tsk. The a-political Wymondham Access Group, chaired by Liberal Democrat mayor Dave Roberts, must be on the blower to the council 24/7...
Creative Writing: Scottish Way Make Them Pay
At six am, I’d been on the run since five-thirty. My mouth was watering in anticipation. Ten-year-old legs pumped like the pistons in a steam engine as I ran up the alley behind Dalzie's Bakery.
I lifted my boot to make three thundering kicks on the door. My hands were frozen icicles clawed around the tops of two milk bottles. Mrs Dalzie opened the door, and the aromatic warmth of freshly baked bread bathed my cold cheeks. Mrs Dalzie levered the bottles from my frozen fingers, and in their place, shoved two hot rolls.
She gushed like my Gran. "There ye are lad, that’ll warm your wee pinkies before you get the next bottles off the wagon.” Wearing mitts was useless, because the wrath of Big Willie, when the first bottle smashed, was worse than the pain in my tingling fingertips.
I tossed the hot buns from one hand to the other like a juggler, before holding them to my prickling cheeks and running back out of the alley to the Commer milk truck. Big Willie Carson was already behind the wheel.
"Don’t you be skiving lad, if you don’t run faster, we won’t get back to the Dairy before half seven, you my boy will be late for school!”
"Ey Mr. Carson."
I climbed up and shoved one of my warm rolls into his huge, outstretched bear claw. He rammed it into his mouth whole, and that shut him up for a bit.
For two hours, six mornings a week, twice on Saturday, I ran the streets of Glasgow, delivering milk with Big Willie. Come Saturday morning, my reward was five shillings. And then, when I was eleven, my wage increased to seven shillings and sixpence. My favourite payday treat was "Lee's" macaroon bars.
Growing up in Scotland in the nineteen fifties was, for the most part, a happy existence. I was 'mother's boy'; when I was not running the streets with milk bottles, I ran errands for Mother. She sent me to the butcher's weekly for two pounds of mince, one-pound sausage squares and two-pound links. That kept our family of seven in meat for the week.
Then it was on to the Co-op. I still remember Mother's dividend number 15-7-92. I purchased the dry goods and carried them home in sacks, carefully hanging them over the handlebars of my bike. The kitchen drawer was lined with waxed paper and always filled with porridge. If one of us complained of hunger, we were directed to the 'porridge drawer.'
"Git yerself a block o' porridge," mother would say. "If ye dun't wan that, then yer novary ungry."
I was hungry enough all right, but bread and jam were more appealing than a square of solid, cold oatmeal from the drawer.
I am not exaggerating to say, I spent my childhood on the run. I ran around my milk route and ran to the co-op. I even ran in the park, pushing my brother Derek in his pram. I gave him some wild rides yet never so much as bumped his baby toe.
My most audacious adventure was organising peep shows to earn money for the Saturday cinema. I asked my mates for one shilling each to peek into the toilet window. Our toilet room was ground level, and a milk crate was 'step-up' enough to afford a view. One at a time, they would mutely step up on the crate, and wide-eyed peek into the window, drop their mouth open, and silently step down, to allow the next boy a look.
In the bathroom, she stepped out of the bath, back turned to the window, with the curtains not quite closed. Her brunette hair hung softly around her milky white shoulders. The bosoms were ample and only a wee bit saggy. Her waist had a soft curve to the hips, and she looked lovely with bits of soap suds clinging to her body. She showed just enough to keep them hoping, but not enough to be improper. My mates always hoped; maybe the next time they would see more.
Outside the window, the last boy stepped down from the crate. His expression was confrontational.
He hissed, "Give me money back; she had a towel round 'er!"
I passed him back his shilling.
"I'm first next time," he declared.
"Okay, but ye gotta be here afore half one." I reminded.
The boys trudged out of the alley.
Ma stuck her head out the window, "How'd ye do son?"
"I got four shillings, Ma."
"Good, off ye go. Tell me all about the film when ye get home."
I loved my mother.
What’s in a Photo? The USAAF Hospital Closed 80 Years Ago This Month
With the end of hostilities in Europe with VE Day, the 231st United States Army Air Force Hospital at Morley closed on June 8th 1945. (Pictures are shown here.)
The 231st had moved there in March 1944, succeeding the 77th USAAF Hospital, which had been set up the year before on a site previously home to the Mid-Norfolk Golf Club.
As shown in one picture, ward tents were erected to cope with the mass admissions expected after D-Day and, indeed, in 1944, eight hospital train-loads of casualties, totalling 2099 patients, arrived at Wymondham railway station. Another 1155 were admitted in 1945 before the hospital’s closure.
After the hospital closed, the buildings were used for a short time as a transit camp for the Royal Norfolk Regiment and then as two teachers' training colleges, before becoming a school, now Wymondham College.
Navigating The Renters' Bill: Is Your Property Portfolio Ready?
As a Wymondham landlord, the upcoming Renters' Rights Bill marks the most substantial legislative shake-up within the private rental sector in almost 20 years. New regulations will include:
~Section 21 'no fault' evictions being abolished
~Fixed-term tenancies also being abolished
~Mandatory rent arrears ground amended
~Enhanced property standards requirements
~Introduction of a new ombudsman service
~New pet ownership considerations
Don't navigate these changes alone.
At EweMove Wymondham, we harness knowledge and information with effective processes achieving a 0% void period and 3-year average tenant retention, statistics we endeavour to sustain during the upcoming transition. Our expertise can help you:
~Understand how the new legislation affects your specific properties
~Implement compliant systems and documentation
~Maximize returns while meeting new standards
~Maintain positive tenant relationships through the transition
FREE 30-MINUTE CONSULTATION
Contact us today on 01953 665 785 for a friendly, no-obligation discussion about your rental portfolio and how we can help you not just comply with the new regulations, but thrive under them.
EweMove Wymondham – Your local lettings experts, available 24/7!
Call (24/7) 01953 665 785
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The Secret Farmer's Diary: Dry
Our mystery farmer in the Wymondham area takes a break from P11D returns to tell you what he’s been up to in the last month.
I’ve deliberately held off writing this entry until the last moment to ensure I could tell you just how grateful I, like countless gardeners, tradesmen and farmers across the land are, that IT HAS FINALLY RAINED.
The Environment Agency report that March 2025 was the driest on record in England since 1961. Our spring drilled crops were beginning to look distressed (a neighbour on lighter land reports that for him the damage has already been done). Fortunately, the barley and wheat drilled last winter has stood up well to the dry conditions for the most part and I hope we’ll see some more gentle, steady rain in the coming weeks.
Consider this though: in March 2024, we had had 127% of the long term average rainfall and in April and May we were rushing around trying to dig out/unblock ditches and dig relief channels to stop people’s houses from being overwhelmed with runoff. Can we have a “normal” April and May next year please?
With the important news out of the way, we turn in summary to news from the farming world.
The new series of Clarkson’s Farm starts tomorrow (for me, I write on 22nd May), it’s required viewing for all of us here, even if the realities don’t always match the presentation for entertainment purposes.
The NFU have scored a victory against DEFRA, by forcing them into “limited reopening” of 2025 SFI applications: having run out of money and abruptly shut them without warning back in March.
The Equipment & Technology Fund, another grant scheme closed without warning last year, will reopen at the end of this month and run until 10th July – this will match fund capital improvements for farmers to improve the environmental and operational efficiency of their operations. Or it will until the money gets allocated and they shut it again, presumably!
The house has been overrun by ants this month, presumably looking for food and water and not having been washed away by the rain. Accustomed as we are to livestock (and the livestock they attract in turn), it’s nonetheless frustrating to think you’ve got a clean kitchen floor only to find a trail of ants leading to the corner of the kitchen where your youngest dropped an ice lolly 3 weeks ago that you’d thought you’d cleaned up! Arguably perhaps they’re doing us a favour, although the kids are dropping food for the ants faster than we can clean it up!
I had the opportunity to meet with some European farming colleagues recently on a trip to Holland. It was strangely comforting to hear that our worries about the future of farming, from government policy, land prices and global events (hearing a Danish farmer’s laconic but unfailingly polite assessment of President Trump’s plans to annexe Greenland brought a smile to my face) to commodity prices and diseases are shared with our colleagues on the continent.
A Dutch farming family I’d met last year told me that they had sold 50 acres of their land in Holland and used the proceeds to buy 5,000 acres of land in Slovakia! The Dutch government is buying up farmland to help meet its environmental obligations (both for net zero and to reduce nutrient runoff from agricultural land, a problem we share in this part of Norfolk and which impacts on farming and construction).
They commute weekly between their two farms, a 13 hour drive door to door. It made me think about the possibilities and the future of our industry here, and the lengths one might go to secure one’s family’s livelihood. Perhaps I’ll be reporting in to you from Slovakia in 5 years’ time?
I’m sure I’d still be complaining about the weather and ants.
Buying A Property: All You Need to Know
If you have had an offer accepted on your dream home, you may be wondering what you need to do next.
Stage 1: Instructing A Conveyancer and Applying for a Mortgage
After your offer has been accepted, you will need to instruct a solicitor, legal executive, or conveyancer. They will handle the legal process of transferring the property to your name.
The conveyancer acting for the seller will prepare a legal information pack which will include a draft contract, a fixtures, fittings and contents form, a property information form, and the legal title to the property.
If you are buying the property with a mortgage, you will need to make a formal mortgage application. It’s important to do this as soon as possible to avoid any delays further on. The mortgage lender will arrange a valuation on the property to ensure the property is worth what you intend to pay for it.
Stage 2: Enquiries and Searches
When you buy a property, your conveyancer will raise enquiries relating to the property, to ensure you have all the information you need. However, your conveyancer will not advise on the physical condition of the property, so it is important for you to arrange a survey or any specialist reports such as electrical or damp reports. They will also review the title to the property, to check that the property has all the necessary rights and that there aren’t any covenants that might affect a buyer.
Your conveyancer will also apply for three different searches:
Local search: This will look at all information held by the local authority involving the property.
Water and drainage search: This confirms whether the foul and surface water drain to a public sewer and whether the property is connected to a mains water supply.
Environmental search: This establishes whether the property you are buying is built on or near contaminated land or water, or on an old landfill site.
Sometimes additional searches may be required depending on the property.
Stage 3: Pre Exchange
Once the results for the various searches are received, replies to the enquiries raised, and confirmation of your mortgage offer, they will send you a report on the property and arrange for you to sign the contract. It is extremely important for you to read the report carefully, so you are aware of all the factors which affect the property you are buying.
Stage 4: Exchange of Contracts and Completion
Once the contract has been signed by both parties, the conveyancers will then ‘Exchange Contracts’ and the property transaction becomes legally binding. Completion can sometimes be on the same day as exchange, however if a mortgage is involved, you will usually need a week between exchange and completion. The completion day is the final part of the conveyancing process and is the day you get the keys to your new home.
This is a brief guide to buying a property. For more information about the process, or to request a quote, please call us on 01953 606351 or email via info@spiresolicitors.co.uk.
How To Pay Less Tax (Without Doing Anything Dodgy)
Let’s be honest—paying tax isn’t exactly fun. But while we all have to do it, most of us don’t realise there are perfectly legal ways to reduce the amount we pay. Whether you’re working full-time, side hustling, or running your own business, a few smart moves can save you hundreds—sometimes thousands—every year.
Here’s your no-nonsense guide to keeping more of your hard-earned cash.
For Everyday Taxpayers: Quick Wins You Might Be Missing
Make the Most of Your ISA
If you’ve got savings, make sure they’re in an ISA (Individual Savings Account). You can put up to £20,000 a year into an ISA and not pay a penny in tax on the interest or gains.
Claim Work-Related Expenses
Are you spending your own money on uniforms, tools, travel (not your commute), or professional fees? You might be able to claim tax relief. Even if you’ve worked from home, HMRC allows you to claim back a portion of your household bills.
Use the Marriage Allowance
If you’re married or in a civil partnership, and one of you earns under the personal allowance (£12,570), you can transfer a portion of that allowance to the other. It’s an easy way to save up to £252 a year, and it only takes a few minutes to apply online.
Top Up Your Pension
Paying into a pension saves tax and helps future you. The government adds 20% basic rate tax relief automatically—and if you’re a higher-rate taxpayer, you can claim even more back through your tax return.
Capital Gains? Use Your Allowance
Selling shares, investments, or a second property? You’ve got a tax-free Capital Gains allowance of £3,000 this year. You can also use your partner’s allowance or spread the sale across tax years to reduce your bill.
Salary Sacrifice Schemes
Your employer might offer salary sacrifice for things like pensions, bikes, or childcare. These reduce your gross income—meaning you pay less income tax and National Insurance.
For the Self-Employed & Limited Company Owners
Self-employed or running your own business? Here are some tips that can make a huge difference.
Claim All Your Business Expenses
If you're self-employed, you can deduct costs like travel, equipment, phone bills, and software from your income before tax.
Working From Home?
HMRC offers a simplified flat rate, but if you use a big chunk of your home for work, it’s often better to claim a percentage of actual costs. It takes a bit more effort—but could save you more in the long run.
The £1,000 Trading Allowance
Only doing a bit of freelance or side hustle work? You can earn up to £1,000 a year tax-free before you even need to report it. It’s perfect for small jobs, casual gigs, or selling stuff online.
Thinking of Going Limited?
If you're earning a solid amount as a sole trader, switching to a limited company might save you tax. Limited companies pay 19% corporation tax for profits up to £50k, and directors can pay themselves with a mix of salary and dividends, which can be more tax-efficient. Just be aware of the extra admin involved.
Company Pension Contributions
If you’ve got a limited company, you can make pension contributions straight from the business. This lowers your company’s profits—and your Corporation Tax bill—while boosting your retirement fund.
Bonus Tip for Everyone
Make the Most of Your ISA
It sounds basic, but it’s vital, put aside money for your tax bill throughout the year. If you're self-employed, aim for 25–30% of your income. It’ll save you from the January panic and keep your cash flow steady.
Final Thoughts
You don’t need to be a finance expert to save on tax—just a bit of awareness and planning goes a long way. Whether you’re working full-time, freelancing, or running a company, these tips can help you hold on to more of your money, legally and stress-free. Get in touch if you want a no nonsense, jargon free, professional and friendly accountant.
01953 687077 / 07894 067905
sharonwray.co.uk
accounts@sharonwray.co.uk
uk.linkedin.com/in/sharon-wray-fmaat-3ab3549b
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Black Hall Farm, Traice Road, Fundenhall, Norfolk NR16 1HQ
Community Centre Reflects on Success Upon Reaching 50th Anniversary
North Wymondham Community Centre has much to be proud of when reflecting on the achievements made in its 50th anniversary year.
The small Committee, which runs the charity-owned and maintained building in Lime Tree Avenue, Wymondham, arranged these events in 2024.
~A fundraising Quiz
~Themed Drama presentation
~Launched Wymondham’s first Junior Bake Off Competition
~Town-wide Community Garage Sale
~We Adore 1974 Music and Quiz Night
~Community Christmas Gathering
These and other topics will be highlighted at the organisation’s Annual General Meeting, which will be held in the Hall at 7:30pm on Tuesday 17th June.
Wymondham in Bloom 2025
The Year So Far
Although the focal point of every year’s Wymondham In Bloom is often the stunning town centre displays put on by the shops and businesses, the work to maintain that coveted Anglia In Bloom Gold status continues the whole year through.
Plenty of thought has gone into planning the flowers that get used in the various planters around town. The team have been using a lot more shrubs and perennials recently.
This gives visual interest to the tubs throughout the year and not just in the flowering season. It also keeps down the cost of replacing flowers each year.
A lot of that planning is credit to WiB volunteer Lesley Anne Clarke, who uses her expertise as a professional garden designer to maximise the impact and sustainability of the town’s mini feature gardens.
With Anglia In Bloom judging covering multiple facets, far beyond nice hanging baskets in the summer, much of the work the volunteers undertake is focused on generally keeping the town spick and span.
And that includes weeding. And de-greening. A lot of it. Not that you’ll find the merry gang of Bloomers moaning about such things. The satisfaction of a job well done and a town centre to be proud of is what gets them up in the morning.
People often assume “the Council” has taken care of rogue moss, dandelions, vape stickers on bins or graffiti. Sometimes that’s the case, but in Wymondham Town Centre, there are actually three separate councils with differing responsibilities for each bit of concrete you may set foot or wheels upon.
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The Wymondham in Bloom volunteers, however, look at the town in the round and indiscriminately tackle blight in all corners. They even help support businesses and residents where their property borders the public realm and its looking fabulous benefits the public too.
When volunteers work well together with residents, businesses, highways engineers, drainage specialists, street sweepers and local authority landscape gardeners, we all win.
As ever, we are especially thankful to our Gold Sponsor, the White Hart Pub, and the landlords Kieran and Kayleigh, for funding our supplies like our high-vis vests, watering equipment, compost, plant food and more.
The Wymondham Garden Centre must also be thanked for their contribution to the business floral display competition, which always brings high praise for the town’s businesses' lovely efforts to brighten up the high street.
The theme this year of 200 Years of Railways is sure to bring much inspiration from our two historic railway stations, who have made a particular effort to inspire visitors with their gardening this year.
Please do get in touch if you are able to help in any way or would like to come along and do some weeding, cleaning and pruning with us. Anglia in Bloom will judge the town in July and we will need all hands on deck. For more information email wymbloom@gmail.com or call 07941 514 766.
Symphony Orchestra: End of an Era
The Orchestra Says Goodbye to Andrew Parnell
Wymondham Symphony Orchestra’s Summer Concert will be on 28 June 2025 at 7pm at Wymondham Abbey Church.
The orchestra will be performing Tchaikovsky's Symphony No. 6, "Pathétique", alongside Liszt's Rákóczi March and Dvo?ák's Cello Concerto in B minor (for which they are delighted to welcome back soloist Ben Rogerson). It will be a bittersweet event because it will be the last concert with their Musical Director of the last 20+ years: Andrew Parnell.
In Andrew’s own words: “It's been a great privilege for me to have directed WSO for the last 22 years - a privilege because Tuesday after Tuesday, 50 or so musicians, all from different walks of life and a variety of musical experiences, come together to make music as an orchestra and follow my suggestions and interpretations as we work together to prepare music for a concert. For much of my professional life, I have been engaged to encourage, and train to some extent, many people for whom music is not their paid work. Indeed, they pay a subscription for the time we spend together. Bringing such a range of talents in a common ambition to put on as professional a performance as possible is most fulfilling, especially if we can also have fun while we do it. Wymondham Symphony Orchestra has supported that idea wholeheartedly, and it's their camaraderie and communal aspiration which make the striving for excellent performances so effective.”
He recalls some of his highlights of working with the orchestra over the past two decades: “There have been many highlights: some memorable performances, some moments in rehearsals which emanate from the banter between me and the players. One Tuesday evening, we found a note in the box of orchestral parts which the then-librarian had prepared for us. It said: "Music For Wymondham Symphony Orchestra rehearsal 27.4.2010. South Hall, Wymondham High School. Sorry can't make it - waters broke at 4.00 am! Have fun and see you soon." Such has been the spontaneity of our music-making! The Orchestra's founder, Ren Cleary, and its committee have always worked hard to prepare for rehearsals and concerts, and they need special mention for the way, during Covid, that we were able to continue playing with 2-metre spacing and with limited numbers allowed in the Hall.
Another moment was when we played a concert in Cromer Parish Church in aid of the local Lifeboat. For that night, we included Malcolm Arnold's March Padstow Lifeboat. Soon after the concert started, a significant proportion of the audience disappeared on a rescue at sea!
Stand-out performances include Vaughan Williams' The Lark Ascending with Ceri Peterson playing the violin solo; Brahms' violin concerto with Juan Gonzales; our recent concerts when we challenged ourselves with Stravinsky's Firebird Suite and Britten's Four Sea Interludes from Peter Grimes. An extremely fine occasion, and an especially emotional one for me, was the Verdi Requiem in Ely Cathedral this March.”
The orchestra is immensely grateful for the time and dedication Andrew Parnell has given. President Adrienne Cleary said, “Having initiated the founding of the orchestra some 40 years ago now and assisted by the most dedicated committee, I am astounded at what started off as a very small Community Orchestra has now over the years become a full-sized Symphony Orchestra tackling the most demanding of works. We have only ever had two conductors spurring us on. For the first eighteen years, it was Kenneth Ian Hytch, and for the last twenty-two, Andrew Parnell. Sadly, it is time for Andrew to relinquish his role and for us to appoint a new conductor. He will be greatly missed but will leave behind the most inspiring of legacies.
Wymondham Symphony Orchestra is now recognised as one of the premier orchestras in Norfolk, attracting first-class professional soloists as well as giving a chance for the young, locally talented musicians to perform their very first concerto with the orchestra. We are lucky to be able to stage our concerts in the most beautiful of churches, Wymondham Abbey, a privilege to perform in and for audiences to visit and to hear its fine acoustics.”
Andrew Naylor (Committee Chair) also said: “Andrew's tenure as Musical Director has been marked by a willingness to challenge both players and audience with more ambitious works than most local orchestras would dare to perform. While the committee were nervous about the effect of this on audience figures, we needn't have been, as the Abbey has been packed each time.
Rehearsals have been fun, and it has been a musically fulfilling journey for those on both sides of the podium. He will be much missed by all of us for his insight and humour.”
While the orchestra will be sad to say goodbye to Andrew Parnell, they are looking ahead to the next stage of their journey. Recruitment for a new Musical Director is almost complete - so stay tuned to see who will be taking up the reins for the 2025/2026 season!
Tickets are available online at trybooking.com/uk/eventlist/wso or at the Wymondham Abbey shop. There will also be some availability on the door, but we encourage you to purchase tickets in advance to beat the queues. Prices are £15, Friends of the WSO £13 and under 18s are free.
Cringleford & Hethersett Flower Club Welcomes Wymondham Members
We at the Cringleford and Hethersett Flower Club meet on the fourth Monday of the month (excluding August and December) and have been welcoming more and more attendees from Wymondham in recent months.
We often have evenings for raffles and demonstrations of floral displays. In February, Crystal Dyball was our demonstrator. She used treasures found in sheds, attics and car boot sales as containers for her wonderful flowers and created a hand-tied design with the support of a wicker star.
We held our AGM in March, with 25 members attending. Once the business was completed with reports given, committee members re-elected and the new programme announced, we tucked into freshly delivered fish and chips from Rumbles Fish Bar, enjoyed a glass of wine and finished with a cornetto ice cream!
Chrissi Rix then gave a talk on how colours can influence our wardrobes, what suits us, and how this can affect our attitudes and confidence. She also explained body shapes and how to dress to your shape.
In April, we had another newly qualified demonstrator, Angelina Mead, from Colchester. Her title was ‘Wild Kitchen’, and she treated us to a fragrant window box with herbs and hyacinths, a teapot of assorted special teas, a depiction of a Victoria sponge on quirky kitchen scales, blue muffins made with stocks, a cocktail of tulips and rounded it off with a floral cup of coffee. A feast for our senses!
After a Sustainable Arranging workshop at the end of May with Carole Richmond, we will welcome Vicky Hease on Monday 23rd June, who will be demonstrating “Here Comes Summer”.
We have an outing planned for Thursday 3rd July at Blickling Lodge with a guided tour. Friends and family are welcome to join us.
On Monday 28th July, Debbie Bell will be demonstrating ‘Memories are Made of This’.
We may also be joining the RHS on Saturday 2nd August in Dereham for Gardeners’ Question Time in the morning, and a demonstration by Jonathan Mosley in the afternoon.
Our meetings on the fourth Monday of the month take place at Hethersett Village Hall at 7:30pm. If you would like to join us, membership is £35 per annum, and visitors are always welcome for £5. Please feel free to check out our Facebook page or contact me (Lynn Rawlings – Chair) at leopardlynn@hotmail.com.
A Month of Making Merry
Green and Clean
Celebrate summer and all things green with us at the Browick Road Community Orchard on Saturday 7th June. We’re holding a Great Big Green Picnic – pack up your favourite food and drink, and we’ll provide a range of stalls, entertainment and music: bring an instrument if you play!
It will follow the fortnightly orchard working morning, so if you come after 10am, you can join in with that – but at midday, the stalls will be fully set up, and the fun begins. There’ll be ours, herb and seed stalls, a hedgehog bike, Wymondham Nature Group, Sustainable Wymondham (with a quiz!), and loads more.
Meanwhile, June sees the start of twice as many workdays at Friarscroft Wood. We’re trying to prepare the paths through the public side of the wood for more planting this autumn and for the expansion and deepening of the pond. Despite the drought, tadpoles continue to be found when we skim the pond – soon to be froglets - and we’ve spotted that wonderful moment when a dragonfly nymph turns into a winged creature. Meet the Broad-bodied Chaser in the photograph!
And please let Norfolk County Council know your priorities for nature recovery. The consultation closes on June 11th. This will shape the plans and funding for every aspect of nature in the county, so it’s hugely important.
From mid-June, we’re starting to test the Tiffey more often for E.coli: so, every week rather than every fortnight, throughout the summer and early autumn months when the Tiffey is most often used by the public. We plan to put the figures in perspective and give advice when the figures are high: we’re still working out with the town council how best to let you know – and we think a sign in the park will be the best way.
Watch this space – we’ll announce it on Instagram and Facebook. Since March, the figures have been very low, which is great for all users. Sadly, that’s also due in part to a lack of rain, which the Tiffey and its wildlife desperately need (as do we all).
We had a fabulous turnout for the last Litter Pick back in March – 45 people came along and cleared nearly three dozen bags of rubbish. Sadly, there’s bound to be more litter - so come along at 10am on Saturday 28 June, starting at the Baptist Church, and help us clean up more of Wymondham.
And remember - if there’s anything you’d like to suggest or comment on, email us at greening.wymondham@gmail.com or comment on our reels and posts on Instagram and Twitter.
Dementia Support, Star Throwers, and Talking Newspaper Backed by Music Events Group
Our group was set up to raise funds for local charities, with the added bonus of providing great musical evenings with tribute bands.
The charities for 2025 are Wymondham Dementia Support Group, Star Throwers Cancer Support, and Wymondham and Attleborough Talking Newspaper.
The next two events will be the Bootleg Shadows on 17th August and Fleetwood Shack on October 12th. 6:30 for a 7:30 start – Wymondham Central Hall, Back Lane, NR18 0QB. Licensed bar available.
Tickets are available at Reeves, online, or by telephoning 01953 600563.
Photographic Society Finishes Second In Tripod Competition
+ Photo of the Month
On April 28th, Wymondham Photographic Society had an external ‘Tripod’ competition with two Suffolk clubs, featuring prints and projected images. WPS came second in a close-fought competition, just one point behind the victorious Stowmarket! Congratulations to WPS member Jez Wood, who got voted as having the Best Print and Best Overall Image of the night: ‘The Eyes Have It’.
The day after, we had a relaxed competition within the club for monochrome images, prints and projected. The difference was that the members picked their favourite image, and the ones with the most votes were declared the winners.
On the projected image side, Diane Ashton came out on top of the seventeen images with her stunning ‘low-key’ image ‘Black Swan’. Of the six prints, Anthony Palmer was victorious with his ‘Seville Tower’. It was a fun night with some fantastic images across the board.
Come to the Garden Club’s Quiz Night!
16th of June - Town Green Centre - 7:30pm
The Garden Club invites you to an evening of questions and conundrums for green-fingered folks. This will be an opportunity to chat and socialise with fellow gardeners.
It will also be the last chance to sign up for the Club Outing to Dale Farm Gardens at Dereham.
It is free for members and just £4 for guests.
For more information on the Garden Club, visit their Facebook page.
Father’s Day at the Heritage Museum
Did you know, the origins of Mothering Sunday go back as far as the ancient civilisations of Greece and Rome? As for dads, well, Father’s Day didn’t appear on the calendar until the early 20th century. The day probably originated in the US, most likely started by a woman called Sonora Louise Smart in Washington. After her mother died in childbirth with her sixth child, her dad brought up the family.
In 1909, Sonora heard a speech in church about Mother's Day and thought dads should also be celebrated. Several local clergymen accepted the idea, and it's believed that June 19th 1910 was the first unofficial Father's Day.
So, dads have a bit of catching up to do. They can do just that at Wymondham Heritage Museum on Saturday and Sunday, June 14th and 15th. The museum is staging a special weekend for dads, or indeed any father figure in the family. And if they are accompanied by a child, admission is free.
There’s a Father's Day Trail with famous film posters for older children. For the younger children, there will be a count-the-vehicles trail.
In The Bridewell Tearoom, tuck into a Father’s Day treat including special cake and sausage rolls. Dads can relax while their charges get creative at the Father’s Day craft table
And, of course, there are all the usual activities that our young visitors love, including dressing up, digging in the sandpit, and the spooky dungeon.
So come on, dads, forget about the decorating, fixing the guttering and all the other little jobs. Pop into the museum and be spoiled while the children lap up the atmosphere of the ancient Bridewell.
Excitement at Baptist Church as Funding Gap Continues to Close
Wymondham Baptist Church is excited to announce that they have received a grant of £250,000 from the Greater Norwich Growth Board, through the Infrastructure Investment Fund. This, together with grants from South Norfolk Council Pride in Place and Community Action Funds, the Congregational and General Charitable Trust, Paul Bassham Charitable Trust, Geoffrey Watling, the Leslie Mary Carter Charitable Trust, the Laing Family Trust, Norwood and Newton Settlement Fund, together with personal giving and fund raising efforts of the church fellowship mean that we are approaching our target, however, we still have £70,000 to raise. Can you help us?
Wymondham is one of the fastest-growing towns in the country, growing by over 57% since 1991. Despite being ‘a nice place to live’, evidence shows that our community is suffering from higher-than-national-average rates of suicide and higher self-reported anxiety levels. Both are linked to a range of health and well-being issues, which are further exacerbated by a rise in loneliness.
Wymondham Baptist Church is committed to addressing the growing needs of our local community, already providing vital support to hundreds of people each week. Recognising the increasing demand for our services, we are eager to extend our reach further. Plans are underway to extend our building, allowing not only the enhancement of current support programs but also the creation of a welcoming space where various agencies can meet with individuals in need.
Can you help us secure the final £70,000? Planning is granted, tenders have been received for the build, and we hope to start in the summer of this year, with completion by Spring 2026.
If you can contribute to the funds, please either contact the church office on 01953606520 or give online, or you can call in to Roots Community Café on either Wednesday or Friday morning from 10am-1pm.
We also have two fundraising events in the diary – Old and New Sale on Saturday May 24th, 10am-1pm, and a Quiz Night planned for June 28th. Come along and join in the fun. To find out more about the project, please watch our video by scanning the QR code attached.
Discover Dragonflies and Weave Willow at Toll’s Meadow
With the Nature Group: Sunday 29th June, 2-4pm
Wymondham Nature Group is holding a free dragonfly-and-insect-spotting event at Toll’s Meadow on Sunday 29th of June and welcomes anyone to join.
The event will also feature willow-crafting with John Beckett, the Toll’s Meadow volunteer warden and regular Nature Group event-holder.
The event is free, and welcomes donations to Norfolk Wildlife Trust.
For more information, contact John Beckett at 01953 602876 or email wymondham@norfolkwildlifetrust.org.
Local Government and How to Fix It
Ben Goldsborough MP Suggests a Two-Unitary Model
I’ll admit it – “local government reorganisation” isn’t exactly the stuff of barnstorming speeches. But behind the scenes, serious discussions are underway about how Norfolk should be governed in the future. Whether we end up with one, two or even three unitary authorities, this is a rare opportunity to shape a system that actually works for the people it’s meant to serve.
For my part, I believe the best way forward is to create two unitary authorities – an East Norfolk and a West Norfolk. Not because I’ve suddenly become obsessed with drawing lines on a map, but because it offers the best balance: strong enough to deliver services efficiently, local enough to keep decisions close to the communities they affect.
Right now, the system is muddled – with responsibilities split between county and district councils. It’s inefficient, confusing and, frankly, out of date. Moving to unitary authorities makes sense. But size matters. One giant Norfolk-wide council risks becoming remote and unresponsive. Three may end up too small to make the most of economies of scale. Two hits the sweet spot.
An East Norfolk – including Norwich, South Norfolk, Great Yarmouth and parts of North Norfolk – would reflect the strong connections between these areas. But I’m less concerned with exact borders and more with the principle: that local decisions should be made by local people who understand the places they serve.
This isn’t just theory. Places like Wymondham – a town with real pride and identity – deserve a council that gets what makes them tick. Under a two-unitary model, decisions about planning, transport and services can still be made close to home, while the broader authority ensures things are joined-up, strategic and efficient.
And let’s not forget balance. Norwich is a brilliant city, but it can’t be the centre of gravity for the whole county. This model helps ensure that our towns and villages – which are just as vital to Norfolk’s future – have a strong voice and fair share of resources.
So no, this isn’t the most glamorous issue in politics. But it does matter. And while the final decision is still to be made, I’ll continue to make the case that two unitary authorities would give Norfolk the best of both worlds – efficiency and local accountability.
Women's Prize Longlist: Double Book Review
Freddy Lowe reviews Dream Count and Tell Me Everything
The winner of the 2025 Women’s Prize for Fiction will be announced on June 12th. This year’s longlist was compelling enough to persuade me – a stuck-in-the-past 19th-Century lover usually loath to read any recent release – to read two of them: Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s Dream Count and Elizabeth Strout’s Tell Me Everything. Dream Count regrettably did not make the shortlist, although I doubt this will keep Adichie up at night. Her novel Half of a Yellow Sun not only won it in 2007, but then won the “Winner of Winners” faceoff between all 25 previous winners in 2020.
Dream Count follows four Nigerian women who have emigrated to the United States – Chiamaka, Zikora, Kadiatou, and Omelogor – and their intersecting lives. The title is a riff on the phrase “body count”, referring to our previous sexual partners. Chiamaka’s chapters mostly consist of flashbacks to her former exes, crushes, and romantic dreams – this is her “dream count”. That phrase is the novel’s greatest strength: the tender acknowledgement that we have all loved and lost, regardless of whether we slept with them.
There is much to admire about Dream Count. At its core, this novel chronicles the endless fascination and complexity of people. The descriptions of small human moments – Kadiatou reconciling with her daughter after a tragedy, Omelogor and Chiamaka’s unlikely friendship, the quips exchanged between pals – are clearly Adichie’s priority.
Adichie’s recent public critiques of academia also make a surprising – and unapologetic – appearance. Sanctimonious student types are ruthlessly parodied. One character is described as unable to feel emotion, but able to analyse the semiotics of emotion. Another is brutally described as having “the pinched, humourless face of a person who thrived on grievances.” At one point, a university student rants over dinner about Apple products and mass heteronormative conformity, and then tells Chiamaka that she is “eating death”. Chiamaka says nothing. “I tried frantically to make the connection between Apple, my eating, and death.”
I admit I laughed.
One would not call it Adichie’s best work, largely due to the frustratingly episodic structure. The women’s storylines are not integrated (much). Instead, they are told in individual, consecutive chapters. It feels more like a short story collection than a novel. Similarly, the endless exposition of character backstory, especially for minor characters we never see again, borders on tiresome.
This begs comparison with Elizabeth Strout’s Tell Me Everything, a novel very different from Dream Count but with a similar central concern: the endless complexity of people. Strout’s storylines are more seamlessly integrated. She does not adopt Adichie’s episodic ‘one-by-one’ format. The various plots and characters are integrated from the beginning like strands of thread in a rug; it feels like a more cohesive whole.
Strout’s novel, which did make the shortlist, is a modern-day Trollope or Eliot. Tell Me Everything is an emotionally tender omniscient narrative examining a parochial town and the intertwining, converging lives of its inhabitants. It is a book I cannot imagine anyone disliking. It is empathic, heartfelt, and extremely wholesome. One would not call it ground-breaking, but that is almost part of the appeal; it feels reassuringly and unapologetically small-scale.
The novel chronicles several characters from Strout’s other books, although Tell Me Everything reads perfectly well as a standalone. At the heart of the story is an unlikely friendship between Lucy Barton and Bob Burgess, a novelist and a retired criminal barrister, respectively, who go on emotionally intimate walks together to talk about life. This friendship is eventually permeated – and threatened – by underlying romantic feelings for each other. An even less likely friendship is between Lucy Barton and Olive Kitteridge, a wacky ninety-year-old who initially has no time for Lucy’s away-with-the-fairies ideas, but whose heart ends up melted by her anyway.
This novel’s central theme is “unrecorded lives”: the fact that every single one of us lives our lives with dreams, loves, crushes, yearnings, intellectual obsessions, projects…each life has its own fascinations and complexities. And yet of course, it is impossible to record them all.
The focus on the many intersecting lives of a small town feels very George Eliot-esque, especially Middlemarch. Strout's intrusive narrative voice feels lifted from Anthony Trollope, and the pervading theme of how little we truly understand about the world or each other feels inspired by Leo Tolstoy or Victor Hugo. As Hugo wrote in Les Misérables, “there are no little facts in the human realm, any more than there are little leaves in the realm of vegetation…The face of the century is made up of the lines of the years.” Strout would no doubt agree.
Perhaps this was why Strout’s novel appealed to me more than most books nominated for prizes, as thematically, it feels the most lifted from nineteenth-century classics. Yet despite my preference for it over Dream Count, there is a huge amount to commend in both novels. The Women’s Prize’s standard this year has much to be said in its favour.
What are you reading Wymondham?
Send Freddy your tips or reviews, long or short, to news@wymondhammagazine.co.uk.
The Lowe Down: Simulation Theory
I was out the other night at Wymondham’s glorious pub, The Queen’s Head. Over some drinks, one of the guests acquainted me with the “simulation hypothesis”. I had never heard of this before. The idea is that we are all living in a computer simulation.
Philosopher Nick Bostrom popularised the idea. I am no expert (major disclaimer for all that follows), but the logic goes roughly like this. If humans continue on their current technological path, we will almost certainly create tech with such power that we can run realistic computer simulations of previous eras. So, there is a considerable chance that we are in one of those. The only way of denying it for certain is to argue that civilisation would die out before this technological advancement. (Quite unlikely, given the exponential rise of AI.)
Does that sound like logical sleight of hand? If so, prepare yourself for a shock: it is treated as a legitimate theory by sizable swathes of academia. Granted, not all contemporary academia is in great shape (see last month’s Lowe Down). But I was still stunned when a cursory JSTOR search revealed several papers that take this seriously. I immediately laughed it off as science fiction. Another theory bandied about this drunken pub meeting was that Osama bin Laden was an Arsenal fan. So, you know – pinch of salt.
Yet this hypothesis has been taken seriously by supposed “intellectuals” like Neil deGrasse Tyson and Elon Musk, no less. (The simulation one, not the bin Laden Arsenal one.)
This theory made me think of the Outnumbered episode when Ben asks Pete (his dad) how they know they’re not part of someone’s dream. And Pete says:
“I can’t imagine anyone having a dream this dull, can you?”
Exactly! For all the exciting things that happen in the world, there are also the far more frequent moments where we sit about doing nothing. I refuse to believe that a futuristic computer programmer would genuinely sit through people’s nightly snoring on the sofa in front of the TV. They’d have long since unplugged us out of boredom.
There’s also the scientific pushback that the natural world is far too complex and varied to recreate with a computer algorithm. As Sabine Hossenfelder confirmed, proponents of the theory make “big assumptions about what natural laws can be reproduced with computer simulations, and they don’t explain how this is supposed to work. But finding alternative explanations that match all our observations [about the natural world] to high precision is really difficult.” Ethan Siegel has also called the theory unprovable by genuine science: “there isn’t any way to prove it; any ‘glitches’ we find or don’t find could be properties of the Universe itself.”
In other words, it’s completely unfalsifiable. That’s always a giveaway. It rests entirely on theory: pure faraway speculation outside any empirical realm. It’s little different to any other theory of a higher power that relies on faith rather than evidence. (Says the English student, I know! Hence why I’ve name-dropped my sources.)
This is not to say that people haven’t tried to prove it via the usual Internet claptrap that can be debunked in minutes. A video in 2015 went viral on social media that showed three moving vehicles in Xingtai being flipped upwards on the road by a seemingly invisible force. A YouTuber cited this as evidence of a simulation glitch “CAUGHT ON CAMERA”.
The real cause, it transpired, was a cable lying on the road caught in a street sweeper. The sweeper inadvertently pulled the cable taut, and it acted as a tripwire for the vehicles. Mercifully, nobody was injured.
The one thing I do find appealing about the theory is that it encourages us to question how much we genuinely know about the world. Humans can get overconfident very easily, and of course, one does not need a science degree to know that our perceptions can be extremely biased. A spot of introspection never harmed anybody!
But overall, there are several morals to this story. Don’t believe everything you hear at the pub. Believe nothing you see on the Internet. There is no evidence that we are in a computer simulation.
And for a good time – go to the Queen’s Head!
Vic's Picks: Best Way to Spend a Day Out
As the sunny days roll in, it's time to start thinking about how you’re going to spend some of those long summer days. So, after pondering on summers past, I’ve compiled some of my top picks on how to spend a day out.
Wymondham Heritage Museum is now back open for the season, and is a great place for people of all ages. I have many a fond memory of the museum as a child. It's full of many exhibits about Wymondham and its historic residents. The tea rooms are now also open again which, as mentioned in a previous Vic’s Picks, are a great place to hang out.
We’re also lucky to have many walking trails to choose from. Whether you've walked the town's streets for years or are a newcomer, a walking trail is a great and relaxing way to spend a day, while also getting in some exercise. First of my three most notable trails in Wymondham is the Celebrating Women in Wymondham Trail. It was created by Wymondham High’s feminist society in partnership with Rosie’s Plaques. There are five plaques to discover across Wymondham. It's a great way to find out more about previously overlooked figures of history while taking in the sights of town. You can find the map on their website titled ‘Celebrating Women in Wymondham’.
The Heritage Trail takes you around 23 different sites across town and is on the longer side, with an estimated completion time of 60 to 90 minutes. You can grab a copy of the map from the visitors' centre at the Market Cross. The handy booklet offers clear directions and interesting historical snippets for each site.
If following one story is more your style, or if you want to appeal to younger walkers, the Henry the Hare trail can be followed using the Wym Trail app, which guides you along the route while telling the story of the Kett’s rebellion. There’s a child-friendly version on the app too.
If you want to take the bus or train from Wymondham, Norwich Castle is expected to open this summer, after numerous delays, so maybe don’t get your hopes up just yet. But while renovation works are being completed, you can still access the galleries at a discounted price. The castle has everything from the tribe of Iceni to dozens of decorative tea cups, some Turners, and every taxidermied animal you can imagine.
If you're interested in going further afield, BeWILDerwood was always a memorable day out when I was younger. So if you have kids in your life, you’ll be sure to enjoy this day out. The immersive experience used to make me feel as if I were on holiday. It is like stepping into another world. BeWilderwood can be accessed by car or two buses/trains away from Wymondham.
I’ve not even scraped the surface with Wymondham’s endless options for summer activities, but these were just a few standouts.
Running the London Marathon 2025
Lee Raised Money for Shelter UK
On Sunday, April 27, 2025, I joined over 50,000 runners on the streets of London for one of the most iconic endurance events in the world — the London Marathon. But this year, it wasn’t just about finishing the 26.2 miles. I ran to raise funds and awareness for Shelter, the UK housing and homelessness charity, an organisation close to my heart.
As well as training for the marathon, I also added additional pressure by helping curate Shelter Norwich’s 30th Birthday art exhibition.
Every day, thousands of people across the UK face the devastating reality of homelessness or the threat of losing their home. Shelter works tirelessly to provide advice, legal support, and campaigning efforts to tackle the housing crisis head-on. Their mission inspired me to turn my personal challenge into a meaningful effort to support their vital work.
Training for the marathon was no small feat. Balancing work, life, and long runs in all weather conditions took discipline and resilience. My target was to finish in 4 hours and 30 minutes.
The 2025 London Marathon made history with a world record number of finishers. Over 54,000 participants crossed the finish line — the highest ever recorded in any marathon worldwide.
It was truly a day to remember, not only for the milestone it represented in global running culture but also for the incredible atmosphere created by such a massive and diverse crowd of runners.
To add to the challenge, race day temperatures soared to over 22°C — unusually warm for a spring day in London. The heat pushed many runners, including myself, to dig even deeper. Staying hydrated, adjusting pace, and listening to my body became just as important as the months of training behind me.
The atmosphere on marathon day was electric. The crowd’s support was overwhelming — strangers cheering your name, offering jelly babies, beer and willing you on when your legs started to question your sanity.
From Blackheath to the Mall, every step was a testament to the strength of the running community and the generosity of those who donated to Shelter through my fundraising page.
I kept my eyes on the pacing, stayed fueled, and tried to soak in the iconic landmarks. Crossing Tower Bridge was a moment I’ll never forget — the halfway point, and somehow, where I found a second wind.
After 4 hours and 28 minutes, I crossed the finish line — just under my goal. Exhausted, emotional, and overwhelmed with pride, I knew it was all worth it. Not just for the medal around my neck, but for the money raised and the impact it will have on those who turn to Shelter in their time of need.
To everyone who supported my fundraising, tracked my progress, or simply sent words of encouragement, thank you. Together, we’ve contributed to something far bigger than a marathon finish time. We’ve helped give more people the chance for a safe, secure home.
I may have run the race, but it was a team effort from start to finish.
Wednesday 23rd April
u3a Music Group
2pm, 
Fairland Court
The public are welcome to come on in and tap their toes as musicians from the u3a entertain the residents of Fairland Court.
Tai Chi Taster Session 2pm, Central Hall Tiffey Room
Your chance to try the ancient martial art of Tai Chi for free with qualified instructor Derek Simpson. Great for body and mind of all ages.
Tuesday 3rd June
Photographic Society 7:30pm-10pm, Dells Bowls Club
Annual print competition Tiers 1 and 2 (earlier start)
wymondham-ps.org.uk
Friday 6th June
Photographic Society Coffee Morning 10am-12pm, Dell Bowls Club
Informal chat about anything
wymondham-ps.org.uk
Saturday 7th June
Messy Church 10:30am-12:30pm, Town Green Centre
Free event for children aged 4-11. Parent/Guardian must also attend. Further details from Sarah at emmens.cfw@gmail.com
wymondhammethodistchurch.com
Picnic for Great Big Green Week 12pm-3pm, Browick Road Community Orchard
A GBGW gathering with fun for all
greeningwymondham.org
Tuesday 10th June
Photographic Society 8pm-10pm, Dells Bowls Club
Outdoor shoot sunset or model
wymondham-ps.org.uk
Saturday 14th June
Lizard Volunteer Workday 10am-12pm, The Lizard
Join volunteers to help this natural area to thrive. Meet on the Lizard at the Orchard. Refreshments at 11am. Bring yourself & a pair of gloves.
thelizardwymondham.co.uk
Tuesday 17th June
Wymondham Photographic Society 8pm-10pm, Dells Bowls Club
Continuous improvement
wymondham-ps.org.uk
Tuesday 24th June
Photographic Society 8pm-10pm, Dells Bowls Club
End of season meeting and buffet. Voting on images of the year.
wymondham-ps.org.uk
Saturday 28th June
Volunteer Litter Pick 10am-12pm, Baptist Church Queen St
Join volunteers to help tidy up the town. Bring yourself & a pair of gloves. Refreshments afterwards inside the church.
greeningwymondham.org
Sunday 29th June
Food & Drink Festival 10am-4pm, Town Centre
The Rotary Satellite Group invite you to enjoy street food, artisan drinks, music, crafts and entertainment.
facebook.com/WymFoodFest
Wednesday 2nd July
Art Society Demo by Kay Barker 7pm, Catholic Church Hall
Kay is a prize-winning printmaker who has worked in collagraphs, lithography, screen printing, etching and woodcuts. She will give an introduction to various methods of printmaking.
wymondhamart.org
Friday 4th July
Photographic Society Coffee Morning 10am-12pm, Dell Bowls Club
Informal chat about anything
wymondham-ps.org.uk
Saturday 5th July
Community Orchard Volunteer Workday 10am-12pm, Browick Road Orchard
Refreshments and tools provided but bring your own gloves. Entrance opposite Gunton Road NR18 0QN or Ayton Road Car Park.
greeningwymondham.org
Car Show 10am-4pm, Rugby Club
Food vendors, bouncy castle, live music, bar, games and lots of cars.
wrfccarshow.co.uk
Jazz Picnic 6pm-9pm, Becketswell Meadow
Enjoy your picnic to the upbeat music of DixieMix with a lovely view of the Abbey. Hosted by Rotary Club, sponsored by Spire Solicitors. Free entry but donations to charity encouraged. Gates open 5:30pm.
Tuesday 8th July
Volunteer Workday 9:30am-12:30pm, Friarscroft Wood
Meet by Windmill Surgery. Refreshments at 11:00am. Bring yourself, a pair of gloves & sturdy boots.
greeningwymondham.org
Sunday 13th July
AtoBetter Community Roadshow 11am-4pm, Kett's Park
People of all ages can come down and enjoy a day of fun activities. This family-friendly event is free to enter with lots to do including testing various bikes, zorbing and even a pedal-powered Scalextric track.
norfolk.gov.uk/atobetterpopups
Saturday 19th July
Community Orchard Volunteer Workday 10am-12pm, Browick Road Orchard
Refreshments and tools provided but bring your own gloves. Entrance opposite Gunton Road NR18 0QN or Ayton Road Car Park.
greeningwymondham.org
Sunday 20th July
Craft and Food Fair 10am-4pm, Rugby Club
Free Entry to this family friendly showcase of Norfolk food and crafts.
wymondhamrfc.com/club-events
Monday 21st July
Gardening Naturally: Talk with Annette Hurt 7:30pm, Town Green Centre
Talk on Organic & Natural Methods of Gardening with Annette Hurt – RHS Qualified Gardener, Horticulturist & Beekeeper, based on practical experience at her working garden in the broads. Pick up some tips on how to garden more organically, improve your garden & save money by avoiding using expensive harmful pesticides & chemicals. Members free, guests £4. wymondhamgardenclub@gmail.com
facebook.com/profile.php?id=100077254060337
Tuesday 22nd July
Volunteer Workday 9:30am-12:30pm, Friarscroft Wood
Meet by Windmill Surgery. Refreshments at 11:00am. Bring yourself, a pair of gloves & sturdy boots.
greeningwymondham.org
Saturday 26th July
Abbey Days Summer Fair 11am-7pm, Wymondham Abbey
Showcasing unique crafts, Norfolk produce, live music, a feast of Norfolk street food, dancing, a fun dog show, children’s activities and cocktails - all with a beach party theme. Free entry to visit more than 60 stalls.
wymondhamabbey.org.uk
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