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Visit Wymondham’s Food & Drink Festival on 28th June 2026
Wymondham Food and Drink Festival will return to the town centre on Sunday 28 June 2026, bringing together more than 60 food, drink and artisan stalls from across Norfolk and East Anglia.
The event will take place around Market Cross and the surrounding streets, with traders to include local breweries, bakers, butchers, street food vendors, cheesemakers, sweet producers and specialist food retailers.
Wymondham Rotary Satellite Group are organising the day to raise funds for local charities and is very grateful to local sponsors Electric 11, CSN Autos and Mr Frosty Ice Cream.
Visitors can expect a mix of hot food stalls and take-home products, with previous festivals featuring wood-fired pizzas, burgers, curries, pastries, cakes, preserves, sauces and locally produced spirits and ales. Vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free options will also be available.
Alongside the food and drink stalls, there are will be demonstrations, live entertainment and children’s activities throughout the day. Assorted town centre shops, cafés and pubs are also open during the event.
The festival has become one of the larger food events in the area, attracting visitors from across Norfolk and neighbouring counties. Organisers are expected to confirm the full trader line-up and timings closer to the date.
Entry to the event is free. Parking information and road closure details will also be released ahead of the festival through the Visit Wymondham website and Facebook.
Becket's Chapel to host free-entry pottery exhibit
As this year’s Great Pottery Throwdown concludes and Keith Brymer-Jones goes on to make pottery on Channel 4’s Our Welsh Chapel Dream, the national appetite for seductive art of ceramics continues to grow at a pace. TV has brought the alchemy of transforming raw clay to objects into living rooms and spawned a new wave of pottery studios, workshops and classes across the UK.
In 2023, Norfolk’s own Kenninghall Community Pottery opened its doors and has since built a vibrant community of potters from all walks of life that includes opticians, retail workers, nuclear scientists, entomologists, music agents, IT specialists, retirees, teachers and more. Led by ceramics tutor and technician Dawny Christien, the studio quickly became a membership studio, giving open access to its membership. The result has been a rapid development of skills, personal journeys in clay and quality of work.
Usually hidden behind the doors of the studio, the exhibition ‘Lit’ will bring the work of the potters’ and associates’ artworks off the shelves and into the beautiful early summer light coming through the soaring windows of Wymondham’s Becket’s Chapel on the town’s Church Street.
The free-to-access exhibition is open from 11am-4pm from Tuesday 19th-Sunday 24th May, and will be staffed by studio members and associates who can guide visitors through the works and talk in detail about the individual artists and techniques used.
Norfolk Archaeological Trust introduces summer photography competition
You can sign up now!
This summer, Norfolk Archaeological Trust (NAT) invites you to step into the magic of Norfolk’s heritage and nature with its upcoming photography competition.
The competition is open to all ages and abilities, so if you’re passionate about Norfolk’s archaeological heritage, please do throw your hat in the ring—anyone could be a winner! There is an adult division and a youth division (under 18s) with amazing prizes to be awarded in both.
To participate, all photos must be taken at one of NAT’s historical sites – for us in Wymondham, this would include Moot Hill, for example! It must also fall under at least one of three categories: Landscape and Architecture, Wildlife at NAT, or People at NAT. The deadline for entries is the 4th of September 2026.
All winning and shortlisted photographs will be showcased and celebrated (with full credit to the photographer) at NAT exhibitions, events, and fundraisers.
First place in the adult division will win a delicious meal for two, with wine, at The Queen’s Head restaurant near Burgh Castle! The winner of the youth division will receive a £50 chocolate hamper, generously donated by Waitrose Wymondham in collaboration with Village People Magazine! Both winners will also be given free parking for a year at Burgh Castle and Caistor Roman Town.
Norfolk Archaeological Trust is so truly grateful to everyone who has helped source and fund these prizes, without whom the competition wouldn’t be possible. Thank you.
If you are interested in entering the NAT Photography Competition 2026, head on over to our website to find the full terms and conditions, and more details, including a list of all NAT sites.
From everyone here at Norfolk Archaeological Trust, we wish you good luck and look forward to receiving your submissions soon!
Wymondham Junior Bake Off RETURNS this July
Following the success of the Junior Bake Off event held in July 2025, we are thrilled to announce that another Junior Bake Off will take place on 12th July 2026 at North Wymondham Community Centre.
Last year’s event centred around decorating tray bakes with the theme 'We're all Going on a Summer Holiday', inspiring contestants to create wonderful designs that captured their favourite holiday moments.
The creativity and skill displayed were truly impressive, making the event a memorable occasion for everyone involved.
This year promises to be equally enjoyable, as our Junior Bakers rise to the challenge of a brand-new decorating theme. While the judging takes place, families can look forward to engaging in a variety of table-top activities. There will also be refreshments available for purchase, ensuring that everyone can relax and enjoy the day.
If your children would like to enter as bakers, please contact belindagallagher@hotmail.com ahead of the event.
Coldplay tribute to come to Central Hall
Save the Date: Sunday 14th June
We love Coldplay....you love Coldplay...let us give you the closest experience possible to seeing Coldplay live!
Through a mutual love of Coldplay, this band came together to celebrate the amazing work of Coldplay and to entertain their fans. The Coldplay Tribute Band delivers an experience that any Coldplay fan will thoroughly enjoy. They’ll have you singing along to all of the hits and will put on a show that brings the same energy and emotional rollercoaster that Coldplay are renowned for!
If you can't see the iconic Coldplay live... then let this be the next best thing for you!
Enjoy a great evening of entertainment while supporting Wymondham Music Events Group (charity no. 1210061) in raising funds for 3 local charities. Doors open at 6:30pm for a 7:30 start at Wymondham Central Hall.
Tickets are £20 and available here, or from Reeves Stationery Shop, Market Street, Wymondham or contact Norman & Helen on 01953 600563.
Wildlife exploring initiative begins for 8-12s
Got kids who love wildlife? Take them to the RSPB’s new initiative for 8-12s, all about getting outside in fun ways and exploring nature!
It is a drop-off youth group for children with activities that include orienteering, birdspotting, uncovering animal tracks, and even investigating animal poo. All sessions - taking place from May to October 2026 - will take place at Rothbury Community Hall (NR18 0LD). All leaders are DBS-checked and will be wearing identification and lanyards on the day. We also have a fully trained first-aider.
All you have to do to sign up is email alex.price@rspb.org.uk. Parents must sign their child in and out each day, and ensure that they are dressed appropriately and with appropriate footwear.
Some of the dates include Sunday 14th June at 10am for the insect spotting, Sunday 12th July at 10am for the birdwatching, and Sunday 9th August at 10am for the orienteering.
Check out the full programme with all the details above!
GIVE THE JAZZ PICNIC A GO on Saturday 4th July
If you’ve never been to the annual Wymondham Jazz Picnic, give it a go this year. It is always a great evening.
For one night only, the slopes of Becketswell Meadow near the Abbey are turned into one big outdoor amphitheatre. Music lovers assemble with chairs, picnics and a bottle of something cold, to listen to the fun upbeat trad jazz of Dixiemix.
Many a toe will be tapped. And it’s all in aid of local charitable causes. The organisers, the Rotary Club of Wymondham, run a BBQ and other stalls and collect voluntary donations at the entrances (admission is free).
The evening runs from 6pm to 9pm on Saturday 4th July. No need to book. Just show up and enjoy the music and atmosphere.
There really is no more pleasant place to be on a summer’s Saturday evening in Wymondham and many people return year upon year. So get it in your diary today!
Don't miss the Ashleigh Art Show on 4th-5th July
10am-2pm
Building on last year's exceptionally well-received Art Show, Ashleigh Primary School and Nursery are opening their doors to the public once again. All pupils will be represented.
Our theme this year is 'Joy', with our young artists invited to submit work in any medium, alongside the amazing artwork they have created in their art lessons.
Our wonderful PTA 'Friends Of Ashleigh' will be serving up the treats with a pop-up cafe, and there will be collaborative artwork to join in with.
More details and a preview of our wonderful artwork can be seen on our Instagram page.
We look forward to welcoming you!
Major Wymondham Park Upgrades Coming Soon
Kett’s Park and Browick Rec improvement plans are moving forwards, with Councillors at South Norfolk Council and Wymondham Town Council all working hard to push these projects ahead and improve sports and recreation facilities before the next round of local elections.
South Norfolk Council’s cabinet agreed in March to proceed with preconstruction phases of the Ketts Park expansion project, with the Council having already set aside £2.7 million in the capital programme for the project in February. That money will be supplemented by cash from housing developers and hopefully the football foundation.
Staff are now working with consultants to get detailed cost quotes for the new facilities at Kett’s Park and will soon launch a public consultation on the plans. It’s envisaged that the project will include expanding the cafe, adding a large soft play area, extending the building with a new multi-purpose studio, upgrading changing rooms and toilets as well as a new 3G all-weather pitch and a perimeter walking path around the park. With the new facilities the opening hours could be expanded allowing all-day and evening access most of the week.
With Wymondham Town Council owning the site the project will require collaboration of the two councils in order to be a success. Since SNC took over the management of Kett’s Park, significant investment has been made in the site from tennis and netball court refurbishments to the first 3G pitch installation. Footfall has significantly increased to the park and it is well used for a variety of recreational pursuits.
On 5th May 2026, planning permission was granted for Browick Recreation Ground to be upgraded by Wymondham Town Council. The planning permission includes demolition of 2 existing derelict buildings and hard standings, installation of two MUGA courts, playground equipment, picnic area, table tennis courts, refurbishment of the existing skate park, an additional skate park and trim trail equipment with a pedestrian route and perimeter pathway. The plans also include two new meadow areas, a Miyawaki mini forest and new tree planting.
For that project, South Norfolk Council’s Cabinet agreed in March to invest £315,000 of developer’s money to ensure that the first phase of the project to regenerate the facilities at Browick Road Recreation Ground in Wymondham can go ahead. This will be added to the £250,000 which the town council has set aside.
Leader of South Norfolk Council, Daniel Elmer said: “This is another example of the council investing in and empowering our local communities. Improvement to the Browick Recreation Ground will benefit all sections of the community, especially young people who use the skatepark, MUGA and the BMX pump track.”
As a condition of the extra funding, South Norfolk Council has asked WTC to provide an updated business plan, assurances about the security of the site and a requirement that the first phase of the project will be started within 12 months.
Wymondham Acts of Kindness: Motoring and Moggies
You know, these ‘Wymondham Acts of Kindness’ articles generally focus on sudden, random, once-in-a-while acts of generosity. People who give strangers flowers in the supermarket, or a business doing an unexpectedly nice thing for its customers by leaving freebies in the street.
But there are also the more everyday acts of kindness that need celebrating. Kindness that does not manifest in flamboyant, loud, random displays, but in steady, day-by-day, consistent reliability and niceness.
Enter our latest ‘Acts of Kindness’ star: Wymondham Vehicle Services. It’s a business that offers MOTs, servicing, and sleek vehicle repairs. And one person recently took to Wymondham Ways Facebook Group to commemorate how lovely they are:
‘Massive shout out to Wymondham Vehicle Services! Customer service is second to none, 100% reliable and honest, with Richard and the team being the most helpful amazing people. Thank you for everything.’
This post was not short of commenters also saying how great they are. ‘We don’t go anywhere else.’ ‘I second that, agree 100%.’ ‘Totally agree. So pleased to have found Wymondham Vehicle Services.’
So bravo to our latest kindness stars. For a decent MOT and good customer relations, go to Wymondham Vehicle Services.
Another frequent feature of local kindness is Wymondhammers’ determination to reunite stray animals with their owners. As someone else wrote on Wymondham Ways:
‘Does anyone recognise this cat? […] If no one recognises him I will contact cats protection.’
The comments had varying degrees of helpfulness (one person just wrote ‘no’). But still. It counts.
Wymondhammers are kind enough to not just ignore a lonely and distressed animal, but to take the time to be proactive in protecting it.
Bravo.
Dealing with loneliness
Mother Teresa once said that loneliness is the ‘Leprosy of modern society’ and the most severe form of poverty. It is ironic that even though we have more ways than ever to communicate with others, almost a quarter of adults regularly experience loneliness. The rates are higher amongst younger adults.
TV, internet and social media have made many of us so self-contained that face-to-face interactions can sometimes feel awkward and difficult.
Even if we live with others or have close friends or family members, we can still be lonely for THAT special person and the relationship and closeness we shared. Suddenly, there are big gaps in our lives that we are aware of, every moment of every day.
For those who have lost a partner, coming home to an empty house can feel unbearable; many particularly struggle with long, dark winter nights. Having a TV or radio on can help to fill the silence.
There are many responses to loneliness; some are helpful, whilst others may not serve us well in the long term, like turning to alcohol. We all need something to lean on in life and there is no shame in that. Many find support and comfort in faith, friendship, a job or volunteering, interests and hobbies, music and artistic activities. Of course, we can never replace what our loved one brought to our life, but finding the right coping strategies which are beneficial and not harmful can be a way of filling the loneliness with connection, purpose and fulfilment.
Good ideas include regular physical exercise, going outdoors, gardening, going to the gym, or joining a sports club, exercise class, book group, choir, art class, the University of the Third Age, or ‘men’s shed’. You could volunteer at a local charity or get involved in community initiatives. Pet ownership can be beneficial and therapeutic – although be aware that it is a long-term commitment. Dog-walking is good exercise and a great way to meet people. Pets are wonderful company, giving us a reason to get up in the morning and a friendly welcome when we get home.
Perhaps also consider talking to a counsellor or wellbeing professional. There are many private options, or your GP can refer you.
Join one of Rosedale’s Bereavement Support Groups- all groups are confidential and offer a place to talk and connect with others who are also grieving. Call 01379 640 810 to reserve your free place.
What does a conveyancer do?
Buying or selling a property in England and Wales involves more than agreeing a price and waiting for completion. A conveyancer handles the legal and administrative work behind the scenes, from carrying out checks and managing contracts to handling funds and registering ownership. Their role is to ensure the transaction is legally secure, completed correctly, and free from hidden risks.
Conducting Legal Checks and Due Diligence
A key role of a conveyancer is checking the property’s legal status. For buyers, this involves ordering searches and carrying out detailed checks to identify potential concerns that could affect the property’s value, use, or future saleability.
Common searches include local authority searches, to reveal planning permissions, building regulation approvals, road schemes, or enforcement notices; environmental searches, to identify risks such as flooding, subsidence, or contaminated land; and water and drainage searches, to confirm connections to mains services and clarifying responsibility for drainage systems.
Your conveyancer will also review the property’s title held by HM Land Registry to confirm who owns it, where the boundaries lie, and whether there are any rights of way, restrictions, or covenants in place. For sellers, this stage typically involves answering enquiries raised by the buyer’s conveyancer and ensuring all information provided is accurate.
Managing Contracts and Legal Documents
Conveyancers prepare and review the contract for sale to ensure it’s accurate and protects their client’s interests. For buyers, this means checking key details like price and conditions; for sellers, it ensures obligations are clear. Once agreed, the conveyancers arrange exchange of contracts, making the transaction legally binding.
Handling Funds and Financial Arrangements
>Conveyancers are responsible for ensuring all financial elements of the transaction are handled securely and correctly. They work with mortgage lenders, check mortgage offers, and confirm funds are available when needed.
They also calculate and arrange payment of any Stamp Duty Land Tax, transfer completion funds, and ensure existing mortgages are redeemed. On completion day, the purchase price is sent to the seller’s conveyancer so the transaction can complete in accordance with the contract.
Acting as the Main Point of Contact
A conveyancer coordinates communication between all parties involved, including buyers, sellers, estate agents, lenders, and other conveyancers in the chain. They keep the process moving by providing updates, explaining legal matters clearly, and resolving any issues promptly. This coordination is particularly valuable when several linked transactions are taking place at once.
Completion and Registration
On completion, your conveyancer confirms funds have transferred, notifies all parties, and ensures keys are released.
After completion, they register the change of ownership with HM Land Registry and make sure any mortgage is properly recorded. Registration is a crucial step - legal ownership is only fully updated once it is complete.
Who Can Act as a Conveyancer?
In England and Wales, conveyancing can be carried out by property solicitors, chartered legal executives specialising in conveyancing, or licensed conveyancers who focus solely on property transactions.
Why Use a Conveyancer?
A conveyancer does more than handle paperwork. They protect your legal position, identify risks, and guide you through what can otherwise be a complex and stressful process—helping to avoid delays, unexpected costs, and future issues.
If you are thinking about buying or selling a property, contact our Residential Conveyancing team on 01603 677077 or email info@spiresolicitors.co.uk.
Photos of the Month: June 2026.
Last month, Wymondham Photographic Society had our annual projected image competition, judged by Ian Howard. Each member was allowed to enter two images on any subject in the two tiers, which resulted in 26 entries in Tier 1 for less experienced photographers, and 38 in Tier 2 for the more experienced.
After much discussion of the images’ merits and pitfalls, he made his selection of the top 3 in each tier. Coming out on top in Tier 1 was Fran Grimsdell with ‘Look at my Bushy Tail’: a shot of a red squirrel. Second was Anthony Cooves with his beach hut shot, and third was Paul Walker with his studio shot of a girl typing.
In Tier 2, Craig Harriss had a clean sweep with his two images coming first and second. First was a street shot called ‘Calm and Chaos’, and second was his shot of a girl holding her hands towards the camera with rings on her fingers. In third place was Andy Mayall’s shot of a 1930s aeroplane.
Well done to all the winners and runners-up!
Did you know Wymondham's Bridewell Museum was once a prison?
Wymondham Heritage Museum is celebrating 30 years in its home at The Bridewell. Over its long history, the building has served as a prison, a police station and a magistrate’s court.
Over the past 30 years, thanks to a dedicated succession of volunteers, the museum has evolved into a major attraction that charts and catalogues the town’s history and offers something for all the family. But there is more to savour in the museum than the displays, exhibitions and artefacts. Pause a while before you enter and take a look at the impressive Bridewell. There was first a “House of Correction” on this site in 1619, when the basement of an old medieval house was used as a dungeon. Prisoners were kept in chains in the darkness.
As you make your way around the museum, you can see the steps down which prison reformer John Howard walked in 1779 to inspect the dungeon. Imagine what confronted him. He later reported: “There is a room for women in which there were four dirty and sickly objects at work with padlocks on their legs. They are never out in the court except on Sundays. The very small quantity of straw on the floor was worn almost to dust. Prisoners in this Bridewell are not only confined within doors but generally in irons.”
Is it any wonder he made his celebrated statement: “One of the vilest prisons in England”?
Following his recommendations, picture the meeting in the King’s Head on Wymondham’s Market Place in 1784. Here, Sir Thomas Beevor assembled a committee to rebuild The Bridewell to Howard’s standards. So successful was this initiative that by February 1786, Beevor had received letters from eight counties in England, plus enquiries from Scotland and Wales, requesting his guidance, saying they wanted to put their houses of correction under similar regulations. Hence, the Wymondham Museum became the “Model Prison”.
A survey on the state of prisons in 1812 gave “The County Bridewell, Windham” a positive report. Accommodation was good and clean. Prisoners got one pound of daily bread for breakfast. Dinner was either boiled peas or potatoes with a treat on Sundays of “Hanway’s soup of ox cheek”.
The report concluded: “The excellent rules and orders of this prison are properly displayed. The prisoners are discharged from hence in the morning and have one shilling in money given to them, after which the Keeper conveys them either to their respective home or their parish.”
The Bridewell closed in 1825 but reopened in 1832 as a women’s prison. The 1851 Census lists 20 prisoners, including Ann Gibson, aged 21, who had her five-month-old baby, Rhoda, with her.
The women did the laundry for Norwich prison as well as the Bridewell. If you sit in the courtyard garden to enjoy a snack from the Tearoom, you are where the women hung the washing to dry. If you’re having a cuppa in the Tearoom, you are sitting in what was the exercise yard for prisoners on remand when the Bridewell was a police station.
The full history of the Bridewell is on display, which includes information about prisoners, their conditions and Sir Thomas Beevor’s plans for the prison’s upgrade.
What's in a Photo? The Swinging Queen's Head
In these difficult times for the hospitality sector, the historic Queen's Head in Bridewell Street has been in the news recently, mostly due to the scaffold erected for repairs to the structure. However, in the sixties, when Spencer and Cath Armstrong ran the pub, it was really swinging!
Before the war, Spencer had played the alto and tenor saxophone with the then-famous Gerry Lee band from Attleborough, which entertained at the Lido, which later became the Norwood Rooms, then Mecca Leisure in Norwich. There, and at the Blakeney Hotel, they often supported some of the top bands of the day, such as Ambrose, Billy Cotton and Victor Sylvester. So Spencer formed the Queen's Head Quartet, which kept everyone entertained in his pub on a Saturday night.
Apart from the music, the pub boasted a strong darts team, which played in the Lacon's (brewery) League, but also won the Mercury Darts Competition and a strong table tennis club, which competed in the Wymondham and District League with distinction and included such players as Billy Filby, Peter Parke and young Charles Armstrong. Everything was "swinging" in the Queen's in the Sixties!
Short Story: The Mid-Life Crisis.
Gerald was thinking, really thinking, on his way home from the consultant. He had never lived up to his parents’ expectations. If he had been a colour, it would be beige. There was no glamorous wife, no family, no mansion and come to that, no hair.
Gerald had never lived his life in the fast lane; he’d always been happy to go with the flow, take the path of least resistance, but he decided that with the time left to him, he was going to try out the fast lane. Sex, drugs and rock n roll. Where to start? He was already having plenty of drugs he reasoned, so it would have to be sex or rock n roll.
Fortunately, he had a rainy day fund.
He planned a trip to the bank first thing in the morning, followed by a fancy pants coffee and a big, squidgy slice of chocolate cake, worth at least a trillion calories.
Gerald opened his iPad and typed in rock n roll. The first image made the waitress drop his cappuccino, and a sweat broke out on his brow. He decided to continue his research in the privacy of his own home.
A cruise would cover all his bases, Gerald thought. His imagination conjured up images of busty blondes, wealthy widows looking for ‘lurv’. Although his time was limited, there was still life in the old dog yet. He had plenty of energy left for a few adventures beneath the sheets, and there was the added benefit of 24-hour medical cover in case his heart wasn’t up to all this sudden activity.
A few weeks later, he eased his way into the limo, which was part of his premium package. He took his time in the hope that as many of his neighbours as possible would see, and then he was whisked off to Liverpool docks.
The next morning, he woke up and realised the ship was a disappointment. The reality was a million miles from the pictures in the brochure. Maybe it would be better when the sun came out and he could take off his jumper. Things took a decided upturn when he chanced across breakfast. Strangely, there were few people there and those that were had the green tinge of seasickness about them.
It was then he saw her, his soulmate, tucking into bacon and eggs with gusto, her blonde Shirley Temple curls bobbing over her cuddly sweater with a picture of a unicorn on the front. How stylish, he thought. There was possibly a little bit more of her than he could handle, but he felt up to the challenge. Easing his crimplene trousers over his belly and checking his comb-over, he did his best Hollywood heart throb saunter (he had been taking lessons from YouTube for just this scenario) and went to her table.
It seems that Dolly – of course; what else would she be called? - had acquired a business partner with big ideas for the café, so she had taken the opportunity for a cruise before the expansion programme began. Gerald hoped that Dolly wasn’t included in the expansion plan – that jumper looked as if it was stretched to its limit as it was!
Gerald mentally reviewed his wish list: blonde and busty, tick, tick. Wealthy…well, she has her own business, so tick. He thought he’d better just check availability – was there a Mr Dolly? No, brilliant. Get in there, Gerald, he told himself – schmooze.
So Gerald schmoozed like he’d never schmoozed before.
The Secret Farmer’s Diary: Spring
May would normally be a month of readying for harvest and autumn drilling plans and talking to suppliers about buying straw, but uncertainty over fuel, fertiliser and crop prices has made budgeting very difficult.
The war in Iran has increased the cost of inputs but stock futures prices for wheat remain remarkably subdued. There’s a risk that the global price of wheat won’t be enough to cover the cost of diesel, wages and fertiliser and I’m aware of some farmers planning to leave their fields fallow next winter. That’s something we’ve not seen in the UK since the Great Depression and should be a cause for concern for UK consumers.
The winter drilled crops continue to grow steadily despite April’s dry weather, the rapeseed has spilled its pungent flowers and gone over to seed. The spring drilled crops aren’t looking very happy but cling on to every drop of moisture.
Birdsong and wild animals accompany the lighter mornings, lifting the spirits as I walk the fields. We host one of the national trade associations of which we are members on farm in early May, giving us an early opportunity to spruce up the farm before our Red Tractor audit next month and readying our machinery for harvest in July.
A sunny summer: you read it here first
The editor of Wymondham Magazine pointed out that my facetious prediction of record dry weather after my last article bemoaning the wettest February on record around here was indeed followed by the third driest April on record. I shall therefore predict a lovely sunny bank holiday followed by 6 weeks of gentle rain with sunny intervals to get us to harvest/summer holidays whereupon it will remain dry until you come back off your holidays and our crops are in the shed. You read it here first.
“Would you like cbam on that sir?”
As I sit down to write this, a notification pops up on my phone from the NFU (National Farmers’ Union). The government announced yesterday that it will continue the 5p freeze in fuel duty until the end of the year, reduce red diesel duty by 3.7 pence per litre and introduce a 1 year holiday on HGV excise duty – which will help us with deliveries and collections on farm as well as with our own lorry operating costs. This lunchtime they have announced that they won’t be controlling prices of goods such as bread, milk and eggs after all, which as a producer (and supplier to producers of these goods), is a relief.
I’m rather left thinking though that all of this tinkering around the edges of tax policy to ease the burden on consumers wouldn’t have been necessary had the government taken its goal of driving growth seriously, rather than introducing a raft of anti-growth measures – like the rise in Employers NI, Renters’ Rights Act and Employment Rights Act – that push up inflation instead. The same authorities that seriously considered controlling the price of food by fixing prices are simultaneously planning to increase the price of food by introducing a Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) in January (basically a tax of 20% on fertiliser, which has already increased in price by up to 40% since the war in Iran began). So by next winter I may not be able to afford the weekly shop, but at least I’ll get a discount on my children’s cinema tickets.
Actually, about that summer…
I just checked back to what I wrote in May 2025 and I asked for normal weather in April 2026. So best you pack a coat to the beach then.
Olympic opening ceremony soloist to front Choral Society’s July concert
18th July 2026, 7pm at the Abbey
Are you looking for an uplifting and dramatic summer evening entertainment in July? Look no further!
Come to Wymondham Choral Society’s Proms concert at 7pm in Wymondham Abbey on 18th July. You will enjoy well-known classical melodies performed by one of Wymondham’s premier musical groups, together with always-wonderful local accompanist, Rob Goodrich and professional soprano soloist, Elizabeth Roberts, who was a soprano soloist at the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games.
The first half of the concert will include sacred songs by Mozart and Faure, Handel’s famous coronation anthem ‘Zadok the Priest’, and the much-loved Serenade to Music by the great Ralph Vaughan Williams.
In the interval, you can enjoy refreshments in the Abbey.
In the second part of the concert, you will be treated to choruses from the ‘Easter Hymn’ from Cavalleria Rusticana and Puccini’s ‘Vissi d’arte’ from Tosca. The programme will conclude with traditional Proms favourites ‘Rule Britannia’, ‘Jerusalem’ and ‘Land of Hope and Glory’. The ‘Hallelujah Chorus’ from Handel’s Messiah will provide a rousing finale to a wonderful evening of music.
Our successful and friendly choir was formed in September 1980 and presented its first concert the following year, making 2026 our 45th anniversary of singing! The Society was formed to provide choral music opportunities for singers and audiences in Wymondham and the wider south Norwich and Norfolk area. We attract members from across this area and from a wide range of ages, backgrounds and experience – from those who would like to develop their basic musical knowledge and singing experience, through to those who are expert singers and help to support the rest of us – the one characteristic we all share is that we love singing together!
Do come and enjoy our music-making at this concert, which promises to be one of our best-ever performances!
Tickets are available online on the website and from Reeves in Wymondham. You can also find out more about joining and/or supporting Wymondham Choral Society on our website.
Don’t miss Wymondham Symphony Orchestra’s summer concert!
27th June 2026
Save the date for Wymondham Symphony Orchestra’s Summer Concert celebrating composers from the New World, on 27 June 2026.
The programme will feature famous 20th-century American composers Gershwin and Copland. The orchestra will perform Copland’s Fanfare for the Common Man and Appalachian Spring. Fanfare for the Common Man may be a familiar tune to many of you because it is often used in TV shows and adapted for various jazz and rock songs, from Woody Herman to the Rolling Stones.
Originally written around the time of World War II as a patriotic gesture, Copland wrote of the Fanfare: “The challenge was to compose a traditional fanfare, direct and powerful, yet with a contemporary sound. To this end, I used bi-chordal harmonies that add ‘bite’ to the brass and some irregular rhythms."
Appalachian Spring was commissioned to accompany a ballet, intended to capture “the pioneer American spirit, with youth and spring, with optimism and hope”. It was originally scored for an ensemble of 13 instruments, since the premiere was in a small auditorium. He later arranged a suite from the ballet for a full orchestra, which won the Pulitzer Prize for music.
The Suite is cast in eight uninterrupted sections. It opens with a slowly blooming introduction, which unison strings burst into in an elated Allegro. The scenes that follow move from a warm, gentle duet for the pioneering couple, through fleetly fiddling dances for a revivalist preacher and his followers, to an animated dance of anticipation for the bride. A transitional interlude recalls the opening before the Suite’s climax, a set of variations on the Shaker hymn “Simple Gifts,” which supported scenes of rustic domesticity in the choreography. In the coda, the married couple are left alone in their new home, with tender music that bookends and fulfils the opening expectations.
During his lifetime, George Gershwin was arguably the most successful and talented of America's composers. He had the ability to absorb the sounds and energy around him and distil them into music that immediately connected with audiences. His Cuban Overture is a great example of this. The 1930s saw the rise of the rumba craze in America, and Gershwin, ever eager to immerse himself in new musical experiences, was keen to go to the source. So he sailed with a handful of friends to Havana, Cuba, where he absorbed the catchy tunes and tempos of popular songs played in the bars.
The Overture includes authentic Cuban percussion instruments: a bongo drum, claves, maracas, and a gourd shaker. These latter instruments were so important to the piece that he insisted in the score that the percussionists be placed in front of the orchestra, rather than their traditional position in the back.
Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue stands out as one of the great symphonic contributions of 20th-century classical music, certifying its author’s place in the history books as one of the most celebrated American composers of his era. Despite its fame, Gershwin only found out he was supposed to be writing the piece the month before its premiere, the framework coming to him in a single train journey.
The iconic clarinet opening wasn’t actually written by Gershwin. He originally started the piece with a simple scale for solo clarinet, but his clarinettist Ross Gorman decided to play a dramatic glissando up to the top note during a rehearsal. Gershwin was immediately impressed and asked him to repeat the technique in the premiere performance.
The piano solo in Rhapsody in Blue will be played by Sohyun Park. Born in South Korea, Sohyun moved to the UK at age nine, where she began studying the piano. She progressed with stunning speed. By the age of thirteen, she had been accepted to the prestigious Chetham’s School of Music in Manchester. After graduating, Sohyun was awarded a scholarship to the Royal College of Music. In 2011, Sohyun was named the Norfolk Young Musician of the Year, and she has won numerous awards at a variety of music contests. Alongside competitions, she has been hailed as a “most impressive” performer by the Evening News and her performances are applauded for their emotional breadth and exquisite narrative scope. She has toured professionally both throughout the UK at venues such as The Royal Albert Hall, St. James Piccadilly and on international stages (Turkey, Bulgaria, Estonia, Italy, France, Germany, Reunion Island, Russia and the US). She has been performing concertos with orchestras such as the Nice Côte d’Azur Symphony Orchestra and the Danube Symphony Orchestra. She is also currently a professor at a prestigious Russian Music School in London, coaching many talented students around the world.
Tickets are available online here, or if you prefer a hard copy, there are tickets available at the Wymondham Abbey shop. Get your tickets early to avoid disappointment! Prices are £15, Friends of the WSO £13 and under 18s are free.
Want to get involved?
We’re a friendly group playing fantastic symphony repertoire with regular rehearsals at Central Hall in the heart of Wymondham. If you’re interested in joining the orchestra we’d love to hear from you. In particular, we’re on the lookout for viola (grade 7 or above), double bass, trombones, and percussion players. More details about the orchestra and how to join can be found on our website.
Discounted tickets?
Join the Friends of Wymondham Orchestra to get tickets at a discounted price, seat reservations, and orchestra news. Find out more on our website.
Greening Wymondham announces environmental work on Moot Hill
If there’s one thing that concentrates a group’s mind, it’s an Annual General Meeting.
We’ve just had ours, with added food and drink to help concentrate us. As we’re officially in our tenth year, we’re still considering the September jamboree to mark a decade of greening – email us your ideas at greening.wymondham@gmail.com!
We’ve just added an exciting new project – our second this year after Rothbury Park. We’re working with Norwich Fringe at Moot Hill – helping to remove debris, thin the wood, and form paths for when it’s opened to the public. This has been devised in consultation with Helen Sibley, formerly SNDC’s Green Infrastructure Officer.
It’s a huge privilege to work in an area which is both an archaeological conundrum and a nature sanctuary. Its ponds are home to great crested newts and its woodland home to bats, wild bees, birds – and a 600-year-old oak!
We are also still doing basic work in the adjacent Kett’s Park wood ahead of rejoining forces with Norwich Fringe in the autumn.
And the RHS are coming to Browick Community Orchard early this month! Three of their experts will be sharing their advice with us on all things fruit trees, vegetable growing and planting generally. We’ll be proudly showing them our rainwater catchment system, willow arbour and compost area as well as the orchard itself. In the evening, there’s a Q&A event at the Scout Hall in Jessop Road, Norwich, NR2 3JF.
We’re delighted by all the comments we’ve had on Rothbury Park – if you’ve seen the organisers doing a raindance while watering frequently during our prolonged dry spells, please dance with them. We are collaborating with Norfolk Wildlife Trust to measure what improvements happen as a result of our work down the line.
Last month, BBC Radio Norfolk came to Friarscroft Wood to find out about what happens there and on our other projects. It was hard to praise highly enough the volunteer spirit of Wymondham and what can be achieved together.
As summer comes in, we’ll be looking for help balsam bashing, for those of you who enjoy being in and beside the Tiffey! Our weekly E.coli results are now on our website. Our regular testing shows high levels of phosphate and nitrate, which leads to the growth of the unsightly filamentous algae reported in Becketswell Park. But overall, the river is in moderate health and still supports a fairly decent range of wildlife (including plastic ducks during the highly successful Duck Race last month!)
Finally, please visit our plant stall at the Wymondham Food and Drink Festival at the end of the month – come and chat to us there!
Rotary Satellite Group quiz night raises £1200 for local charities
Wymondham Rotary Satellite Group recently held their latest quiz night. The sell-out event, kindly sponsored by Grand UK Holidays, raised more than £1200, which will be used to support local charities.
The winning team, 'Legally Built', selected Wymondham Dementia Support Group to receive a donation of £100, and a cheque will be on its way to them shortly.
The next Quiz Night is being held on Friday October 16th, so keep an eye out for entry forms in September.
Garden Club to host bestselling author Andrew Sankey
Wymondham Garden Club is delighted to welcome Andrew Sankey to give our next talk.
This is a welcome return visit by Andrew: garden designer, grower, and author of the best-selling book “The English Cottage Garden”.
Previous talks from Andrew at the club - “Colour in the Garden” and “Gertrude Jekyll” - have been informative, entertaining and great for new ideas for club gardeners.
We’re sure Andrew will again wow us with this talk on Funny Garden Features.
Complimentary tea/coffee is served before the talk begins.
Join us on Monday 15th June, from 7:15pm at Town Green Centre. Members Free, Guests £4. For further information about the club, contact wymondhamgardenclub@gmail.com.
Wymondham Garden Club seeks Chair for 2027
Open Gardens and visits to Garden Centres are more popular than ever, especially with Wymondham residents.
So, Wymondham Garden Club are hoping local folks interested in gardening might wish to help the town garden club.
We meet once a month, usually with a talk from a gardening expert, sometimes a social evening, as well as arranging visits & outings to professionally maintained gardens which aren’t always open to the public.
We have a vibrant committee and a full programme of events to the end of the year.
Next year our chair will be stepping down, the average age of club members isn’t getting any younger, so the club are on the lookout for someone (or a couple of people) willing to take over as chair. It isn’t an onerous job – plus the rest of the committee are there in support.
Any of Wymondham’s green-fingered folk willing to commit a little bit of volunteer time once a month? Please contact us by emailing wymondhamgardenclub@gmail.com
Central Hall’s next Summer Wellness Fair is coming up…
Saturday 8th August, 10am-4pm
We are back with the Summer Wellness Fair in the Central Hall! It will take place on Saturday 8th August at 10am-4pm, with free entry to all.
I always look forward to bringing something new to complement our usual beautiful stalls. This time, many of my stall holders are intuitive artists, so in the adjoining Tiffey room, we will be holding an intuitive art display that focuses on wellbeing, meditating, calming the mind and spirit, and learning to focus. You are welcome to browse or buy on the day, and there will be some beautiful work of a variety of sizes.
Our pop-up cafe will be serving refreshments and light lunches throughout the day, so please do pop in and meet friends for a coffee and chat.
I look forward to seeing all of you, regular and new visitors, at this ever-popular event!
Wymondham in Bloom Celebrates Art
Each year, volunteers at Wymondham in Bloom work with businesses and residents on the main streets in the town to decorate their front entrances with hanging baskets and creative floral displays. We are thankful to The White Hart Pub for supporting the project for this year by generously agreeing to be our Gold Sponsor.
Our theme for the business floral display competition for 2026 is "In Bloom, Inspired by Art", celebrating Wymondham's place as a hub of the arts in Norfolk. We have wonderful opportunities for people to enjoy the arts - from paintings and sketches to music, fashion, literature, antiques and interiors. Wymondham Garden Centre are also kindly supporting this floral display competition.
We were delighted that just ten days after the launch of this campaign, over 20 businesses had already signed up to take part.
Judging will be in early July, by which time the town should be looking fabulous.
In the meantime, a team of enthusiastic and dedicated volunteers work all year round to ensure the town centre planters are well cared for, and the streets are weed and litter free.
We hope both Wymondham residents and visitors alike enjoy this year’s floral displays.
The team will be having a cake stall at the Jazz Picnic on the 4th July - please come along (with some cash) for a great evening, enjoy our produce, chat to us and help us raise funds to keep the town looking great.
If you would like to get involved either as a business or plant-loving volunteer, please email wymbloom@gmail.com or phone Kim on 07941 514 766.
The Lowe Down on Wymondham High: Miss M.
When I was at Wymondham High, one of my most hilarious and memorable teachers was someone I will call Miss M.
Miss M was an unmissable presence in the school. The most likely place you would meet her was the corridors. There was a rule forbidding students from going inside the school buildings during break times, and it was her job to reinforce this for one particular corridor where her classroom was. If you were unlucky enough to find yourself in that corridor during a break or lunch, it’s fair to say she would be barking at you to get out.
Apart from this unenviable duty, however, she wasn’t an unkind person. In fact, her biggest personality trait was her sense of humour. She was never afraid of having banter with other teachers in front of pupils. She always cracked wise and spoke her mind. And when I once bumped into her on a dog walk, she was familiar, snarky, and a pretty good laugh.
She wasn’t the straightforward ‘nice’ teacher. She was often the opposite. But she was also a character, and most conversations with her would end with you walking away in fits of giggles.
She only actually taught me by the time I was an A-Level student. And there, during A-Levels, began one of my most bizarre and brilliant experiences across my whole time in the school system.
See, Miss M was very involved in the students’ various opinions on things. We were a pretty high-level class and would often chat amongst ourselves instead of doing the actual work. But instead of telling us to shut up and get on with it (or maybe as well as that), she would listen in to what we were talking about. And she would chime in with her views, taking no prisoners in the process.
The first major debate I remember having with her was about the best way to keep organised during revision season. A classmate had innocently asked me how I organised my revision ringbinders, and when I was halfway through explaining it, an eavesdropping Miss M marched over and said, “you’re both ridiculous.”
I can’t remember now what she was objecting to or what she proposed instead. But she felt so strongly about it that she was still lecturing me a good five/ten minutes after the class was over and everyone else had gone.
This was not the only time she made it clear when she thought people were “ridiculous”. She told me once that one of my exam answers “made her want to die”. She frequently parodied our ludicrous errors in front of the class, in ways that were simultaneously mortifying and hilarious. She even stopped midsentence to tell one poor student, “will you stop sneezing?”
The thing about her was that even when you were the butt of the joke, her delivery was so inescapably laugh-out-loud funny that you couldn’t help but go along with it. And her snarky humour was always borne from a genuinely altruistic desire to help the students improve. My work improved tenfold under her tuition. She also shared her famous brownie recipe with me when she heard I was terrible at baking. My friends love me for my homemade brownies to this day.
And then came her politics – which were so unbelievably on-point and hilarious that you couldn’t wait to hear what she had to say next. She had an uncanny ability to cut through the crap of any hot cultural topic. Her speeches on various controversial issues made us split our sides laughing.
This also applied to Bake Off, especially during the 2021 season. After the first episode, I persuaded her to take Giuseppe off her sweepstake and replace him with Maggie. Maggie had seemed promising at first, only to be swiftly eliminated for forgetting to put flour in her desserts. Giuseppe went on to win. Miss M never let me live it down.
The end result was a teacher who may not have been a teddy bear, but was altruistic, generous, big-hearted, and extremely funny. Someone who made it clear she would march through hell to get our work up to scratch, and who did so very successfully. Someone who would lend you her recipes when you confessed your culinary shortcomings, and who could be extremely complimentary and touching when you had earned it.
I salute her. She was fantastic.
Didn't catch last month's anonymous teacher? Read about her here.
Around Wymondham in 80 Dishes: Lemon Tree.
Wymondham’s Lemon Tree is a family business operating out of a fourteenth-century building in Damsgate Street.
This delightful restaurant opened in 2015. Aideen Summers is the proprietor and works six days a week with a part-time staff of twelve. The low-beamed ceilings and wood interior of this 14th-century building create a cosy, comfortable atmosphere – and they are dog-friendly! They also have outdoor seating.
All their food is prepared on site from locally sourced ingredients. They bake their own sourdough bread for sandwiches and toast. They bake their cakes and tray bakes on site. They have a dozen different options for breakfast, including their traditional (and big) Lemon Tree Breakfast: two rashers of back bacon, three butcher’s chipolatas, a poached egg, a ramekin of beans (much nicer than having a spoonful dropped on your plate), mushrooms, potatoes, oven-roasted tomatoes, and toast. If you order this, make sure you have a big appetite.
For smaller appetites, they offer two eggs on toast, poached or fried, or sauteed button mushrooms on toast. They also have a vegetarian breakfast and Eggs Benedict, which is my favourite.
The Lemon Tree hot dog is a 9-inch butcher’s sausage served in a homemade brioche bun with mustard, chopped gherkins and peppers. Add to that caramelised red onion chutney and homemade coleslaw. If you are more of a beef person, the Classic Burger is what you want. Their 180g homemade burger is served with chopped gherkins and peppers, topped with lettuce and mature Cheddar cheese, baby gem lettuce, red onion and tomato, served on a home-made brioche bun with chips and coleslaw. I salivate as I write about it!
Lemon Tree staff also prepare a great variety of sandwiches with their sourdough bread or toasted ciabatta. Brie and Cranberry is one of my favourites. All the sandwiches are served with dressed salad and homemade coleslaw. One of their unique combinations is Bacon, Chicken and Avocado.
Now, if you are feeling peckish for a hot drink and something light, there are still lots of choices: cake, a bowl of chips (with optional added cheese), sausage rolls, hot chilli sausage rolls, and fresh, delicious scones. If you call ahead, you can book a really posh afternoon tea, with sandwiches, scones and cake.
There are plenty of choices for hot drinks, including herbal teas, and all coffees include a decaffeinated option. They also serve milkshakes, Deluxe Shakes, and Smoothies. Iced tea is on the menu, and for the grownups, Bottled Lager and Aspall’s Suffolk Cider. For the wine drinkers, they serve 187ml bottles of Pinot Grigio, Chardonnay, Rosé, Shiraz and Prosecco.
I asked Aideen her favourite thing about serving customers and working in the food business. She said she is happy if her customers are happy. She feels very lucky to get to do the thing she loves - cooking!
Opening hours are 10am-2pm, and they are closed on Mondays.
From My Perspective: More houses for Wymondham?
Do you think Wymondham should have more houses? The truth is what you think doesn’t matter. Or at least, that’s what the government seems to think.
Ever since the modern concept of planning permission was created in 1947, the ability to build has, at least notionally, depended on the consent of those who live near the area being built on. No longer. From now on, if your council wants to refuse a planning application for more than 150 homes, it must write to the Secretary of State in London, to effectively ask for their consent to refuse planning permission. This Council Leader anticipates a lot of applications for 151 houses in the future.
The truth is large parts of the country have brought this upon themselves, opposing every development for the sake of it, and making it harder and harder for the next generation to own their own homes. But not everywhere, not in South Norfolk, and not in Wymondham. We did our bit, we grew, and we welcomed new people into our community. The government’s attempt to use a sledgehammer to crack a nut will reverberate in those areas that least warrant it, like ours.
We have always insisted on certain conditions; that the strategic gap with Hethersett be protected so Wymondham can retain its unique character, that development bring with it supporting infrastructure, like the new primary school in Silfield, the pedestrian path under the railway bridge, or money for upgrades coming soon to Ketts Park and Browick Rec.
Will the Secretary of State, sitting in London (who has already revised housing targets to give Norfolk more houses, and London fewer… mysterious that) care about the priorities of Wymondham? I doubt it.
Britain has a housing problem, that much is true, but democracy functions by gaining the consent of those affected by decisions. Cohesive communities can only be created when the existing residents see and welcome new housing, because they understand the benefits to residents both old and new, and how it will work in the context of their area. If areas that did their part get saddled with even more houses regardless, why should any council co-operate in the future?
The government's actions will deter councils from trying to make sensible long-term housing plans. What is forced upon us will upset the communities the government purports to serve. For that reason, I oppose the changes to planning rules this government is making, and I urge everyone in Wymondham to join me in fighting them.
Volunteers needed for junior parkrun at Wymondham High!
If you haven't heard of junior parkrun, then it's a free 2km event for children aged 4 to 14. You don't have to run it - you can walk it, jog it, skip it - or even combine all three! - and everyone is welcome.
Wymondham High Academy have kindly said they are willing to host this on their playing fields. It's likely to be a 2.5 lap course.
We are now keen to hear from people who could be volunteers at the event. We specifically need a core team of around 10-12 people to undertake a variety of roles, such as checking the inbox regularly, responding to queries and coordinating the volunteer rota. In addition to this, every week we need regular marshals to cheer on junior parkrunners, timekeepers, barcode scanners and tail walkers – because no one comes last at parkrun!
If you're interested in finding out more or getting involved, please sign up to our mailing list – wymondhamjuniors@gmail.com – to be updated on test events, volunteer opportunities and start date. Over the summer, we will be finalising the course, and we hope to launch the event in the early Autumn.
And of course, we will let Wymondham Magazine readers know when the event is up and running - pun intended!
Five under-16 Rugby Club players progress through Leicester Tigers programme
Five under-16 players at Wymondham Rugby and Football Club have progressed to the next stage of the Leicester Tigers rugby programme.
Leicester Tigers is a professional premiership rugby union club. They run a full-time programme designed to help young players get the knowledge, skills, and behaviours necessary to maximise their rugby performance.
The five star players from Wymondham RFC are Alfie Sparkes, Will Tree, Riley Cozens, Victor Newis, and Lewis Chambers.
Wymondham RFC published on Facebook:
“A HUGE congratulations to five of our U16 players who have progressed through to the next stage of the Leicester Tigers pathway programme!
“The boys will begin pre-season with Leicester Tigers at the beginning of July after years of hard work, commitment, and development at Barnard Fields.
“A special mention to Alfie and Lewis, who both joined Wymondham Rugby Club in Minis at just 4 years old.
“This is a fantastic achievement for the lads and the perfect way to round off their U16s journey. While they will all be moving away for Sixth Form and won’t progress into our Colts setup due to boarding commitments outside the area, they will always be a huge part of Wymondham Rugby and we’re sure we’ll see them back in Red & Black whenever they’re home.
“The club is incredibly proud of all five players, and we can’t wait to see how their rugby journeys continue over the coming months and years ahead.”
Four Rugby Club legends selected to play for under-17 Eastern Counties
Max Buckingham, Ollie Hinsley, Owen Ward, and Freddie Alum are four under-17 rugby players who were recently selected to play for Eastern Counties.
In May, these four rugby legends took on the Hertfordshire team at Cheshunt Rugby Club. Wymondham RFC congratulated them on Facebook:
“The result may not have gone their way, but there was some fantastic rugby played, and the lads represented both Eastern Counties and Wymondham Rugby Club brilliantly.
To earn county honours is a fantastic achievement, and everyone at the club is incredibly proud of you all. The future is bright for these young Red and Black talents!”
Matt Cowling successfully runs London Marathon for Radio Harrow
Congratulations to Matt Cowling for running a brilliant London Marathon!
This is him proudly showing his medal at the Wymondham Farmers’ Market, where he runs the bread stall.
He was running for his chosen charity, Radio Harrow, a community radio station focused on health and well-being and which regularly makes bedside visits to patients in Northwick Park Hospital in Harrow.
Matt told the magazine: “I would like to thank everyone for their sponsorship and support when I took on the London Marathon on 26th April, raising funds for Radio Harrow.
I’m pleased to announce that I completed the Marathon in 8 hours and 8 minutes, it may have been slow, but my motto is ‘finish line not finish time’. I raised in total over £1300, which my charity will put to good use to continue their work in promoting health and wellbeing.”
Tuesday 2nd June
Moot Hill Volunteer Workday
10am-4pm, 
Kett's Park Woodland
See Greening Wymondham Facebook page for more details.
greeningwymondham.org
Photographic Society 7:30pm-9:30pm, Dells Bowls Club
Scott Hurd, Wildlife talk from Namibia
wymondham-ps.org.uk
Wednesday 3rd June
Art Society Demo with John Patchett 7pm, Catholic Church Hall
AGM followed by John demonstrating a pastel painting of Norwich market for us. John is a well-known and award winning professional artist. He regularly features in the ‘Leisure Painter’
magazine. Some of John’s favourite subjects are market scenes for their vibrant colours and the play of light and shade.
wymondhamart.org
Friday 5th June
Drama evening: Family Matters 7:30pm, Central Hall
Four by Four presents an evening of original drama. Tickets: £7.00 from Reeves Stationers.
Or book in advance via 07851 370666 and pay cash on the door.
Saturday 6th June
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
Open Gardens 12pm-5pm, Heritage Museum
A range of gardens, in a variety of styles and sizes, will be on view for visitors both experienced and new to gardening to enjoy and exchange ideas. Funds raised will go to the Wymondham Heritage Museum which is run entirely by volunteers. Programmes £5 per adult, available at the Garden Centre, Museum, Abbey Shop, Tourist Info and Reeves.
wymondhamheritagemuseum.co.uk/?p=open.gardens
Sunday 7th June
Open Gardens 12pm-5pm, Heritage Museum
A range of gardens, in a variety of styles and sizes, will be on view for visitors both experienced and new to gardening to enjoy and exchange ideas. Funds raised will go to the Wymondham Heritage Museum which is run entirely by volunteers. Programmes £5 per adult, available at the Garden Centre, Museum, Abbey Shop, Tourist Info and Reeves.
wymondhamheritagemuseum.co.uk/?p=open.gardens
Jazz Afternoon Tea 1pm-4pm, Barnham Broom Hotel
Come and enjoy a traditional English afternoon tea set to the soulful sounds of live Jazz.
Treat your friends and family to a selection of homemade savouries and scrumptious sweet treats, make it a day of "sparkling music" with our Champagne upgrade.
Hosted in our brasserie lounge or out on our beautiful Terrace with live music. Jazz, Traditional Afternoon Tea - £39.95 or Glass Bollinger, Jazz, Afternoon Tea - £49.95.
barnhambroom-events.giftpro.co.uk/events/jazz-afternoon-tea-1
Tuesday 9th June
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
Photographic Society 7:30pm-9:30pm, Dells Bowls Club
Open projected image competition, images taken with a phone.
wymondham-ps.org.uk
Sunday 14th June
Charity Music Show: Coldplay Tribute 7:30pm, Wymondham Central Hall
Enjoy a great evening of entertainment while supporting Wymondham Music Events Group in raising funds for 3 local charities.
Tickets are £20 and available online or in Reeves Stationary Shop or contact Norman & Helen on 01953 600563.
ticketsource.co.uk/wymondham-music-events-group
Monday 15th June
Garden Club Talk: Funny Garden Features 7:15pm, Town Green Centre
A welcome return visit by speaker Andrew Sankey, garden designer, grower, writer & author of the best-selling book “The English Cottage Garden”. Refreshments served before the meeting to allow members to catch up, plus pose & answer gardening questions. Members Free, Guests £4. wymondhamgardenclub@gmail.com
facebook.com/profile.php?id=100077254060337
Tuesday 16th June
Wymondham Photographic Society 7:30pm-9:30pm, Dells Bowls Club
Landscape competition, projected image.
wymondham-ps.org.uk
Saturday 20th June
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
Tuesday 23rd June
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
Photographic Society 7:30pm-9:30pm, Dells Bowls Club
Outside photography at Sunset with a model.
wymondham-ps.org.uk
Wednesday 24th June
Murder Mystery Dinner 6pm-10:30pm, Barnham Broom Hotel
Enjoy a refined 3 course dinner in elegant surroundings while taking part in a live murder investigation with expert insight from Metropolitan Police Murder Squad DCI Steve Gaskin, an experienced forensic psychologist.
barnhambroom-events.giftpro.co.uk/events/true-crime-immersive-dining-experience
Thursday 25th June
Heritage Society Talk: Churches 7:30pm, Fairland Hall
Join Wymondham Heritage Society for a talk by Matt Champion about Churches in the Roman Catholic Diocese of East Anglia. Free for members - visitors £2. New members can join at a meeting or online via the heritage museum website.
wymondhamheritagemuseum.co.uk/?p=programme
Tuesday 30th June
Photographic Society 7:30pm-9:30pm, Dells Bowls Club
End of season buffet and quiz
wymondham-ps.org.uk
Wednesday 1st July
Art Society Demo by Michelle Parsons 7pm, Catholic Church Hall
Michelle is a professional artist and tutor, working from her West Suffolk studio, who specialises in lobsters, fish and all things organic. She works on commissions from interior designers, private clients and restaurants.
wymondhamart.org
Saturday 4th July
Ashleigh Art Show 2026 10am-2pm, Ashleigh Primary School
Free entry with guided tours 4th and 5th July. Belonging Day House Art public debut. Art Stars’ newly commissioned art work on display. Join in with live collaborative art work.
Refreshments available at pop up cafe by Ashleigh Friends PTA.
ashleighprimary.com
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. If arriving by car please park in town centre.
Saturday 25th July
Cavick String Quartet 7pm, Oulton Chapel
The Cavick Quartet returns to Oulton Chapel in summer 2026 for a special fundraising concert, with all proceeds supporting the care and preservation of this beautiful and historic chapel. Hall Rd, Norwich NR11 6NU. £15 tickets on the door cash only.
historicnorfolk.org.uk/event-details-registration/cavick-string-quartet-summer-concert-2
Sub-editor: Freddy Lowe. Whilst every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained in this publication, Wymondham Magazine can accept no responsibility for any error or omission that may arise. The views and opinions expressed in Wymondham Magazine are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of Wymondham Magazine. This magazine may not be sold or reproduced in any form or by any means, electronically or mechanical, without prior consent of the publishers and copyright holders, Wymondham Magazine is a brand of MYOB Digital LTD. Registered address: Black Hall Farm, Traice Road, Fundenhall, Wymondham, NR16 1HQ, VAT number: GB328358189 © Wymondham Magazine