Contents
Café for Disabled and Neurodivergent Staff Reopens
Poppy’s Pantry, a Realise Futures Social Business based in Wymondham, relaunched its refill and coffee shop on Monday the 5th of August. The atmosphere was as buzzing as the customers were plentiful: in attendance were photographers from Visit Wymondham, representatives from the Norfolk County Council, and the Mayor of Wymondham.
The business has relaunched after a downsizing of the shop and an expansion of the café area. You are greeted upon entry by an eminently welcoming staff, beautiful flowers outside, and many shelves of goodies along the back wall of the café, including porridge oats, honey, biscuits, vegan cake, handwash, and a Nature’s Soap collection, among other products.
The Pantry, headed by RF works manager Clare Stiles, hires staff with disabilities or learning difficulties. The Wellbeing Colleagues, as Clare terms them, work front-of-house and in the kitchen, and are given individual person-centred support specific to their needs and goals. After eight months to two years of work experience, further doors are opened for them, with the final stage being the individual’s integration into the world of work, armed with the skills and confidence they have earned from the Pantry.
Clare Stiles told the magazine, “It’s a demanding job for our Wellbeing Colleagues. They are on their feet a lot of the time. But it gives them so much more confidence.” I was served by one Colleague, Harry, who Clare said has made leaps and bounds since joining the Pantry. Beforehand with little to no confidence, he is now a capable front-of-house server. (He rather charmingly approached me of his own volition and said, “want some free pizza before you go?”)
Waitrose has given the café a £1000 grant with which they have bought a new coffee machine. “You would not believe how much more helpful it is,” Clare said. “It is so much more accessible to the Wellbeing Colleagues (and makes better coffee!). We are extremely grateful.”
The Pantry prides itself on giving people skills and experience they otherwise would never have had. These skills can be life-enhancing: they help the Colleagues integrate themselves into the world in ways they would have never been able to do otherwise. As Clare said, “Just because someone has learning difficulties, it does not make them any less human.”
And judging by our experience at the Pantry during this relaunch, Wymondham can consider itself very lucky to have it.
Jarrold Group Announces Closure of Wymondham Branch
The Jarrold Group has announced that its Wymondham store will close on 14 September 2024. The store, situated on Middleton Street, has been a fixture in the town for almost 40 years but, due to the changing face of the high street and customer buying habits, the hard decision has been made to close the store.
Jarrolds took over the former Jacksons building in 1986 and opened its first out-of-Norwich shop, focusing primarily on gifts and interiors. In 2011 cookware was added to the Wymondham range and eight years later, a dedicated carpet and flooring shop was opened next door and subsequently linked to the main store.
John Adams is retail managing director of the Jarrold Group: “We are very proud to have served the town of Wymondham for 38 years, but high streets and shopping habits have changed dramatically in that time,” says Mr Adams. “Whilst the number of dwellings in and around Wymondham has increased, the town centre grows noticeably quieter each year, with the closure of vital services such as banks and the Post Office.”
From October 2022 to February 2024, Jarrolds was home to the Wymondham town centre Post Office. Prior to this it was situated in the One Stop Shop which closed, before a limited Post Office service was housed in the White Hart pub.
“Proactively investing in, and contributing to, our communities is a fundamental part of the way the Jarrold Group does business,” continues John Adams. “We were happy to provide a home for the town centre Post Office and know that customers enjoyed both the convenience of the location and the opportunity to browse our store when they came in. The Post Office’s decision to close the branch earlier this year has clearly made a difference to footfall in our store and the town centre in general.“
Four members of staff work at Jarrolds in Wymondham and Jarrolds is making every effort to find them alternative employment, be that elsewhere in the Jarrold Group or beyond.
“The decision to close the Wymondham shop has not been an easy one, but due to a range of factors, it is the right one to make for our business. Sadly, Wymondham town centre is no longer the right location for a Jarrolds retail store,” John Adams concludes.
New Fun Singing Group for Children Launches
Wymondham Young Voices is a new fun singing group for children of all abilities aged seven to twelve years old, with or without musical experience.
Using song, I nurture children into self-confident, resilient and mindful Individuals. Taking part in something bigger than themselves will help develop your child’s life-skills and create lasting memories.
Singing has taken me to many exciting destinations in the UK, Europe and USA and has formed some of the happiest experiences of my life: I have sung on television, made a record, gained awards and made many wonderful friendships. I have held music workshops for pre-schoolers in Germany, regularly lead school singing assemblies and have formed a successful, ambitious choir at a local primary school.
At Wymondham Young Voices, your child will learn how to convey the meaning of songs through their own unique singing voice. I choose music which is appropriate for young voices and teach new songs in manageable chunks.
I gently encourage quiet members and nurture the more confident ones so that the children become a strong team, blended in song. I have had the privilege of seeing shy children flourish into confident singers, eager to show off their talents, even requesting to sing solos.
I like to organise informal performances so that parents and carers have the wonderful opportunity of seeing their children sing: a truly unforgettable experience for all involved. These events create lasting memories: Music can do this as it affects our minds, bodies and emotions.
I have over 24 years of experience working with children and work in both the primary and secondary school sector. I am DBS checked and am a member of the UEA Chamber Choir and the Wymondham Abbey Choir.
Start your child’s musical journey in a fun and inclusive atmosphere and help them gain important life-skills. Find out more about Wymondham Young Voices via the website:
www.wymondham-young-voices.club or scan the QR Code.
Green Halloween Event at Wymondham Abbey
Wymondham Abbey is holding a Green Halloween event on Thursday, 31st October starting at 4:30pm in the churchyard. There will be bat and minibeasts hunting led by Wymondham Nature Group and the Norfolk Wildlife Trust members.
Dusk is at 5pm so bring your torches and suitable footwear!
Enjoy home-made pumpkin soup in the abbey café and lots of craft activities inside the abbey until 6pm.
Everyone is welcome (no unaccompanied minors), donations appreciated (cash or contactless). To find out more contact Hilary on (01953) 605672.
Wellbeing and Spiritual Fair at Central Hall
The Wellbeing and Spiritual Fair, a chance for workers to join us for a fabulous day of talks, demonstrations, treatments, tarot, oracle and energy readers will take place on 22nd September from 10-4 at Central Hall, Wymondham, NR18 0QB.
Our pop up cafe is returning to the foyer to offer hot and cold drinks, light lunches, afternoon tea, cakes and savouries.
We have the wonderful voices of the D’Capo choir at 2pm. Everyone is welcome to pop in and support them singing for our chosen charity, Break, and have a wander round our beautiful stalls.
Our drumming workshop by Moira Hoogendijk is back for another wonderful hour of connecting with the native Indian guides and the galactics through drumming and light language. Drums and other instruments are available to use but please bring your own if you have one! We shall lift the roof off the Tiffey room with the high energy. The day will come to a close with a guided meditation.
Children are welcome to our colouring table.
Town Centre Improvement Consultation Opens
South Norfolk Council has a great track record in supporting its market towns and its vibrant local economy. Now, the Council is working with Wymondham Town Council to invest nearly £1 million to improve Wymondham town centre.
The money is coming from matched funding from both councils of £250,000 plus the proceeds from the sale of the old town council offices which South Norfolk Council owned.
The project is in its early stages and both Councils want to hear from local residents and businesses on how best to spend the money and how local people think Wymondham town centre can be improved. To make sure local residents have an opportunity to have their say, South Norfolk Council is funding a public consultation, which is now open.
The two councils would like to know how residents currently use Wymondham town centre, and the issues and opportunities that it presents. This feedback will then help when it comes to the design part of the project.
Residents are being asked to fill in an online questionnaire which should take no longer than five minutes and there is also an opportunity to add additional comments that residents feel may be helpful.
Drop in events are also planned to enable residents to meet the consultation team, offer any additional feedback and participate in some hands-on activities.
Following this initial consultation, the next step will be to produce concept designs for the town centre with another consultation on these designs early next year.
To have your say about the future of Wymondham visit www.surveymonkey.com/r/Wymondham-Public-Realm-Survey. The consultation is open until 13 October 2024.
Council Announces £150,000 for Community Projects
Sixteen projects that will benefit the community have received a share of £150,000 from South Norfolk Council’s Community Action Fund. The panel met at the end of July to consider a range of large-scale projects from across the district.
Chair of the panel, Cllr Kim Carsok, said:
“There’s a real energy and desire from volunteers and community groups in South Norfolk to improve and upgrade local facilities, which will have a direct impact on our residents’ physical and mental wellbeing. I’m pleased we could support so many projects and look forward to working alongside our volunteers to make South Norfolk an even better place to live.
“Sadly, we could not fund all of the projects, but our Communities Team will support unsuccessful applicants in sourcing other funding routes.”
The projects in or near Wymondham that were funded include:
Kett’s Yard: Refurbishment of the end of the building to create an accessible meeting space - £8,994
The Lizard Trust, Wymondham: To enable the recycling of the materials from the oak viewing tower, to make replacement objects for this conservation and wildlife site - £1,320
Wymondham Baptist Church: Meeting the local community infrastructure need by extending church building to support the growing community of Wymondham - £15,000
Hethersett Athletic Football Club: Improvement of facilities and adding a dug out - £3,000
Hingham Playing Field Association: Upgrade the existing 23-year-old playground at Hingham Sports Hall - £20,000
Tacolneston and Forncett Recreation Association: Installation of a fully accessible disabled / wheelchair toilet within Talcolneston Village Hall - £11,000
Tharston and Hapton Parish Council: Hapton Community Project Phase 7: Handrail and play tunnel with slide - £10,000
Hethersett Hawks: Fund part of a project to upgrade the facilities available to members and spectators - £10,000
The full list of projects funded can be found on the SNC website. Funding applications for the next round of the Community Action Fund will open in April 2025.
Town Council Watch: Summer Roundup
Local Democracy Sketch
Summer tiiiiiiiiiiiiiiime. And the living is easy. Or at least it is if your “job” is covering Wymondham Town Council meetings, with full council meetings lasting as little as 11 minutes since TCW’s last instalment in May.
And in a vain attempt to match the supernova of fresh ideas and ChangeTM beaming out of Kett’s Park, TCW is trying something new this month, with an all-new quarterly roundup format.
It's all part of a brand new making writing this column less time consuming sustainability strategy.
Wynterfest Sacked Off
In August, the Town Council ruled out stepping in to organise the popular annual town centre Xmas event, Wynterfest, after the volunteers it had previously been left to, dropped out.
The Council has however allocated £1000 towards a small, light switching on event that would “not allow commercialism to take over”.
Gawd bless us. Every one of us.
Council Cover Up
Many thanks to the plentiful users on Wymondham's social media groups, who have started doing TCW's job for him. In August, they were quick to point out the irony of the Town Council launching a new ‘Visit Wymondham’ scheme for tourism and then immediately covering up one of our best landmarks, the Market Cross, with ugly fencing and scaffolding.
Following the golden rule of British politics (that everything is politicians' fault), the lack of joined up thinking from councillors can't blemish an otherwise impressive piece of work by Wymondham's 'Town Coordinator', though.
The employee, whose tourism/trade boosting role was conceived and recruited by the previous Town Council, has put together a comprehensive new website and social media account aimed at encouraging both visitors and residents into town, to shop and spend money.
For the Mayor of Wymondham, Suzanne Nuri-Nixon (Lib Dem), the move marks the latest step on a journey that initially saw her take to Wymondham Magazine in 2021 to bemoan a similar sounding local shopping website, proposed by Tory-led South Norfolk Council, as "lacking imagination" and "barking up the wrong tree". "Why are we selling Wymondham to Wymondham?" the column pondered critically.
Dear oh dear. Must have been the wrong people suggesting it at the time or something.
Witt’s Start
Wymondham Magazine secured even more representation on the Town Council in July, with Steve Witt (Lib Dem) winning a two horse race by-election, to become the latest in a long line of our contributors to take their place on the authority.
It's enough to make TCW wonder which of the magazine's regular writers will stand for election next...
In The Duck House
TCW notes that Town Councillors have voted to start paying themselves expenses for ‘new duties performed outside the parish’.
You know the sort of thing. Attending Cobra meetings and representing Wymondham at G7 summits.
The proposer, Cllr Dave Roberts (Lib Dem), worried the costs of driving to Broadland Business Park for town centre improvement meetings could be a barrier to less well-off people becoming councillors, declaring with trademark understatement that this risked creating an ‘EQUALITY BLACK HOLE’.
Crumbs.
Fortunately, the Clerk managed to fill the EQUALITY BLACK HOLETM immediately when he pointed out that all councillors were already entitled to claim expenses for such things - but no one ever really had.
The proposal was voted through for good measure nonetheless by Greens: Joe & Paul Barrett, Labour: Lowell Doheny, and Lib Dems: Joy Batley, Julian Fulcher, Annette James, Lucy Nixon, Suzanne Nuri-Nixon and Dave Roberts.
Spot the difference!
June saw a bumpy start for the Town Council’s relaunched printed newsletter, which is available for residents to collect at Wymondham Library and various other points around town.
While the new council's previous effort at a newsletter managed to print the contact details of 11 people who were no longer councillors, this attempt got the email address of every district councillor wrong, giving them as ending .co.uk rather than gov.uk.
Whoopsie poodle. The perils of print. You never find typos in Windham Magazine.
Labour councillors had previously raised concerns about ‘a clear potential for bias’ with the taxpayer funded publication, which was supposed to be party neutral.
But TCW is sure they'll be thoroughly reassured by the newsletter's centrefold, subtly laid out in resplendent Lib Dem orange, with 5 of the 6 images featuring the party's councillors (the sixth was of the Market Cross).
Tough luck chaps. It's always the winners that get to write the history.
With the contents also overlapping with recent party election leaflets, TCW's decided to launch a brand-new Spot The Difference reader competition.
Send any differences you can spot above to beatspayingforelectionleaflets@wymondhammagazine.co.uk.
Meeting Ben Goldsborough: The New MP for South Norfolk
In the 2024 General Election, South Norfolk voted for their first Labour MP in almost eighty years: Ben Goldsborough. After growing up in Norfolk, Ben moved to north east Wales to find work. After a tenure as the Mayor of Flint, he has moved back down to serve us as our Member of Parliament. I wanted to find out what he was like: how does he feel as the first Labour MP of this constituency in decades? What are the issues he cares most about? And despite his already more than busy schedule, he was kind enough to meet with me to discuss it.
“It’s a huge honour.” Ben says. “I know there are huge numbers of people this time who tactically voted. That makes you very humble about the fact that you need to be an MP who works for everyone. There is no point going into this saying, ‘I won, isn’t that great?’ There were Liberal Democrat voters in Wymondham who lent me their support and I am so grateful to them. They wanted change and saw me – and Labour – as the best vehicle for it. I hope that mindset of humility will be helpful. Now the election’s done, I am everyone’s MP. Whether you voted for me or didn’t, I am trying to get the best outcome for everyone in South Norfolk. We also had a split vote on the political right for the first time ever, so those circumstances make you want to work doubly hard for everyone.”
“It’s a huge personal sacrifice to move from Flint back to South Norfolk,” I said. “Why the decision to make that much of a sacrifice?”
“I still have lots of family down here. I moved mainly because I couldn’t get onto the property ladder down here for love or money. (That’s why we need to talk about housing.) And even when I was based in Wales, I’d be back home about once a month visiting Mum and Dad. It’s never really felt like I’ve been away. I know about the issues on this patch because it’s the thing that [my parents and I] talked about over the phone calls or on the coffee table.
“The first ever Jobs and Apprenticeships Fair in Flint’s history was when I was mayor, and there were some amazing things we got to do, so those are the sort of things I’d want to do now I’m the South Norfolk MP. Working with Lotus, Wymondham High, the John Innes Centre – these sorts of things are when an MP come in.”
Now to the crucial question: “What were the specific things where you thought, ‘if I get elected, I can make a difference there?’”
“When I was knocking on doors, the thing that cut me to my core was just how many families there were with children with Special Educational Needs whose support services were failing. I had mums, dads, grandparents in tears to a stranger on their door saying, ‘I just don’t know where to turn.’ The first thing I did after being sworn into Parliament was go to the House of Commons Library and ask them to produce a report on Special Educational Services in Norfolk and Suffolk. Since then, I’ve tabled many written questions to the Education Department about Special Educational Needs services.
“An example of something needing changing is our truancy regulations. Neurodivergent children may need time off school. That is not “truancy”!
“The second issue is dentistry. We all know how bad things are in Norfolk. My dad, bless him; he was registered in Watton. His filling from the 70s went bad. He drove to Watton in agony. ‘I’m sorry, Sir, we’ve taken you off the NHS list. You can have it taken out but that’s the private bill.’ My dad has been a stable lad all his life; he had no money. You see that situation across Norfolk. Alice MacDonald from Norwich North managed to sit down with Wes Streeting on this issue – we’re working together to get that sorted.
“And to make a Top Three, another problem is the train station. We only have one train station. It’s Victorian. It’s beautiful. We are so lucky to have it. However, Platform 2 is an island platform for disabled people or parents with children in buggies. For example, if you’re coming in from Cambridge, you get off at Platform 1. Imagine you need to get to Platform 2 to get the East Midlands train to Liverpool. Disabled people or those with buggies are never going to be able to get from one platform to another in enough time. So the solution is a lift. I’ve seen it done in other stations and it can be done here.”
Ben then highlighted things the Labour Party has already implemented. “We are already setting in motion the free primary school breakfast clubs from our manifesto. Imagine the pressure that takes off families. Their kids are free in the mornings to go to work! People don’t realise that families are desperate to go to work. They love a hard day’s work for a good day’s reward. The system has had them working all hours God sends and still ending up on the breadline. It’s not people being ‘lazy’. We’re also rolling out our manifesto’s “Youth Hubs” with a mental health professional there. Imagine the pressure that takes off GPs, and the advantages of young people knowing there is a figure outside their families who they can turn to.”
Keir Starmer aptly said on This Morning that mistrust of politicians – words rather than deeds, etc. – is the “single biggest problem in politics at the moment. …It’s the actions we’ll take that will persuade people.” Sceptical readers may be thinking, “This from Ben is all well and good, but I’ll believe it when I see it.”
“I’ve been in for three weeks,” Ben said. “So far, I’ve been able to get three people compensation through the DWP for an error against them. I’ve been able to get someone compensation from the HMRC because the taxman made an error. Someone else was able to get their visa updated so they could remain in the UK (all their family was down here!). That was three weeks’ worth of work.”
Actions above words, indeed.
Ben then told me a bit about his work in the House of Commons. He was quick to say, “even with chamber work, when debating national issues, my questions and contributions will be locally based. For example, when the Deputy Prime Minister made her statement on housing, my question was about how Hethersett, Mulbarton and Loddon have all had their fingers burned because of bad planning being put in place. Houses are being built without the adequate services.”
He is certainly a South Norfolk man to his core. His eyes lit up when talking about South Norfolk community events. “Much of my work is the lovely stuff. The village fêtes. The community orchard outside Queen’s Hill Estate. Those are my weekends and my time to ‘switch off’. It’s meeting people and discussing things.”
“But that is still a full-time job,” I said. “Even when ‘switched off’, those conversations are still going to be relevant to what you’re doing during the week.”
“But it’s the best job in the world!” he said. “I love it. Of course there will be tough times and difficult decisions. But at the end of the day, you stand for the people who put a cross next to your name – and those who didn’t. It means something. It’s very special.”
I asked Ben about the current febrile nature of political discourse, and was relieved to hear he encourages bridges rather than barriers. “I have made a big point of saying hello to George Freeman [Mid Norfolk’s Tory MP]. We know each other. We recently had a meeting with the Norfolk and Waveney Integrated Care Board, which is cross-party. Some things go above and beyond party politics. Hopefully, we can be a bit more grown-up about things – although of course (as I stood on a red rosette) there will be things on which we completely disagree. As there should be.”
On that note, I wanted to end by finding out more about Ben the man, beyond Ben the politician. I gave him a set of questions: favourite and least favourite book, film of choice, song of choice, and person he would want to converse with if stranded on a desert island.
“The book I keep going back to is the Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. It’s the one I go to if ever I need a picking up. By contrast, I have traumatic memories of studying a book in school called ‘Holes’. My film of choice is “Run, Lola, Run”: a very German, artsy film. The way my hippy German teacher taught us was to show us German films at the end of each term.
“My song of choice would be by Bruce Springsteen – I took my dad to a Bruce Springsteen concert for his birthday. Proper Father/Son bonding. “Youngstown” is my favourite.
“And the person to go down the pub with is Kathy Burke! She’d have me laughing my socks off by the end. A proper Eastender.
This is the lefty coming out in me again: where has Britain historically excelled? The arts! It is in the interests of our economy to never underestimate the value of the arts!”
11 Market Place: The Early Years
Philip Yaxley’s article and photo in the February edition of the Wymondham Magazine about No. 11 Market Place, now the home of Kett’s Books, prompted a search to piece together the earlier history of one of the town’s most prominent buildings.
Robert Everett was born in Wymondham in 1744 into a Quaker family and married Elizabeth, a local girl from Diss in 1768. She died in 1775 leaving him with a daughter also named Elizabeth. Some while later he remarried to Sarah, and we know from his will, made in 1827, that he and Sarah were living in No.11 by then. Robert died in 1834 and is buried at the Wymondham Friends Burial Ground at Chapel Bell. Both his birth and death are recorded in the records of the Society of Friends. He was a wealthy man, having traded as a shopkeeper from what are now Nos. 9 & 10 Wymondham Market Place and currently occupied by Chips Away and the opticians, Cecil Amey.
Following Robert’s death, and having given in his will a life interest to his wife Sarah and after she died his sons Jonathan and Robert junior, his properties were put up for auction in several lots on 1st July 1836.
No 11 was described in the auction particulars as a “Mansion being in a commanding situation in the Market Place; most substantially built, and conveniently arranged for a large family, having extensive offices, with servants’ sleeping rooms over the same, stable, yard and garden, in the occupation of Mrs Everett.”
The property at that time was a square site bounded by Everett’s shop on one side and Fairland Street on the other. At the back was the rear passage leading to the Queen’s Head, as it is today. Intriguingly, the 1836 auction particulars include a comment, “Copyhold of the Manor of Wymondham Grishaugh, all that messuage copyhold, built, sometime two messuages situate in or near the Market Hill”. This perhaps indicates that the present house was built during Robert’s ownership on the site of those two properties or possibly incorporating some of their parts.
The property either did not sell or was withdrawn. It was offered for sale again on 18th May 1849 when No 11 sold for £400 to Mrs Sophia Ann Jones.
Sophia Ann Jones was the widow of the Rev. Daniel Jones who had been the Vicar of Wymondham from 1836 until his death in 1848. She lived there for the next 24 years with a couple of servants and sundry lodgers, dying at the goodly age of 75 years on the 7th of February 1872.
Mrs Jones was the sister of William Robert Clarke of Wattlefield Hall and Edward Palmer Clarke a prominent local solicitor living in Vicar Street. As a result of various wills and deaths, the property was inherited in 1872 by Julia de Roubigne Beevor Clarke, the widow of Edward Palmer Clarke, who promptly put it up for sale. The house was bought that year by Francis John Howlett, a solicitor.
Francis was born on 12th May 1836 and by the time of the 1841 Census, he was living with his parents on a farm at Bawburgh. 10 years later he was studying at a school in Upper Surrey Street, Norwich with 18 other boys. This was run by the Rev. John Perowne, Rector of St Johns Maddermarket in Norwich from 1835 to 1863. The education at his school must have been exceptional since three of Perowne’s sons followed him into the priesthood. John ended up as Bishop of Worcester, Thomas became Rector of Redenhall and an Archdeacon of Norwich and Edward (who was curate to his father at St John’s during Francis Howlett’s time there) became Master of Corpus Christi College, Cambridge, Vice-Chancellor of Cambridge University, and a Royal Chaplain.
On the 5th of January 1854, young Francis signed the Articles of Clerkship with Norwich Solicitor and former Mayor of Norwich, William Rackham. Unfortunately, Rackham died in October of that year and Francis would have needed a new principal, possibly one of Rackham’s younger partners. In 1859 he completed his articles and was admitted to the Roll of Solicitors. By the 1861 Census, he was living somewhere in Wymondham Market Place and unmarried. Business must have been doing well since in 1862 his young brother became articled to him, and he too must have prospered since he is recorded in1895 as a partner in a London firm and was Francis’s London Agent. By the 1871 Census, he was back with his parents at Hall Farm Bawburgh and still, at the age of 34, unmarried. In 1872, he completed the purchase of 11 Market Place.
In November 1875, the Norfolk News recorded Francis removing his office from Market Place to his newly built office in Fairland Street opposite Back Lane (Friarscroft Lane today) and a year later, he married Mary Jane Millburne in Bromley, Kent. Children soon followed and the 1881 census recorded him living there with Mary Jane and three children Frank (age 4), Julia (age 3) and Edward (age 2) as well as three staff. A fourth child, Emily followed a year later and a fifth, John in 1890.
Frank pursued an eminent career as an entomologist, eventually becoming an Imperial Pathological Entomologist in India. Julia married another solicitor, John Empson Toplis Pollard from Norwich who eventually took over the Wymondham business. Julia died in 1925 and John in 1953. Edward became a planter in India and died of malaria there in 1916. Emily sadly died in the influenza epidemic of 1892. Local photographer Henry Cushing was asked to take a photograph of the dead girl, a not-unusual custom of the time. John studied at Cambridge University & joined the 7th Norfolk Regiment in World War I where he saw action in France and Malaya. He became a Captain and was awarded the Military Cross. He survived and became a colonial official, dying in 1956.
Francis Howlett died in 1894 from the effects of a stroke, but the business carried on round the corner in Fairland Street. Two years after Francis’s death Kelly’s Directory lists Frederick Edward Groom trading as Howlett & Groom in Fairland Street so Francis must have taken Groom into partnership sometime before his death. By 1904, the firm had become Newton & Pollard. This was Frederick Hawkins Newton who had been practicing in Church Street since at least 1892 and John Empson Toplis Pollard who had qualified in 1887 married Francis’s daughter Julia in 1897 and been carrying on business in Norwich & Acle. Various partners came and went but the firm was still practising in Fairland Street in 1937.
Francis’s widow carried on living in 11 Market Place until at least 1911 and eventually died on 16th July 1922 at the home of her daughter Julia in Thorpe Road Norwich.
In 1924 the house was sold to William Salkeld Hall: an auctioneer and estate agent who had been trading in Watton and Wymondham since at least 1915. It remains in the Hall family ownership to this day and is currently leased to Kett’s Books.
In Memory of Anne Hoare
In June, Wymondham Heritage Society republished “Wymondham in Words and Water Colours” by Anne and Adrian Hoare, in tribute to Anne who sadly passed away on 23rd December 2023.
Both Anne and Adrian were accomplished local historians and together they published over twenty books and pamphlets. Their first publication was in 1984 and called ‘In search of Robert Kett’, Other titles written by them include ‘Standing up to Hitler’, ‘An Unlikely Rebel: Robert Kett and the Norfolk Rising’, ‘On the Trail of Kett’s Rebellion in Norfolk’, ‘Looking Back at Damgate’, ‘Discovering Wymondham History along its Streets’, ‘When War came to Wymondham’ and ‘Wymondham: A Pleasant Place’.
Anne and Adrian’s final book together ‘Wymondham in Words and Water Colours’ originally came out during the lockdown and had a print run of just 40 copies which they gave to friends and family as Christmas gifts. In November 2023, Adrian suggested that the Heritage Society republish the book to raise funds, and after Anne died, the Society agreed it should be republished in her memory. The book includes Anne's drawings and paintings of Wymondham with captions and poems.
Anne had a love of drawing and painting, and friends eagerly looked forward to receiving their annual Christmas card. She turned local images into hand-painted cards. Many friends of theirs still treasure and display these cards. Anne and Adrian always worked together as a team with her doing the illustrations. They both read history at Hull University and this subject was central to their lives. Anne didn’t do much typing and Adrian was responsible for the word processing, page layout etc. Teamwork was the key for this marriage in so many ways.
Anne was the first in her family to go to university. There she met Adrian who was a few years older having completed national service. Anne first saw him at a meeting of the university’s history society, of which Adrian was president. Suffice to say that, suddenly, she found herself attending history society meetings more frequently!
When she was just age 21, Anne developed type 1 diabetes. To live with type 1 for more than 60 years is rare - so rare that in Anne's many hospital admissions in the last couple of years, some doctors often assumed she was type 2 - before she put them right! Anne managed to live a full life with it - but it was extremely hard for her. She had to inject herself with insulin four times a day, checking her blood sugar constantly. Never able to skip a meal, eat at an unconventional time, or do something impulsive or spontaneous.
They moved to Bedford in 1966 and took on new teaching posts. Diabetes carries particular risks during pregnancy and very sadly for Anne and Adrian, their first child, Katherine, died shortly after birth. Happily, Jonathan was born in 1971 but due to complications, he was moved to Great Ormond Street Hospital where he remained for six weeks. Anne would take the train from Bedford to London and back most days to visit him.
Anne and Adrian (and Jonathan) came to Wymondham in 1974 when Adrian took up a post at Wymondham College. Anne soon got involved in the local community. She was a volunteer at Morley play group and later became chair of Morley school’s governors.
Anne slowly became part of the social fabric of the college, first acting as a part-time matron, then, gradually, returning to part-time teaching; teaching History, English, and French - a Jack of all trades! She was key in organising the summer fair each year and eventually became deputy housemistress of Cavell Hall. She was later appointed Head of Special Educational Needs. She continued to take an interest in the children she helped long after they had left the school, delighted to see them thrive. Helping young people achieve their potential was very important to her. Many past pupils and colleagues remained in touch with Anne and Adrian and held them in high regard.
There was an American hospital on the school site during the Second World War. Anne’s passion for local history and research enabled the story of the hospital, which treated injured American airmen from 1942 and the post-D-Day landing casualties, to be told properly for the first time. Her research led to enduring friendships with the families of the American doctors and other staff from whom she gathered evidence. Today only one hut, which serves as the school chapel and a heritage centre remain. It includes information on the site’s history provided by Anne. With Adrian’s help she wrote a book about the hospital’s history. After they retired in 1994, they devoted more of their time to further historical research and soon became busier than ever. They kept in close contact with Wymondham College and were honoured with the joint presidency of the Old Wymondhamians. They also helped with the colleges’ anniversary book and heritage trail.
As active members of Wymondham Heritage Society, the Hoares began to produce a variety of local history books, which Anne illustrated in her instantly recognisable style. Anne designed many historical maps of the locality. She was asked to create a special heritage map of Wymondham, which raised funds from the sale of its limited edition (500 copies) for the museum. She loved the historic buildings of Wymondham and painted handmade greetings cards of these buildings, to be sold in the Wymondham Heritage Museum. Her artwork was also used on numerous tea towels sold to raise funds for the museum. Of course as well as all this they spent many hours at the museum working in reception, meeting visitors, creating annual displays, representing the museum at events and general administration. Adrian was chairman for 12 years and also organised the steward’s rota.
A group of retirees from Derbyshire visited Wymondham in 1996; Anne and Adrian took them to Norwich and gave them a guided tour of all the places in the city with Kett’s Rebellion connections, including Kett’s Heights. One member of the group Dorothy Whetnall sketched all the places they visited. Later these became beautiful watercolours, many of which feature in the main Kett’s display in the museum. Anne and Adrian kindly donated these loved works of art to the museum last year.
In May 2000 to commemorate the millennium Anne and Adrian organised ‘The Wymondham Story’; a walking trail around Wymondham with around 25 costumed characters telling the town's history. This led to the publication of a book in 2004: ‘The Wymondham Story - A Snapshot History of a Norfolk Market Town’, based upon the route and stories told in the event.
In 2007 their book ‘History along the Tiffey’ saw profits donated the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital.
Anne and Adrian were honoured in 2008 with the Wymondham Civic Award, in recognition of their work for the Wymondham Heritage Society, and other charitable organisations. Anne was particularly proud of this award. The late C J Sansom’s 2018 book ‘Tombland’, the seventh in the Shardlake series, was set in Norfolk and especially Norwich. Shardlake is sent to Norfolk to investigate a murder and he becomes embroiled in Kett’s Rebellion, When C J Sansom was researching the book he contacted Adrian and Anne and twice came to Wymondham to meet with them where they shared their knowledge of Kett and the Rebellion.
During the 2020 lockdown, Anne and Adrian needed a project to keep them busy. ‘Wymondham in Words and Water Colours’ was born. It is a reminder of their affection for the town where they had lived for over 40 years.
When Anne passed away, Adrian and Jonathan said “kind” was the word most often used to describe her. Others included “lovely smile”, “warm personality” and “friend of many”. Anne always thought of other people, whether it was being active in the patient supporters’ group at the Norfolk and Norwich hospital, the patients’ participation group in Wymondham, or the Wymondham diabetes group of which she was a founder member and Group Secretary, she wanted to help people. She was a great ambassador for Wymondham, embodied in her maps, drawings and books. Anne has left us with a significant legacy and will always be remembered with love by those who knew her.
‘Wymondham in Words and Water Colours’ by Anne and Adrian Hoare is available for sale from Wymondham Heritage Museum for just £4.95 a copy, and is also available from local bookshops.
What's in a Photo? A Murderer's Blunderbuss
In the mid-1970s, Brigadier P. Jermy-Gwyn showed me the blunderbuss actually used in the infamous Stanfield Hall murders.
On a November evening in 1848, Isaac Jermy and his son, the brigadier’s forebears, were shot dead by James Blomfield Rush, who also wounded the young Jermy’s wife and Eliza Chastney, a servant girl. Rush had bought Potash Farm, a mile to the east of Stanfield Hall, from Mr Jermy, his employer, on Jermy’s own mortgage. Rush subsequently fell into financial difficulties and in order to retrieve his position devised a plan, which involved the forgery of Jermy’s signature on certain documents – and wholesale murder. Rush approached the hall that evening disguised as an old woman armed with the blunderbuss on a footpath, which he had previously covered with straw to avoid detection of his footprints. However, he was found guilty at the Norwich Assizes in March 1849, mainly on the damning evidence of his mistress Emily Sandford to whom he had not fulfilled a promise of marriage.
Rush’s public execution took place on the bridge of Norwich Castle on Saturday 21st April 1849 and, with the trial having attracted country-wide interest, that Saturday morning people streamed into Norwich by tumbril, waggon and horse to witness the execution. Many came by rail and there was even an excursion by train from London. Some even came on foot and one woman, who had given birth only three weeks earlier, had walked fourteen miles to the city the previous night to be present. Bawling pedlars were on the streets selling printed sheets of ballads telling the story of Rush and his murderous deeds, while pie-sellers and the like provided the masses with food. The inns and taverns in the vicinity of the Castle were doing a roaring trade, while as much as £10 was paid for a seat at the east end of the Bell Hotel, where a first class view was to be had. Some spectators were on housetops, while others perched on the square tower of one of the city’s churches. It was estimated that the crowd numbered 12000-13000. Jermy was the Recorder of Norwich and President of the Norwich Union Life Insurance Society and while the insurance company’s staff normally worked on Saturday mornings then that Saturday they were given an extra morning’s leave to witness the execution of their president’s murderer. Awaiting the execution the motley crowd were in good humour – rather like today’s Carrow Road football crowds, but silence prevailed when Rush emerged from the castle to walk to the gallows.
And Charles Dickens, that most celebrated of Victorians, visited Stanfield a few weeks after the murders and commented that the hall had “a murderous look that seemed to invite crime”.
Ted Talks: The Football Club
Recently, some of Ted’s friends in town have taken to calling him “Chelsea” because he was wearing a hat with the blue and white colours associated with that football team. To put the record straight, Ted is not a Chelsea supporter, he just wears that hat to keep his head warm.
However, from when he was 10 years old until he was 16 (1942-1948), he was involved with Wymondham Town FC. He and his best mates, Chicky and Wally, used to watch the matches at King’s Head Meadow and at Browick Road Park. They made new friends there including Pickie Morris and Sid Bann.
In those days, the star players were the Seaman brothers, David and Morris, and Harvey who worked at the Co-op, and the big derby match was against Attleborough.
Wymondham Town involved young people in the life of the club and, under the wings of a local primary school teacher, Mrs Barnicoat, found them jobs to do. Ted put out chairs for the fans and recalls that the price for the best seats was two shillings and sixpence.
Leslie Barnard, who ran a café, oversaw the tickets, and transported the team’s football kits in his Ford Popular motorcar. A 20-seat Simpsons bus ferried the players and the manager to the away games.
Naturally, the children took time to “muck about” as Ted puts it, with their own matches. They used the club’s equipment to draw white lines on the grass and make their own mini-pitches. Ted especially enjoyed dribbling the ball.
The football club also gave children insights into life after school (the leaving age was 14 in those days). Ted used to have conversations with the former ‘old boys’ at his school, Harvey Lever and Ernie Mann, to find out about the world of work. Indeed, he and his mates met future employers at the club such as local farmers and the fire brigade, who provided first aid cover for the matches.
Wymondham Town FC had a rich social life; there were parties, buffets, and Ted’s first social dances with girls. He learned to twirl them around at high speed and even to flip them upside down if they asked. And Ted still has his dance moves, so watch out ladies!
Dealing With Probate When Someone Dies Without a Will
Although many understand the importance of planning for their future, there are many occasions where a family member may die without a will.
When someone dies without having a valid will, it is called dying intestate. This means the estate will be determined by rules of intestacy. This will also occur if a person does have a will but no beneficiaries are named.
The assets, including any property, money, and possessions, will be sold or transferred, and liabilities will be settled. The leftover balance will then be paid to the beneficiaries. This is known as Administering the Estate.
Once administered, the estate will be distributed in accordance with the legislation. This means that if someone dies without a will, the law will determine who receives and in what share. This means that in many probate cases where there is no will, unmarried or unregistered partners, stepchildren, and stepbrothers and sisters will not inherit anything.
An application must be made to the court before the legal administration of the Estate can begin. The intestacy rules that determine who gets what can be complex and the family tree will need to be clearly understood. Due to these difficulties, cases of probate without a will can have a greater risk of mistakes in the identification of who administers and benefits from the Estate. Estate administrators could be personally liable for any loss resulting from a breach of their duty.
It is thus highly advised that probate cases without a valid will are dealt with by specialist probate solicitors.
Rules of Intestacy
As described above, the rules of intestacy can be strict and complicated and do not allow for modern family relationships. Below are some simple examples of how an estate may be divided in straight forward situations.
~If the person who died was married or in a civil partnership with no children, all of their estate will go to their partner.
~If the person who died was married or in a civil partnership with children, the first £270,000 of their estate will go to their partner together with all the deceased’s personal chattels. Anything over this will be divided between the partner and the children. The partner will receive 50% and the children will receive 50% divided between them.
Examples with modern family relationships:
~If the person who died was not married or in a civil partnership but was living with their partner, the partner will not be entitled to receive anything.
~If the person who died was not married or in a civil partnership but did have children, the whole estate will go to them. If there are no children, the estate will instead go to parents, siblings, or other relatives.
If you would like to discuss any points in this article further or are looking for independent advice when administering an estate without a will, please contact Spire Solicitors LLP on 01953 606351. We can also assist with writing a will to ensure your wishes for your family and assets are honoured upon your passing.
Short Story: The Mermaid
Jed put his empty pint glass on the bar and handed Debs five not so crisp notes.
‘Easy pickings,’ he said with a grin. ‘These tourists are so easily parted from their holiday cash! Now, the weather’s set fine for tomorrow so get yourself out there ready for the first boatload.’
‘What time Grandad?’ she asked as she counted the notes in her hand. Good money for a holiday job even if it was a bit of a strange one and boring as hell most of the time.
‘I’ll put out of here at 11 o'clock. Remember if I’m flying me red flag you go and hide; only come out if you can see me green’un.’
‘I know. Green for gullible. Red for right know-alls with binoculars.’
‘You got it gal. Now are you gonna buy your old granddad a pint?’ Jed whipped a fiver from Deb’s hand and waved his glass at the bar maid. The Mermaid was his local all year round. It was deserted apart from the locals for most of the year, but in the summer this small harbourside pub was always packed out with holiday makers.
It was one quiet winter evening last year that Jed had hatched his money making scheme. He’d had a few pints and as he left the pub he’d looked up at the pub sign swinging and creaking above his head. The painted mermaid, bosoms discreetly covered with seaweed, seemed to be talking to him. ‘Bring boatloads to Carr Point to see me,’ was what she said with a wink. So, Jed had painted his boat, renamed her The Fair Mermaid, painted Mermaid Boat trips signs, took leaflets to the hotels and B & B’s and then wondered who he could talk into being his beautiful mermaid. Debs was the obvious choice. She was seventeen, beautiful in the right sort of way and she was in need of money. It had been easy to persuade her to join in his plan.
Carr Point was a good half an hour’s sailing from the harbour, round to the next bay where a jagged range of granite stuck out into the Channel. Most boats kept well clear but Jed had a lifetime’s experience of these waters and besides he would stay far enough away from land so that those on board would only catch a distance glimpse of Debs the mermaid.
The next day he was at the harbourside touting for custom.
‘Boat trips to see the mermaid,’ he called out. ‘Get your tickets now to see the amazing mermaid.’ As usual the twenty places soon filled. Most were families with children eager to find something to occupy themselves before lunchtime. He hoisted the green flag – everyone on board looked as if they would believe what they saw – and set sail.
He could see Debs in position as he rounded the edge of the next bay. She had obviously clocked his green flag and had perched herself high on the rocks. Good girl. Now he could point her out to those on board.
‘Now ladies and gentlemen, I do believe you are in luck today. If you look over to your right hand side, on those rocks over there you will see the marvellous mermaid – a strange creature – the top half is of course a beautiful woman but look below and you will see her fishy tail. She comes to these rocks to comb her golden hair. Obligingly, as if on cue, Debs adjusted the seaweed to cover her white bikini top and then waved her green lycra legs to which was attached a bright green painted triangle of a tail. Jed’s boat was pitching and tossing so much that any attempts to take photos were doomed to failure. As Debs ran a comb through her hair it touched the metal frame of her sunglasses. Quickly she whipped them off her nose.
‘Mummy why is that mermaid lady wearing sunglasses?’ a little voice piped up.
‘I don’t know dear. Perhaps you better ask the Captain.’
Jed had to do some quick thinking.
‘Well son. Maybe she’s been to SpecSavers today. Look she’s waving to you. Are you going to wave back?’ The little lad waved politely and said no more.
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Photo of the Month: Are Photographers Brave or Stupid?
During a Safari in Tanzania earlier this year, an inquisitive Cheetah paid me and my wife a visit by jumping on the Landcruiser and poking his head under the canopy.
Just before this event, our Guide had said that this Cheetah looked very hungry, so you can imagine the fear on my wife's face when the Cheetah looked directly at her.
All I could think as a photographer was that I must catch this moment. Nothing else entered my thoughts.
Brave or Stupid? I will leave you to judge.
Greening Wymondham: People Power
Good news for Browick Road Community Orchard: the latest planning application for a Fibre Telecommunications Exchange near the Orchard has been withdrawn. A big thank you to all of you who supported Greening Wymondham by objecting to the Exchange being built so close to the Orchard. We understand there’ll be a further application for the building to be sited further away near the industrial park, as we suggested.
Come and visit the Orchard on one of our working days this month: September 12 and 14, 10-12am. You can join us for elevenses at 11 (strange, that!) and find out more about the Orchard. Alternatively, please come and visit us at Friarscroft Wood on September 10 9:30-12:30pm and see what progress we’ve made – this month we’re hoping to have the Norfolk Wildlife Trust survey of flora which will lead to a management plan.
A shout out, too, to the council bodies and others who have refrained from cutting some of our roadside verges (though still too many seem to be prematurely mown). In a summer which has seen a nationwide dearth of bees and butterflies, carefully managed verges offer vital corridors for biodiversity and the chance of a return in insect numbers.
Our balsam bashing has been piecemeal this year, so thank you to those that have helped us clear some of it, including the Wymondham Allotment Association and private individuals like Kerry Berrisford who have worked to get rid of Himalayan Balsam along the Tiffey. People Power is a lot of determined individuals!
Nature Group Events and Updates
Wymondham Nature Group (WyNG) have had a busy summer, with monthly Sunday afternoon events at Toll’s Meadow, a Bat and Swift evening at Wymondham Abbey during Big Green Week, and a butterfly walk at NWT Ashwellthorpe Lower Wood - part of our “Butterfly Day” in July, which proved very popular. Our Autumn programme starts on the 12th of September at 7:30-9:30pm at Town Green Centre: come and join us for our Nature Photography Showcase and a Quiz led by Cliff Maidstone. Any and all are welcome; admissions are £3.
We have a free event on Saturday 21st of September - moth trapping and identification at Ketteringham Permaculture Garden from 7:00-9:00pm. An illustrated talk will also take place on Thursday 10th of October on the Wildlife of Sri Lanka, delivered by Mike and Pam Merrick. 7:30-9:30pm at Town Green Centre; admissions £3.
No need to book for these events; all are welcome.
Masters of the Air Exhibition at Heritage Museum
Inspired by the film “Masters of the Air: The Friendly Invasion”, Wymondham Heritage Museum is staging an exhibition celebrating the arrival of the American Airforce in Britain in 1942. The display was put together by Luara Osadciw with help from museum display manager Sarah Standley.
“I’m half American so I was eager to do it,” Laura said. “Sarah provided some stories and first hand documents from her personal archive. There’s a mix of local and general documents.”
The display narrates the impact of the GIs’ “invasion” on the area and the town. They attended dances, visited pubs and introduced such “luxuries” as peanut butter, chewing gum and Nylons.
With Norfolk being flat, it was ideal for airfields as aircraft could take off and land on level ground. There were 18 air bases in the county with many located close to Wymondham including Thorpe Abbots, Hethel, Deopham Green and Old Buckenham. Around 50,000 personnel were serving at them.
Also included in the display is the story of how Morley Hospital was established, the servicemen it treated and the impact D-Day had on it. And it wasn’t just men that descended on Britain. There were a significant number of women contributing to the war effort. Several American Red Cross nurses worked at Morley with many other women filling clerical, nursing and support roles. Morley Hospital closed on June 8th, 1945. In 1951 it became the site of Wymondham College.
This fascinating exhibition, which boasts many photographs taken in the town and at Morley Hospital, reflects how the Americans contributed to life in Wymondham. It can be found in the museum’s main gallery. Details of the museum and The Bridewell Tearoom opening times and the many other displays can be found at thewhm.org.uk
A main feature of the museum’s Masters of the Air exhibition is the story of Pamela Standley, a Wymondham girl, and the American GI she fell hopelessly in love with. Her niece, Sarah Standley, has pieced together Pamela’s poignant story.
Pamela met John “Johnny” Fellowes, at a dance held at what is now Wymondham High School and they formed a close relationship going to dances, the cinema and exploring the local area.
John flew 30 missions before it was time for him to return to the United States. The two kept in close correspondence, but John’s letters became less frequent and finally stopped.
Sarah says: “Pamela never married or had children. She considered John Fellowes to be the real love of her life.”
The full story story of “Love in Wymondham” is displayed with photographs of Pamela and John. Also on show is a dress made for Pamela by her mother in April 1944 which she wore for dances with Johnny and kept safely for the rest of her life. It now belongs to Sarah.
Lions Events and Updates
At the Wymondham Lions Summer Garden Party, the members welcomed former Hon Treasurer Kieran O'Herlihy as the new Club President. Kieran has been a very enthusiastic Lion for almost five years and his becoming President continues a family tradition, as his father was the first President of his hometown Club of Wicklow in 1986.
Kieran was born in Dublin, went to the famous Blackrock College, studied English and Economics at University College Dublin. His life took him into teaching, moved to England in 1985 and became a Head in Norwich in 2006. Married with 2 children and 5 grandchildren he is very much a family man. Outside family and work his main interests are sporting, especially cricket, football and rugby.
His main goals for his term of office include looking for new fundraising opportunities and further increasing the Club's membership whilst maintaining the ethos of serving our local community in as many ways as possible.
Recently the Wymondham Lions volunteered at the Royal Norfolk Show, giving out free wristbands for children. Parents write their mobile number on the band so they can be phoned should the child become lost. Even more recently they were in force at the Wayland Show, manning 2 of the gates.
The Club's annual quiz'n'chilli (non-chilli available!) will be on October 26th in Central Hall. Tickets will be £12pp, byob, teams of up to 6. Contact Lion Nigel (sealoft7@gmail.com) for info and to book.
We will be taking Santa into the town's care homes in December, with a choir, to serenade the residents with carols and giving out gifts to all. Santa will also be at the Wymondham Garden Centre on Tuttles Lane on the 21st December. He is looking forward to seeing your children's happy smiling faces there. We are also trying to persuade Santa to find some time in his busy schedule to come to the carols and lights switch-on at the Market Cross on 1st December.
Wymondham Lions are always looking for new members, or occasional volunteers who will help out on an ad hoc basis. We meet upstairs in The Feathers on the last Tuesday of each month (except October and December) or can be contacted on 0345 833 5749 or wymondhamlions@gmail.com
Library Events and Updates
Did you know that we at Wymondham Library have regular free activities and groups? These include:
Knit Stitch and Natter
Thursdays 10-12pm; 4.45-6-45pm. Drop in to this friendly group to finish any projects you are working on.
Bounce and Rhyme
Tuesdays 10:10-10:40am; 11-11-30am. Songs and music for pre-schoolers with parents or carers.
Lego Club
Saturdays 10:30-11:30am. Get creative with our large collection of Lego. Suitable for children aged 5+.
Childrens Craft Club
Saturdays 10:30-11:30am. All materials provided for a different craft each week. Drop-in.
Autism Café
1st Thursday of the month 12pm-1pm. A space for those with autism and their carers or family to meet and chat in a friendly, casual environment. Drop-in.
Home Education Teen Meetup
Fridays at 2:30-4:30pm. A group for all teens that are home-educated to meet up and chat.
Just a Cuppa and Games Time
Wednesdays 3-6pm. Drop in to play our large collection of board games and have a friendly chat with others.
Digital Support
Wednesday 10-4pm; Thursday 3-5pm. Drop in for help with computer queries from our friendly IT support volunteers.
Uniforms, Tools, and Café Sessions at Baptist Church
Sunday Club and Café Church Events
Sunday Club (School) meet each Sunday at 10:30 am, initially in the church, then in our own child-friendly room. We enjoy bible stories, songs and craft activities that support children in learning about the life of Jesus.
Children of all ages are welcome, but we respectfully ask that children under four years of age are accompanied by an adult.
Please note on the fourth Sunday of each month there will be a Café Church which includes the children, so arrangements are slightly different on those days. Enjoy a warm welcome, for the whole family, at these informal Café Church gatherings which starts at 10:00am, on the fourth Sunday of each month. Tea/coffee and cake are served (all free of charge,) in a relaxed family atmosphere. Followed at 10:30am. by a short ministry, children’s craft activities, singing, reflection and plenty of conversation. Join us in the Frank Bunn room.
Do also come and join us on Saturday 5th of October from 10:30-12:30 our Messy Church Arts and Crafts. Children will need to be accompanied by an adult. For further information, contact Sarah at emmens.cfw@gmail.com.
Earth and Sky Exhibition at Arts Centre
Professional artists Amelia Bowman, Kerry Buck and artist blacksmith Toby Winterbourn return with a mixed show inspired by landscape and nature. Featuring original collagraph prints, paintings and decorative metalwork alongside limited edition reproductions, cards and giftware, the exhibition will be inviting, inspiring, and uplifting. It will take place from the 22nd of October to the 3rd of November, 11am-4pm (with a closure on Monday the 28th). Entry is free and wheelchair accessibility is available.
Peter Skeggs Gooch is coming to the Garden Club
We are very pleased to welcome Peter Skeggs Gooch, a true Clematis expert from Thorncroft Nursery and one of the leading Clematis growers in the country. He has agreed to give a talk on “Clematis Planting, Pruning and Care”. Expect an amusing talk with hand-outs to save writing notes in the semi-dark! This will take place on Monday 16th of September, 7:30pm, at Town Centre Green. For more information about Peter & Thorncroft Nursery, check out their website thorncroftclematis.co.uk
The Lowe Down: Emily Maitlis, Wymondham High, and Punctuality
Emily Maitlis is an icon of British journalism. She is most well-known for her BBC Newsnight interview with Prince Andrew about his links with Jeffrey Epstein, the interview which put the kibosh on him ever returning to public favour. She has also endorsed some iconic works of exposé journalism, such as Hannah Barnes’s Time to Think and James O’Brien’s How They Broke Britain.
In an interview available on YouTube, she said this:
“I hate lateness. I’m very punctual generally. I had a boyfriend who reminded me years after we broke up that I had a fifteen-minute rule. If he was fifteen minutes late…rather than getting angry or shout or anything, I’d just go. I’ve saved a lot of time not waiting for people.”
This made me think of Wymondham High Academy. When I attended (2015-2022), they exemplified this attitude to a T. They were rigorous with punctuality. Being even a minute over the bell would result in a front-of-class dressing-down at best and an after-school detention at worst. (I was never subjected to either, largely because these measures terrified me enough that I was in the classroom five minutes before the teacher had even turned up.)
Depending on your view, these methods will seem either valid and noble or a tad authoritarian. I remain grateful to them regardless. They bred in me a pathological – and very useful – fear of lateness. My sometimes overcorrecting obsession with earliness is an in-joke with friends and family. My desire to get to the airport four to six hours before the plane is due to leave is a constant bug-bear with my sister while travelling. Likewise, I am always at least ten minutes early to quartet rehearsals – which is ironic given that our first violinist is perennially late and has more than once kept us sitting there for 30-45 minutes. The second violinist is the unlucky host of these rehearsals, and she laughs about balancing the annoyances of one punctuality zealot and another hyper-latecomer.
One crucial disclaimer is that every aforementioned character – my sister and two quartet colleagues – also attended Wymondham High! They did not emerge with my obsession. Maybe I’ve overinterpreted their rules.
Nevertheless, it is useful. I don’t always share Emily Maitlis’s frustrations with the latecomer (it depends on the circumstances), but I do get angsty and hyper-apologetic on the rare occasions when it is me.
It’s useful for deadlines as well. Again, Wymondham High staff were rigorous when it came to homework deadlines. This had useful consequences at university. I have met students in Edinburgh who can write their essays in the final week – or final 24 hours – and get as good marks as me, if not better.
I salute those people. I’m not one of them. If the essay isn’t finished and submitted at least a week before the deadline, I panic. I start working on it a good month in advance. The only time I was forced to work faster on an assessment was towards the end of my second year at Edinburgh. The deadline was getting nearer and nearer…and the admin team still hadn’t released the prompts. Rather than the usual month, the essay questions were trickled out to our inboxes with about two and a half weeks to go. This is the kind of deadline rush that makes me the most anxious: when it’s other people’s incompetence rather than my own.
But to return to Emily Maitlis, I usually stick around for the latecomer. Especially when they are blameless. I would apply her ‘15-minute rule’ in more symbolic circumstances. Think of the people you wait for emotionally. Think of the potential partner who says, “I just can’t be with you right now” (because ‘right now’ there’s someone they’d prefer waiting outside). Or the person you emailed in a crisis whose response was not to support but to ignore you. These people are not going to rally around. Only recently have I realised that good self-care involves pushing the emotional latecomers out and surrounding yourself with the symbolically punctual. More literal latecomers are not the end of the world. Sometimes the bus was just slow.
Who knew Wymondham High policies were so conducive to self-care wisdom?
Vic's Picks: Best Places to Eat in Town
If, during your adventures in Wymondham, you find yourself feeling peckish, or if you are looking for the next restaurant to treat yourself or your loved ones, here are my top picks for places to eat in our town.
If you're looking for a sit-down restaurant, SathuDee Thai Restaurant on Market Street is a sensible choice. Not only is their food delicious, they have a range of dishes which can be cooked with either meat or plant-based options. My personal favourite is their Chicken Thai Green Curry with Sticky Rice (a classic). Not only is their food fantastic but they are open for both lunch and dinner, so it is a great choice if you’re looking for a nice sit-down lunch.
The Queen’s Head on Bridewell Street also boasts a diverse array of choices, from traditional classics to Super Food Salads. Its tasty dishes are enhanced further by its attractive interior.
Moving on, you will find the wonderful Loaf Microbakery in Middleton Street. This offers delicious vegan loaves, sandwiches, coffee and a veritable ‘sweet shop’ of cookies and buns - with a cardamon bun being my go-to. This offers a takeaway option or can be eaten in the small seating area while watching Wymondham go by. (The staff are also very friendly.)
For fish and chip Friday (or whichever day of the week you prefer), Chips Away opposite the Market Cross offers a traditional chip shop menu alongside its innovative selection of loaded chips, including American Cheese Burger Loaded Chips, Triple Pork Loaded Chips, and Hunters Chicken Loaded Chips (that last one being my favourite).
Last but far from least, my go-to spot for a chat and a cafe lunch is the Lemon Tree Cafe on Damgate Street. It has both inside and outside seating if you wish to soak up the last of those summer rays. Their Mushrooms on Toast is a strong option and my favourite. You’ll be sure to find something for everyone at the Lemon Tree Cafe as they offer vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free options. Also of particular note are their milkshakes.
In concluding this article, I have become quite hungry; I apologise if your reading it has had the same effect. Be comforted in the knowledge that Wymondham boasts a number of restaurants, cafes and bakeries to satiate that need. I hope that whichever food takes your fancy that you can not only find it in our beautiful market town but you can enjoy it and the experience it provides.
From My Perspective: Town Centre Improvements Project
The Town Centre Public Realm Improvements Consultation has been live for a couple of weeks and closes on October 13.
It has certainly been a talking point on many of the social media pages for Wymondham with plenty of useful feedback as well as some wild conspiracy theories!
As a South Norfolk district councillor and resident of Wymondham I volunteered to be on the working party for the project because I believe that our town deserves this funding boost and I wanted to help shape the final plans to ensure Wymondham has a bright future.
But it has been interesting, to say the least, to read some of the comments, primarily that we already know what we are going to do and filling in the questionnaire is a waste of time.
Categorically that is not true. We desperately want to get this right and understand what our residents, businesses and visitors want the nearly £1million to be spent on.
We have already had three meetings of the working party and everyone, both town and district councillors, the officers leading the team, and the consultants, is determined to draw up a scheme that has come from the feedback. No it won’t be what everyone wants, but we will certainly strive to use the information from the questionnaire to put together a scheme that the majority wants.
Secondly there is no secret plan to pedestrianise the town centre. That is not going to happen within the remit of this project. There simply is not the funding to do it and we are well aware that there is not the desire either.
What we can potentially do is make the town centre more pedestrian friendly. By that we mean dropped kerbs, widening pavements, adding traffic calming measures, changing traffic priorities, better sign-posting, more seating, more shading by planting more trees.
Also what we can’t do is get the retailers people want to take on empty shops. It is useful feedback to know what sort of shops people want but we would use that information for a separate project once the public realm has been completed. And hopefully our town will be more attractive to businessesand we can then create a more desirable location for them and look at ways of supporting their move here.
I was among the many devastated at the recent announcement that Jarrolds will be closing after 40 years on our high street. It will be a real loss to the town and I don’t want to see any more shops deciding on the same course of action in the near future. But I am also realistic in understanding that shopping habits are changing and it is becoming more and more of a challenge to run a successful high street store.
Having said that at a recent Wymondham Business Group meeting that was attended by over 30 business owners there was a sense of optimism and desire to prove that the town is still thriving in so many ways.
I recently heard from Tracy at Ketts Books that there are more businesses opening in Wymondham than closing and while the empty shops on the high street might cause concern there is clearly much to celebrate and build on.
Yes this project has no guarantee of success but what is the alternative? Sit back and do nothing? For me that is just not an option and I think it is a risk worth taking. However I am the eternal optimist and I truly believe that we will see increased footfall in the town centre as a result and an increased sense of pride in our town.
But we need your involvement now. So I urge you to complete the questionnaire and let us know what you want. We especially need more young people to respond so please ask your grandchildren, children, their friends and anyone else who lives or works here to take part. The final scheme will only be as good as the feedback we receive.
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/Wymondham-Public-Realm-Survey
Tennis Club's Summer Events
Wymondham Tennis Club members enjoyed an American Doubles tournament in early June, with Mike Wonnacott & Archie Jones coming out victorious over Nick Rodda & Steve Wright in the final. During the afternoon, the club were pleased to welcome some past members, representatives of Norfolk LTA, Dave Roberts from Wymondham Town Council and Kim Carsok from South Norfolk Council to celebrate the official opening of the new clubhouse. The ribbon was cut by Claire Dixon who has been a club member for over 40 years. Everyone toasted the new building and enjoyed lots of cake.
In July, an Open Day offering free tennis tasters saw a record attendance of 83 people, including 50 juniors. The club has been pleased to welcome new members since then & have now topped the full 70 member target. There are plans for adult beginners & rusty racket courses to begin in September. Anyone wanting to sign up for these or find out more should contact the club at enquiries@wymondhamtennis.club Potential members are also welcome to come along for a taster at club social sessions on Mondays 10 -12noon, Tuesdays & Fridays 6-8pm.
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.
Saturday 21st September
WyNG Moth Trapping and ID 7pm-9pm, Ketteringham Permaculture Garden
Church Lane, Ketteringham, NR18 9RS.
Free event; donations to Norfolk Wildlife Trust welcome - no need to book
Contact: John Beckett 01953 602876
facebook.com/WymondhamNatureGroup
Sunday 22nd September
Wellbeing and Spiritual Fair 10am-4pm, Central Hall
Beautiful stalls, music, children’s colouring table, treatments and readings, free demonstrations and talks throughout the day. Pop up café in the foyer. Free entry, cash preferable but card taken on most stalls.
Saturday 5th October
The Universe and Neurodiverse - An evening with Robin Ince 7:30pm, Wymondham High Academy
Rebel Arts Presents - An evening with Robin Ince - Multi award winning comedian, author, broadcaster and a populariser of scientific ideas. Tickets £15 on Eventbrite
facebook.com/profile.php?id=61550028069302
Monday 7th October
Silfield Oak Primary Consultation 2pm-6:30pm, Wymondham Rugby Club
Come along to meet members of the Trust and the Headteacher, Emily McMillen, to hear our vision for the new school and share your views. 2 presentations, one starting at 2pm and one at 6:30pm.
silfieldoak.org.uk
Friday 18th October
Quiz Night 6:45pm, Central Hall
Rotary Satellite Group hosts a charity quiz night with hot drinks and biscuits available for £1.50. Teams of 4-6, £24 per team. Email WymSatelliteRotary@gmail.com or phone 01603 810 494 to book.
facebook.com/events/378896391767087
Tuesday 22nd October
Earth & Sky Art Exhibition 11am-4pm, Becket's Chapel
Professional artists Amelia Bowman, Kerry Buck and artist blacksmith Toby Winterbourn return with a mixed show inspired by landscape and nature. Featuring original collagraph prints, paintings and decorative metalwork alongside limited edition reproductions, cards and giftware, the exhibition will be inviting, inspiring, and uplifting. Free entry, open daily until 3 Nov (closed Monday 28th)
wymondhamart.org
Thursday 24th October
The Wreck of HMS Gloucester 7:30pm, Fairland Hall
Talk by Julian Barnwell for Wymondham Heritage Society. Meetings are free to members, non-members are always welcome (£2 entry fee).
01953 600 205
wymondhamheritagemuseum.co.uk/?p=heritage.society
Saturday 26th October
Trick or Treat Trail 12pm-2pm, Wymondham Town Centre
Dozens of businesses on the high street will have treats for children in Halloween costumes.
facebook.com/WymondhamTownTeam/events
Lions Annual Quiz 7pm, Wymondham Central Hall
Gather the gang and get competitive for a fun charity quiz night. Form a group of up to 6 and get ready to battle it out. £5/person, bring your own drinks and food. To book contact Nigel on sealoft7@gmail.com.
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