FREE - Issue Number 290 - APRIL 2021
11
Watton Rotary Club & Wayland Academy
Shop Local Photographic Competition 2020
if you can!
For the last few years Watton Rotary Club
has held a Photographic Competition at
Wayland Academy for year 9 and 10
pupils. Despite Covid, this year has been no
exception since tuition has been able to
continue. In past years the photos produced
by the pupils have been of the highest
standard with widely differing
Watton
(Loch Neaton)
Bowls Club
Hopefully, with the continuing
improvement in the pandemic situation we
will be able to start playing outdoor bowls
again, at the Watton Sports Centre, by the
beginning of May. We are currently
awaiting instructions from Bowls England
on what the timetable will be and what
restrictions will be in place.
In anticipation, we have entered teams in
two local leagues, organised a number of
friendly matches, social events and weekly
club roll-ups. We would also like to
increase our membership so if you are
interested in joining us please contact John
Hunter 01953882419 or Kevin Simpson
01953882790. You can also find further
information about the club on our website
at www.wattonbowlsclub.co.uk
Wayland Mens
Shed Social Group
Church Walk, Watton.
Having missed the March edition of
Wayland News due to lack of anything
positive to say I now find myself
encouraged by the real possibility that
there might be some light at the end of
the tunnel, with some lockdown
restrictions being lifted at some time in
the not-too-distant future. Like my fellow
members of "Wayland Mens Shed" I
THIS PAPER IS FREE! COVID-19 Edition No.
interpretation of the given subject.
This year has proved no exception with the
subject being "Wild Nature". The pupil’s
interpretation and choice of subject matter
varied greatly and made judging the entries
very difficult. However the winner
deservedly was Franky Reeve with a very
well seen photo of a feeding butterfly and
eagerly await being able, all be it in
limited numbers, to meeting up again at
our hall in church walk. It is very much
hoped that by the time this article goes to
print our committee will have met to
discuss how and when our social
meetings will commence in the flesh,
rather than on Zoom.
A year ago, I was asked if I would like to
become a member of the board on the
newly formed "Norfolk Sheds Network"
this organisation was formed to Promote
and assist new Shed throughout the
County of Norfolk, regrettably due to the
Covid-19 our progress has been limited,
as has the increase in the formation of
any new sheds during 2020. I am now
however pleased to report that since the
beginning of this New Year 2021 and the
increased popularity in the use of social
media and the likes of Zoom and Skype
new Shed are rising from the Covid
Ashes.
Last week NSN organised our first open
Zoom meeting to leaders of Norfolk
Sheds, the meeting was a success with
the following sheds attending: Wayland,
Nth Walsham, Cromer, Wroxham,
Downham Market, Swaffham, Norwich,
Wymondham, Acle, Harlston, and
Poringland-(Nr Norwich), four of these
sheds are in their early stages of
formation but hope to be up and running
with face to face meetings, restrictions
permitting, in the near future.
With so much talk of the expected rise in
Mental health problems brought about by
the Covid-19 lockdown where so many
of us have been forced to isolate for
bee pictured above. There were 2 runners-
up. Jessica Chapman produced an excellent
close-up of a butterfly, and Maddie Collier,
a beautiful toad and both of these are on the
back page of this paper.
My congratulations to all 3 prize winners,
and also to all the entries.
Dr Mike Harvey
months upon end, we at "Wayland Mens
Shed" will be preparing for the day we
can open our door yet again and
welcome back members old and new for
companionship, friendship, and a good
old cuppa tea. Any enquiries or for
further information on "Wayland Mens
Shed in Watton" or other Sheds in
Norfolk, I can be contacted on Tel:
01953 881004,(Watton). Cheers, Richard
Adams, WMS Laison Officer.
A Quick Look
Round
By Orbiter
Well that’s another month when there
has been little to look round at, but there
are constant mentions of tunnels and
lights at their ends, so perhaps we are on
our way to normality at last.
More and more of us have been given
our first jabs, though when the final
doses will arrive there is no sign yet,
though time passes quickly so maybe it
won’t be too long before we can settle
down to our old ways. Time is one thing
that seems to vary – the future always
seems to take longer to arrive, the present
is literally here today but gone tomorrow,
while the past appears to shrink swiftly,
so that it can be a bit of a surprise when
we are reminded that lockdowns have
been with as for over a year already.
And as one year of the past goes quickly
the past seems to accelerate, so that the
(Continued on page 3)
The Wayland News April 2021 Page 2
The Wayland News April 2021 Page 3
(Continued from page 1)
new millennium dawned over twenty
years ago yet could be an event from
only yesterday and our memories from
the year 2000 are imprinted on us
indelibly, as warranted a landmark
unique to our generation.
At the present time, when nearly all
communal activities have been shut down
it is good to recall those days at the start of
the new century when all sections of the
community were brought closer by the
many events that took place, many of them
under the guidance of the W.I. branches
throughout the country, and quickly
adopted by clubs, local councils, and
private enterprises, so that the next three or
four years were packed with all manner of
exciting events, not least the erection and
lighting of beacons progressively
throughout the whole of Britain. Soon
every hamlet, village and town were
brought alive with a new community spirit,
signs were repainted, footpaths inspected
and brought up to a fine standard, flowers
planted on open spaces, and some of these
still bloom today. The festival spirit seemed
to affect old and young alike and the
summer saw a spate of Millennium Shows,
Fetes and Fayres, public barbecues, dances,
Concerts , and all kinds of exhibitions
involving local histories, giving older
citizens an opportunity to bring out ancient
artefacts and photos of the past.
Someone, somewhere, had the idea of
erecting a few sticks in the manner of the
scarecrows that farmers sometimes used to
help keep their crops from avian pests and
suddenly all parts of East Anglia were
staging scarecrow events, and soon these
developed into sideshows with many
private houses displaying these scarecrows
in their front gardens, though they had
segued from bird-scaring articles into well-
dressed dummies. Often so life-like that
passers-by would wish good-day before
realising they were not addressing a live
person.
Soon it seemed that most of the populace
had joined in the community fun, regularly
weekends became taken up by ‘open
gardens’ or garage sales, with often a
donation to charity somewhere involved.
All these activities gradually faded away
with time, but many of their features have
lasted to become welcome parts of our
daily lives.
It has not been too easy to compile a Look
Round when restrictions rule the roost, but
at last there has been a modicum of change
and now one nominated person can visit
granny in the care home, and even hold her
hand, which must be a good thing. But
every rule seems to generate anomalies, so
that while such contacts come, albeit with
strict compliance methods dominating
every visit, we turn on our televisions and
see a footballer score a goal, immediately
to be the centre of a deluge of his team-
mates. all endeavouring to kiss and cuddle
him.
Not only is this a blatant offence against
the present Covid rules, but it is what once
was an offence of FA laws, known as
Ungentlemanly Conduct.
Another stupid habit that had crept into the
game involved a goalscorer rushing over
towards his teams supporters and launching
himself among them.
I am not sure if is still the case, but at one
time a player leaving the area of play
would not be allowed to rejoin the game
without the permission of the referee, so if
six or seven players were thus involved the
game could be re-started without them.
Of course, strict application of these rules,
now that offenders had become so
numerous would cause rioting and general
mayhem among the spectators, but at least
leaping into the spectators no longer occurs
while grounds remain empty.
To older viewers, this type of behaviour
whenever a goal is scored is just
childishness, and is a sad reflection of
modern ways.
Back in the real world of viruses the old
adage of ‘You win some, you lose some’
applies to the present ban on hair-dressers,
which has encouraged young ladies to
grow their hair in long styles probably
inspired by the Duchess of Cambridge. . Of
course long hair does not suit everyone but
it shows that the lockdown has been cruel
to everyone.
At the time of writing the daily death toll
from Covid gives hopes that normal times
are on the way, but things change quickly
so by the time this reaches you anything
may have happened. Not so with Norwich
City, for they are well clear of all
opposition. If they can maintain present
form they will be back with the big boys
once again.
And now as we reach the end of March, we
are not allowed to go anywhere or do
anything we would like to do, Spring is
here and everything is coming up roses-
well it’s coming up.
Good afternoon.
GREEN :
STATION :
STARFISH…
What on earth?
‘What Three Words, that’s what!’
explains Stephen Roberts, Auctioneer at
Watton Salerooms.
What3Words Ltd. have devised an
incredibly accurate way of finding and
sharing exact locations anywhere in the
world. They have divided the world into
3m squares and given each square a
unique combination of three words.
Using their website or app, you can
search for and share what3word
addresses for your home or business with
customers and delivery drivers, or use it
to direct family and friends to a meeting
point. But where the system really comes
into its own is in a situation such as a
vehicle break-down, or if you get lost or
need help from emergency services in an
unfamiliar area or one without obvious
landmarks.
The square named GREEN : STATION :
STARFISH is located just outside the
entrance to Watton Salerooms and
Stephen says he couldn’t have wished for
anything more appropriate for the
business.
GREEN, the colour associated with
being environmentally friendly, fits
perfectly with the trade in second-hand
items as re-using is even better than
recycling.
Apart from a place where a train or bus
stops, the word STATION can also mean
a place or position in which a person or
thing is normally located – The
Salerooms is most definitely a ‘Green
Station’.
So, what about STARFISH? Well, it’s
more relevant than you might think.
Starfish have an amazing ability to
regrow limbs that become severed or
damaged. For this reason, they have
come to represent salvation from hard
times, healing, renewal, regeneration,
and positive change. Exactly what we all
need right now!
So, whilst the rainbow will forever be
associated with Covid-19 and the
incredible work done by the NHS and
other key workers throughout the
pandemic, the Starfish has to be the
perfect symbol of post-Covid recovery.
The Salerooms are due to re-open on
Monday 12th April when customers can
view entries for the auction on Tuesday
13th. To find our more visit
www.thesalerooms.co.uk.
Come along and see us, we’ve missed
you. You can have a look at our was defending our drainage policies: the examiner seemed to agree with
appropriately re-decorated foyer, Breckland planners that they go into too much detail and cover things
rekindle old friendships and start to that could be dealt with by planning conditions after permission is
regenerate our Auction Community. granted. We vehemently disagreed and can only hope our arguments will
Stephen & Barbara Roberts – Watton have persuaded the examiner of the need to retain our rigorous policies
Salerooms. on this topic;
At the end of the hearing, the examiner gave no indication of how he
might decide each topic. On the day, our personal feeling was that he is
Saham Toney more likely to require changes to our key policies on housing numbers,
density, infrastructure and surface water drainage, than he is to support
Neighbourhood them in the current form. If that proves to be the case, we will be hugely
disappointed, but at the same time, we feel we did everything possible to
Plan Update defend the Plan. Hence if some policies are amended by the examiner, it
Shaping the future of Saham Toney! will not be for want of us making a good case. The reality is there is
As explained in the March issue of nothing to be gained from speculating on any conclusions the examiner
Wayland News, an independent might reach about what he heard, and we must wait for his report.
examination the Plan is underway, and The examiner still has to visit the village before writing his report and
on 17th February, an online public cannot do that until Covid restrictions are lifted. He may have more
hearing was held to debate the questions after his visit, so we can only be ready to address any new
independent examiner’s initial questions issues he might raise.
on the main issues as he sees them. The As usual, if you have any comments or questions on any of this, or the
hearing was an all-day affair which we Neighbourhood Plan in general, or if you'd like to be added to our
streamed live on our YouTube channel, mailing list, please get in touch with Chris Blow, Saham Toney
where you can find a recording. Neighbourhood Plan Work Group leader on 01953 880915.
Each party – the Parish Council and Most importantly, stay healthy and safe!
Breckland Council – was represented by
5 participants. On our side Councillor
Hinkins introduced our group and the Shipdham Knitters
Parish clerk, Jill Glenn attended in case
any administrative questions arose. With A History of Knitting Part1
help from our consultant, Rachel Hogger, Knitting is one of the world’s oldest crafts, the word originating from
the work group Leader, Chris Blow, ‘knot’. It is said to have originated in the Middle East in the 5th
answered the examiner’s questions and Century. The oldest artefacts are socks from Egypt dating from the
Andrew Walmsley from the work group, 11th Century. Knitting travelled to Europe via the Mediterranean
was on hand to provide any document trade route and then to the Americas. It first appeared in England
references that might come up and during the 13th Century, the first examples were felted caps worn by
generally support Rachel and Chris. soldiers and sailors. Archeological findings from many European
We found the day quite draining, not so cities show that it spread through the continent in the 14th Century
much because the hearing ran for 7 hours, and in the 16th Century more widely through Great Britain.
but because the examiner’s questions were Initially knitting was a male only occupation and when the first
ad hoc, meaning we had to think on our knitting union was established in Paris in 1527 no women were
feet while trying to defend the Plan’s allowed. First knitting schools in England were established in York,
policies against the challenges he raised. Lincoln and Leicester in the late 16th Century. Early needles were
We’ve split the recording by topic into 7 made of copper although examples were constructed in wood, ivory,
shorter videos, with links on our website, bone bamboo amber and iron. They were called ‘woods’, ‘skewers’
www.stnp2036.org, so those wanting full or ‘wires’.
details can watch those, but in summary, Queen Victoria knitted mittens and scarves which were sent out to
the points of particular note from the British soldiers during thew Crimean War. Hand Knitting continued
hearing were: well into the 19th century often used by people for an income.
The examiner noted that while long, the During the 2nd World War, people were once again encouraged to
Plan is very clear, with great depth to its pick up their needles and knit for the war effort, many also relying on
evidence base. He also considers the Plan’s reusing unpicked yarn for their families.
approach to housing ‘remarkably positive The first crocheted fabric emerged in Europe during the 19th
and really refreshing’; Century. Earlier work identified as ‘crochet’ was commonly made by
At the same time, he was concerned nale binding, a different looped yarn technique.
about prescription in the Plan, and wanted By the 20th century knitwear was part of mainstream fashion.
to test if a more flexible approach would be For all Crafters everywhere: Take time to do what makes your soul
better; happy, Take care and keep safe.
The examiner suggested that housing
numbers could be increased by allowing,
for example, four 1-bed homes in place of
one 4-bed, but neither he nor Breckland
could suggest wording for that to prevent
the unlimited increase that would be
possible if policies are reworded to allow
for ‘at least x’ houses, as Breckland
planners want;
The examiner doubted it is reasonable to
ask all developers to check that sufficient
infrastructure exists before their
development is allowed to proceed. We
tried to explain that while an individual
small site is unlikely to overwhelm village
infrastructure, the Plan is trying to account
for cumulative effects, and also reflects the
lack of infrastructure improvements over
the last decade or more;
The examiner was concerned that an
individual development could not be
refused simply because it was proposed at a
different time to that specified in the Plan.
We argued that the policy allows flexibility
in this respect, and so does not need to be
amended;
The examiner was concerned that our
policy on affordable housing did not deal
with the development of land (as a Plan
must), and should perhaps be deleted, but
two Breckland housing officers gave good
reasons why that would not be appropriate.
They even noted the policy sets out an
‘admirably clear approach’;
Perhaps the hardest part of the hearing
The Wayland News April 2021 Page 4
In Your Garden
With Lotta potts
April this year could be a challenge for those
intrepid gardeners who start on Good Friday. As
this day falls on the 2nd it could be a bit of a
mixed blessing. As usual I advise caution as it is
way too soon to be planting most things outside.
Hardy annual seeds might be the exception,
assuming the weather is kind and is forecast to
stay that way for at least a few days.
Hopefully we are now over the dramas that March
can bring; early on it was snow then severe frost
and before the middle of the month March
marched in like the lion with real gales and heavy
rain for a couple of days. Despite all this the early
hellebores, daffs, crocus and lungwort came into
flower regardless. Amazing. I spent a day
watching a couple of early tulips. The tiny kind
that are pretty bombproof when it comes to
weather. The first one was its full imperious 6”
height and the second one had leaves just clear of
the ground. By late afternoon its flower bud was
2” through and showing colour. The next day both
were in full cry. What happened to the other 8 of
the 10 I planted two or three years ago is a
mystery. Must get some more. At the same time I
was thrilled by the numbers of buds that appeared
daily on the trees – forsythia, the pruned wisteria,
something in a pot whose label has disappeared,
the amelanchier – so by the time you are reading
this over your hot cross bun all these buds should
be opening and we can fire the starting gun for
spring proper. Oh and the joy that the clocks’
going forward brings with the increased daylight.
There's still quite a lot of maintenance-type tasks:
clean up borders, feeding as you go with general
purpose fertilizer. The lawn should be treated for
moss and weeds and re-seeded if you have bare
patches and start that depressing weekly mowing
routine. Other maintenance starts off with pruning
winter jasmine, which will very rapidly turn into a
tangled mess of stems, hydrangeas (this is because
the dead flowers are normally left on over winter
to give a bit of protection to emerging shoots in
spring), so the pruning consists of removing these
dead heads. Any wall or support-trained plants
will need to have new shoots tied in. These
include rambling and climbing roses, clematis and
other climbers you may have. Otherwise any
more spring gales will bring them tumbling down.
This might seem a bit like stating the blindingly
obvious but some of these tasks can be
overlooked. A year or two ago I left a clematis
until it became totally out of control. Sadly it had
to be given a haircut and I lost quite a lot of
flowers. Nothing like a bit of experience to keep
the memory going. While you're about the
maintenance tasks turn over stones and piles of
pots in a slug and snail hunt. I was surprised to
discover that slugs can be about in early March.
For example before the middle of the month I
found the cat had brought a baby slug in and it was
approaching me on the chair cushion. Spring
brings the welcome and unwelcome. It was only
one slug but thinking about it I have also seen a
bumble bee and two wasps as well.
If you go to the garden centre and manage to get
past the jolly bedding, look for perennials as this is
a good time to plant. They'll need regular
watering but it's worth it. You might find some
that had been left too long and are on the 'last
chance' shelf. These are well worth looking at as
most of them will just need a decent drink. It will
pay to knock them out of the pots as they are
probably well pot-bound. This will prevent their
taking up water so if they are badly pot-bound put
them back and sink them in a bucket of tepid water
for a few hours. After that take them out of the pot
again and try to pull them apart a bit or remove all
the worn out compost. You might have the nice
surprise of being able to split them into two or
three separate plants – a real bargain! Either then
pot them up in good compost or plant them out
according to what they are. Pot-grown evergreen
plants and shrubs can also be planted, either as
individuals or for hedging. This is an expensive
way to do hedging, better to wait for autumn and
get bare-root plants in bundles. If you check the
gardening magazines these are widely advertised.
There's lots to be done in the veg plot. Sow broad
beans, summer cabbage, Brussels sprouts, early
peas, calabrese, summer/autumn cauliflowers,
sprouting broccoli, leeks, beetroot, radish, spring
onions, lettuce, rocket, turnips, kohl rabi, spinach,
parsnips, Swiss chard, chicory, endive, carrots and
onions. Don't be ridiculous! If you have an
allotment and/or a market stall then go for it.
Otherwise decide what you like to eat and what
you have room for, bearing in mind the things not
mentioned that will also take up space later; the
later sown peas, climbing and runner beans all of
which are tender. The potatoes can be planted
now and earthed up completely covering the
shoots to protect them from a late frost. Keep an
eye on the spuds as the shoots will grow through
very quickly so earthing up can develop into a
frequent job. As well as guarding against frost this
keeps the developing tubers from exposure to
daylight which turns them green and inedible.
If you have a metre or so square you can commit
to permanent planting, why not try asparagus?
They are very easy to grow and ten crowns could
be accommodated in this relatively small area. I
think people are put off as they believe they need
to wait years to eat anything. Admittedly the
standard instructions are to plant, take nothing the
next year, a few spears the year after that then a
decent crop thereafter. Plant
breeders have now developed
new strains that can be cropped
from the year after planting.
After they're in all they need
are water and weeding with a
mulch in autumn after the ferns
have yellowed and cut. These
are pretty in themselves and
placed strategically will give a
six or seven foot screen!
If you've planted seeds they
will probably need to be
pricked out. This can be
problematic if you can't give
them frost-free conditions. We
all do it. The seeds don't look
like many when the tiny bits of
brown dust are scattered in a
pot or propagator then they all
come up and need pots of their
own. If you are trying
succession planting try to keep
the quantities low so they don't
run away with you. If you
overdo it and prick out all the
seedlings there will be an
almighty glut later. We all
learn year by year on this one
but until then give the seedlings
to friends. They may well do a
swap!
So there we are, watching the
weather forecasts, planting,
sowing, watering and it's only early spring. We do
everything according to the weather so don't
despair if it rains solidly for ages.
Things will catch up – except those that will just
keep on going and going. That'll be the weeds
then. Keep after them..
Thought for the
Month
By Deacon Jen, Methodist Church, Watton
Daffodils, grass cutting, and, hopefully, warmer
weather are some of the things I look forward to at
the beginning of April. Yes, I do like cutting the
lawn! Of course, we also have Hot Cross Buns
and Chocolate eggs which for many is a visible
sign that Easter is here. And yes, I do, also, like
Hot cross buns and chocolate eggs. Then, of
course, there is Holy Week and the time of
celebration on Easter Sunday. So, this is all
familiar and comforting, but what about the
unfamiliar?
In previous years, many people would be looking
forward to going away on holiday and meeting up
with family and friends. But this year we are
needing to wait a little longer. We are needing to
wait to know the joy and security of being with the
people we love and of the excitement of new, and
old, places to visit. In the Methodist Church we
have also been waiting for the building works, on
the ramp at the front, to be finished, which will
enable more people to come into our lovely
church.
As we think of that first Easter 2000 years ago, we
know there was a great deal of waiting. The
Israelites had waited centuries for a Saviour to
come. The disciples had waited for Jesus to
demonstrate his power. Then there would have
been waiting through the trial leading to Jesus’
death and then, amazingly, everything was
completely changed through the resurrection.
Because of that, we now have eternal life and
hope.
As we have lived through this difficult year, we
have waited for so much to change, let us embrace
the hope and joy that Easter has to offer. This may
not take place as we would wish, but let us hold
onto the message that Easter brings. That is, that
God loves each and every one of us. He is with us
in the hard times and in the times of celebration
and that He will be with us forever.
Shipdham &
District Book Group
During February it was decided to comment on an
author, Val McDermid a particular favourite with
one member although not all which involved
individual books rather than one. McDermid has
written up to 50 books and television scripts.
Obviously we cannot cover all but here are some
examples:
Two members, without realising, read the same
book, The Distant Echo, about four university
friends who stumble on the stabbed body late one
night with repercussions over many years. The
characters had nicknames referred to as those or
given names which caused confusion. We agreed
it was well written but too much like horror for our
personal tastes. It still merited finishing to find the
original killer and the twist in the tail.
The Skeleton Road features DSI Karen Pirie of the
Cold Case Squad who appears in several books. It
includes male remains of Eastern European
descent found in an Edinburgh building. Complex
investigations with Piruie and her squad lead to
links with the 1990s Balkan conflict, war
criminals, the Internal Criminal tribune, journeys
to Oxford University and Croatia and more. It was
considered engaging and thought provoking with
informative content and a surprise denouement.
Killing the Shadows culminates in a race against
time and a killer as vicious and clever as any in
McDermid’s books although much of it is
predictable. including the ending. This reader also
read and enjoyed A Place of Execution read by
two other members it concerns a 13 year old
school girl from a small Derbyshire village set in
the 1960s, the time of the Moors Murders. Despite
the upsetting content it was felt the author led the
reader to believe the story to be fact not fiction and
despite a few clues had an an expected
ending..Insidious Intent has Carol Jordan and
Tony Hill as portrayed in the TV series. The
reader felt the characters plausible and considered
it a slick book well worth a read. McDermid has
included a letter to readers at the end asking them
to leak no spoilers. Darker Domain features DI
Karen Pirie interested in a young woman reporting
her father missing for 22years since the Miners’
Strike whilst her boss assigns her to a case of a
missing child and murdered mother which also
happened around 1984.One reader finds
McDermid too much in the present circumstances
i.e the 3rd Lock down with 6 inches of snow
outside so took a gentler and different option.
McDermid is part of a group who have written
modern versions of Jane Austen’s work and used
Northanger Abbey McDermid’s homage to the
novel of the same name, much enjoyed and highly
recommended. Obviously many more McDermid
novels have been read by members. If there is a
common view it appears to be the predictability of
her work and the suggestion that she writes to a
formula. This is up to readers to decide.
For March we have a complete contrast in The
Butterfly House by Lucinda Riley, note the author
as there are books with similar tiles. This is a
seemingly innocent family saga but worth
completing for the later revelations.
Wayland
Anagram Quiz
By the Ashill Puzzler
Rearrange each group of letters to find
the title of a TV programme or series.
1. DOG RIPER
2. SO HALLO PRUNE (4 , 3, 5)
3. SHE HITS BLOUSES (5, 4, 5 )
4. BENE HILL HIT TUNE (3, 4, 4, 4)
5. LOONY BOLTS TUNA (3, 4, 3 4.)
6. TORTOISE NO CANTER (10, 6.)
7. FLAWED MILE ITCH (4, 3, 7 )
8. DEER IN ISLAND (6, 6 )
9. LET YOU FIND (4, 2, 4 )
10. FLOWERY WATTS (6, 6 )
11. SEEN CITY VILLA HUNGER (10. 9 )
12. WET GRAPE HOME (3, 5, 4 )
13. SEEN THE EWE (3, 7 )
14. DOGFOX DINNER COKE (5,2.4,5)
15. TUNE OF LYRIC
16. DREAM MINTS
17. QUIET ANN OSCAR (5, 8 )
18. SLY TOTS OF FLY (6,6 )
19.TELL LADY SHEIK ( 3,6,4)
20. LITHE DOG FOE (3,4,4)
Watton Society
Quiz
Instead of our monthly report, Here is another
quiz. - John Ward
Here goes.....
1. What is the most common name for British
Pubs?
2. Which song reached No.1 in the hit parade
for the Rolling Stones in November 1964?
3. Which athlete did Sharron Davies divorce in
2000?
4. In which 1985 film was Tom Hanks mistaken
for a spy because he lost an item of footwear?
5. Which pop group was originally called the
Frantic Elevators?
6. What is the name of the Muslim equivalent of
the Red Cross?
7. In which TV drama did Sarah Lancashire
play Coral Atkins?
8. What was the title of the 1984 film which
starred a young Patrick Swayze as the leader of
a gang of rebels fighting against a Russian
invasion of America?
9. What did Paul Neal change his name to when
he took up firefighting?
10. Which novel by Stephen Crane was set
during the American Civil War?
----------------------
Finally
11. What is the connection between all these
questions.
Answers to both quizzes on back page
The Wayland News April 2021 Page 5
Great Hockham
Gardening Club
Corona Diary - March
Although the rain seems to have eased a little its
effects remain with us. There are fields
everywhere containing persistent patches of water.
One forlorn sight we saw was a heron standing
hopefully beside one of them.
But Julie Brown is finding no impediment to
spring:
Hello Ed My broad beans and garlic are both
growing well. I was killing a little time at the
garden centre, waiting to be picked up, spent too
much money on a few packet of seeds, but we'll
see what I can produce from them; carrots and
tomatoes, I thought cucumbers, but had put them
back and as it happens has turned out OK as
Michael will grow from seed and give me some
plants to grow on.
My joy this month has come from all the bulbs I
have planted under a silver birch tree, first to show
were the iris, then snowdrops and funny little daffs.
Then the crocus started to appear, masses of
golden and purple. They have been glorious and in
the sunshine we enjoyed as they opened their
petals to enjoy it too, lots of bees enjoying
themselves.
The aconites have appeared one by one then more
purple and white crocus, I have planted hundreds.
There is a clump of pure white waiting for the
sunshine to encourage them to open.
Purple anemones are appearing and the leaves and
buds of Thalia daffodil, scilla too.
Around the garden I have planted all the hyacinths
I have ever had in pots, there are over 100.
I am seeing bulbs appearing in the new bed I made
when I emptied and filled in the pond. Most of the
bulbs I put in are white hyacinth, grape hyacinth
are also showing flower buds. I did put in some
black tulips to contrast; I must seem obsessed with
bulbs, as this is the time of year that I love in the
garden.
There are elephants ears showing pink flower buds
and lots of Tête-à-tête' daffodils in flower.
I have sent photos of iris bulbs I planted in pots in
the autumn, the white are the painted lady, yellow
are Katherine gold and the purple iris reticulata,
looking lovely, they may go into the garden.
I have pots of Royal Navy, pink elephant and
gypsy queen hyacinth in pots close to flowering
and 4 pots of tulips so I could see what they looked
like before they went into the garden and I could
decide where.
A friend bought me a mixed bag of bulbs for
Christmas which I planted in a pot, the grape
hyacinth are showing flowers ready to strike up.
I have tried to plant my new beds in one or two
colours together; I wonder how long that will last.
The good weather in the afternoons had allowed
me to work on the bed which will be Japanese
themed, it is emptied of plants, I salvaged lots of
snowdrops and lovely aconites, I had to wait for
them to finish flowering.
Derek Archer very kindly came by early one
morning and re-potted my mum's bonsai horse
chestnut, he was able to get it out of the pot
without breaking it, so once the tap root had been
cut back and all the lovely fibrous root all went
back into the pot, so it looks just the same but will
be ok for 5 years at least.
I will soon need the help of a couple of really
strong men to move the 3 lovely stones I have for
the Japanese garden. Lets hope Boris doesn't hold
up that bit of gardening.
I had edged the bed back in 1997 with individual
foot long 4" half rounds, most of them have had to
come out and be re-set enlarging the bed and
replacing any that have rotten away, fortunately
not many.
I have seen the female Sparrowhawk in the garden
a couple of times this week caught a blackbird,
also saw the Sparrowhawk herself being hunted by
a big black bird, would that be a Kite?
I need to get up to the village hall to finish clearing
the leaves, they have been wet so long and have
not blown away. It will be a job soon to start
preventing the grass from growing in the gravel of
the carpark.
Had my covid jab on Thursday so have relaxed the
last few days nursing a headache.
I have enjoyed Matt & Sue's Zoom quiz on a
Wednesday evening even Tony has joined in.
I had no bread a few days ago so I made cheese
scones from a school recipe. I still have the recipe
book and the cooking apron I made in year one
back in 1971/72.
Best wishes to everyone, Julie
Jane Dalton is reminiscing: This month marks a
year since the first Lockdown on March 23rd
2020, therefore 12 months since we last met in
reality- seems a lifetime ago, doesn't it?
Our thanks over the last month to Matt & Sue
Cunningham who have been hosting virtual get-
togethers with a Quiz each Wed evening at
7.30pm. It has been very enjoyable and lovely to
see those who are taking part – this takes quite a bit
of sorting out so "thank you" Matt!
February seemed to disappear a bit more quickly
but then it is a shorter month. I have managed to
get out in the garden over the last week since the
weather has improved: a joy! The allotment is
looking quite ship-shape already. Even though
gardening cripples my right hand, the effects of the
injection I paid for so dearly in December only
lasted about 4 weeks and I await X rays - this time
on the NHS.
It is so nice to see colour in the garden again and
be able to pick a few daffodils for the house. The
birds tell me spring is in the air. The first seed
potatoes are now in the Polytunnel. I am still doing
exercises most mornings and trying to cycle round
the block when I can. Still haven't even lost a
pound but I'm losing a few inches! Since writing
last the Govt. has laid out their Returning from
Covid Plan - so all being well we could be meeting
up before too long. But who knows!!? Take care
and hope you all get your 2nd injections soon. All
the best, Jane Dalton.
The weather has not helped Nigel Lincoln’s little
friends:After months of hibernation I am always
caught out by the speed at which the garden
changes in the Spring, so this year I am determined
to be ahead of the game. The brief spell of warm
(ish) weather at the end of Feb gave me the
opportunity to have a quick look inside the bee
hives. One is queenless and will therefore die out
(they can’t make a new queen until the weather is
much warmer); two are small but clinging on; and
two are looking quite strong. Last year’s honey is
nearly all gone, and probably just as well because I
have not been able to pick up any new jars from
my usual supplier in Kent.
All the Spring bulbs are now appearing, including
a selection of rare hyacinths that we got from a
specialist grower in Cambridge. I ordered a dozen
alstroemeria roots from a gardening magazine in
the autumn and potted them up – all but one have
started to appear and I am really looking forward to
a great show this summer. I have also made a start
on splitting perennials, such as a yellow geum and
purple heucheras, and taking cuttings from old
favourites such as a ruby penstemon. The dahlia
bulbs have survived pretty much intact in the
garage and a few will be potted up soon to generate
cuttings to increase my stash. The grass is looking
sorry for itself and needs a good rake over,
weeding and feeding – not my favourite job. We
won’t mention the lumps and bumps caused by the
moles.
On the veg plot, the netting has arrived for my
homemade fruit cage, peas have been germinated,
onion sets planted and potatoes are chitting.
Enough writing, lots to do outside. Nige
I don’t know why, but Prue and I seem to be
constantly busy. Just because there have been a
couple of days of reasonable weather we feel we
must get out in the garden. One big job was the
bonfire: I know, put a match to it and get on with
something else. If only. As always with these
things at my age, the world seems to conspire
against me. We always seem to be having bonfires,
so we thought we would save up the stuff and just
have the one big one. But now we have to be rid of
it if we want to plant up the vegetable beds
whereon it resides. Tried to get it going but it just
would not stay alight (did I mention the rain?.
Then we had the snow. When we had had about a
couple of ‘dry’ days we thought we had to go for
it. Talk about an effort, I needed to be in constant
attendance and it still would not get going, in fact
on several occasions it looked as though it was
going to go out. As luck would have it, I had a rare
attack of inspiration: the only way to keep it going
turned out to be by dumping about 5 feet of 6 inch
RSJ on the top. This compressed it enough to get
the loose twigs to make contact with the fire bed.
Then more stuff on top, return the RSJ on top of
that and so on. But at least the whole lot was out of
the way in one go – NO! The inevitable
replacement bonfire is steadily rising Phoenix like
from the ashes of the aforementioned inferno.
The other big job is the second bit of lawn edging
on the opposite side of the drive. Big because to
obtain maximum strength of the thing it’s a one-
mix job - when I start I have to keep going until the
job is finished. I have grown tied of the times I
have sworn never to do this kind of job again. Will
the mixer start? It now uses more Quick Start than
petrol. Well, my trusty 41 year-old mixer did fire
up and off we went - whereupon it started to rain.
Carried on anyway, got it done.
Then there are our fish, sorry, were our fish:
getting too big for the pond; bloke next door took
them into his lake; give the pond the mother and
father of all cleanouts; then found I needed to
replace the old flexible pipes which had become
about as brittle as a Brexiteer.
Onwards, ever downwards, Ed and Prue.
Watton Rotary
Young Writer
This year we have held a Young Writer
competition at Wayland Academy, and were
delighted to secure the services of local author
Joan Khurody as our judge. The competition
required entrants to submit a story, either fiction
or non-fiction on the theme of ‘My Happiest
Day’ in no more than 550 words. Finding a
winner was a difficult task, but after much
deliberation, Tia Sayer was declared the winner
with her story about Christmas Day. The runner
up prize was awarded to Zoeanne De’Ath, who
wrote about a holiday in Whitby.
Young Writer is a National Rotary competition,
and the winning entry will progress to the next
round.
The Wayland News April 2021 Page 6
The Art of Bonsai
By Brian Lucy
Pioneered in China more than a
thousand years ago, perfected in Japan,
Bonsai is now practised throughout the
world. It is not an easy or instant hobby,
but a time consuming slow hobby, the
rewards however are great.
Practically every tree can be Bonsaied,
some with ease others with patience.
There are many styles each with a
Japanese name and each style suits a
particular pot or a personal preference.
The Bonsai season begins in March,
the end of the dormant season for the
majority of trees, when re-potting and
root pruning is carried out. When
working with young trees or seedlings
an ordinary shallow plastic pot can be
used. The first root pruning is done
when the tree is about one year old,
when the roots are exposed and one
third cut off, especially the tap root-the
anchor of the tree. Then re-pot in fresh
compost. I use my own made up
compost -one part multi-purpose, two
parts John Innes No2, a sprinkling of
Bone meal a slow release fertiliser and
grit to give a good drainage, which is
most important. I retain the plastic
pots for the first couple of years,
because frost resistant pots are
Watton
Rotary
Roundup -
Shelterboat
The boat has been built around a
Shelterbox for a challenge hopefully
this summer to raise awareness and
funds for the Shelterbox charity which
is endorsed by Rotary International for
helping people who have lost their
homes and property in natural disaster
situations and wars.
The boat has been built from scratch
by Nigel Tubby who was a aircraft
engineer back in the nineteen fifty’s .
We plan to use wind and oar to sail
from Hickling Broad to Norwich
which is approximately 50 miles and
includes getting across Bredon Water
near Great Yarmouth which will be
expensive, the pot should be placed
outside, out of direct sunlight and
wind, watering regularly. After about
two weeks position in the garden,
where it only gets the morning
sunlight. The tree should soon start
budding and the "leader" bud is then
nipped out, this will stop the height
and produce the girth to the trunk and
force dormant duds to grow, these can
be nipped out as required. Many hours
can be spent in nurseries looking for
suitable trees to work on, however, it
is forbidden to acquire trees from the
wild -without permission.
By stopping the height and general
development the tree can be controlled
from an early stage. This process
continues throughout each growing
season until the required form of the
bonsai is achieved. Once the tree has
become established it will require less
attention with only the larger leaves
being removed, some trees i.e. the
Sycamore (Acer pseudoplatanus) can
be de-leafed completely twice in a
growing season to reduce the leaves to
half their normal size. When the pot is
root bound or every 3 or 4 years it will
need re-potting.
To do this place hand over the top of the
tricky!
Any donations please can be sent by
the Just Giving page Paul Weatherill
Shelterbox or by the Watton Rotary
web site, all money goes direct to the
Shelterbox Charity . Paul Weatherill
Norfolk &
Norwich
University
Hospital
Rotarian David Watkins has continued
with weekly visits to NNUH taking
biscuits to the Covid Nursing Staff.
Delivery of toilet bags has stopped for
the moment as NNUH have advised
they do not require any more for the
moment.
Watton & District Rotary Club, Press
& Communications Committee.
earth and tip over the root and earth ball
will easily fall out. There are numerous
ways to remove and clean the root ball,
my preference is to hold the tree by the
trunk and 'dunk' it up and down in
fresh water, then with a sharp pair of
scissors or Bonsai pruners remove
about half of the roots, repot in a clean
container remembering to place a
piece of fine plastic mesh over the
drainage holes to keep insects out.
Remember it is the hair roots that feed
the tree and these have to be
encouraged. Bonsai, like other plants
need the correct amount of trace
elements, these are present in most
composts, but are soon used up,
therefore feeding is required, but be
cautious, overfeeding can damage the
root system. Only healthy trees should
be fed, not weak or ailing trees. If a
tree droops in hot weather it is usually
due to lack of water and the container
should be immersed in water until air
bubbles do not appear.
These are the basic rules of the art of
Bonsai, there are many other points that
are picked up year by year. Also
personal preference comes into play with
tree shapes, pots and the tools to
maintain the trees.
The Wayland News April 2021 Page 7
Ashill & Holme
Hale Garden
Club
Spring is in the air and we will meet again soon
With the government’s announcement of a
roadmap out of the current lockdown we are able
to plan for when the garden club can once again
hold physical meetings and discuss all things
gardening. In the meantime with Spring very much
in the air below are some tasks you can take on as
your gardens are starting to spring into life.
Gardening jobs for March /April Trees, Shrubs,
Flowers and Lawn:
Now is a good time to move evergreen shrubs,
such as Choisya, Hebe and Pittosporum. As the
soil begins to warm up the roots will be able to re-
establish quickly.
Now is a good time to invigorate perennials. Lift
and divide summer flowering perennials such as
Helenium, Rudbeckia and Michaelmas daisies.
Done every few years, this helps maintain healthy,
vigorous growth. It is also a good way to propagate
more plants and share them.
Towards the end of the month you can deadhead
your daffodils by pinching off the flowers and seed
capsules as they fade. Leave the stems to die back
naturally with the foliage as they both
photosynthesise helping to feed the bulb for next
year’s flowers. Also water the bulb for at least 6
weeks after flowering to prevent soil drying out as
next years flower bulbs are developing in the bulb.
Now that flowering has finished prune viburnum x
bodnantense cultivars, cutting out up to one in five
The Grand
Seven Five
By Ken Knowles
Anniversaries seem to occupy a great part of our lives,
and last year an important one for the whole nation
came to bring memories of the end of the Second
World War seventy five years ago which would have
been celebrated much more had the country not been
locked in the present battle against the Covid
epidemic.
Although the war did not end completely until a year
later on all fronts, victory in Europe meant the end of
the war for the major part of the British population,
and most of our memories stem from 1945 and is the
year that heralded a vast change in everyone’s habits
and lives, although these did not begin to register fully
for a year or two, as rationing of food and clothing
was still in operation.
In 1951 the country celebrated an event called the
Festival of Britain, and in London folks flocked to
Earls Court to the first of the Ideal Homes
Exhibitions, in which they could learn about and
purchase the many innovations that were now
becoming available to bring us all a new way of life,
particularly for working class families who were now
able to enjoy the new facilities that were becoming
available at prices they could afford, such as fridges,
washing machines and microwave ovens.
By the mid nineteen-fifties a new style of shopping
emerged in the bigger towns with covered malls
where folks could shop for food, clothing and most
small items while out of town outlets opened in many
areas where the new craze for do-it-yourself projects
could be catered for. These became increasingly
popular as more and more people joined the ranks of
the motoring sector which was rapidly beginning to
dominate the country.
As the sixties came there was an increasing rise in the
desire for home ownership and new building sites
were being developed all around the country and this
in turn helped the D.I.Y. industry even further,
persuading many men to under-
take projects previously solely the work of the
professionals. These D.I.Y. tasks were greatly assisted
by the increasing use of plastics and soon the world
became a synthetic one, with plastic window frames,
garden fences, doors, gates, table tops ,crockery, and
in fact almost everything could be found with a man-
made content, even clothing..
All this dependence on plastics and its
indestructibility would later be recognised as a hazard
of th oldest, weakest stems to the base.
Vegetables, Fruits & Herbs: March is a busy time
for propagating vegetable seeds. If you have a
heated propagator, heating pad (or even the airing
cupboard) you can start your tomato seeds going.
Once they have germinated and put on their first
true leaves put them in individual pots with
multipurpose compost. Also you start germinating
lettuce, coriander, parsley, peas for shoots,
parsnips, turnip and beetroot sometime in March
under glass.
Towards the end of the month sow tender
vegetables such as runner and French beans,
courgettes, pumpkins and squashes under glass,
planting out after risk of frosts in late April.
March is the time to plant out those first early
potatoes that have been chitting away over the last
month.
To encourage healthy new growth, tidy strawberry
plants now, remove dead, damaged or diseased
leaves. Also plant out any runners that you potted
up and stored last year.
In addition to such herbs as basil and parsley sown
under glass, you can begin to sow hardy herbs
direct into outdoor beds.
Wildlife Gardening: March is the start of the main
breeding season for garden bird. So think about
leaving out material like wool, fresh straw, moss
etc to help them with nest building.
Put out specialist food or wet meat based cat or
dog food for hedgehogs emerging from
hibernation.
Spring is a good time to sow hardy cornfield
annuals such as corn marigold and cornflower in
sunny areas of soil in your garden to help
encourage pollinators.
Website: ashillgardeningclub.wordpress.com/
Email: ashillholmehalegardenclub@gmail.com
to the future of humanity but for the next fifty years or
so would be seen solely as a great boon and is still a
dominant part of our everyday existence.
As we moved further into the new epoch we began to
reap the rewards of the things begun in the pre-war
days such as radio and cinema shows, and after 1952,
television, which transformed the home life of
virtually the entire population. Radio ruled the roost at
the end of the war, with comedy shows featuring
nearly every one of our leading stars, while recorded
music provided entertainment for most listening fans,
with discs now being produced in unbreakable
materials, in the new speeds of 45 or 33 r.p.m. form,
which afforded reproduction of finer quality than the
old ten-inch shellac ones.
By about 1960 it seemed that every teenager had one
of the new transistor receivers, many of them battery
operated, so that radios went everywhere with their
owners who kept in close touch with the ever
changing styles of performance, which ranged from
ballads, big bands to solo artists, and modes that
became known as folk, rock and roll, skiffle, country
and western, hip hop, and settled into a new type of
d.i.y music played by small groups of lads, later
becoming world famous as the Beatles, the
Tremeloes, the Rolling Stones and numerous others.
While mums and dads spent their leisure hours glued
to their television sets and youngsters toyed with their
radios and their new mobile phones, people
increasingly found a desire to take holidays, either in
the traditional seaside boarding houses or in the new
holiday camps that had spring up all round England,
foreign package holidays were becoming the norm for
many, and with the blossoming trade in motoring it
soon seemed that the whole country was on the
move ,a trend that was only halted by the recent
pandemic. greater revolution was taking shape, which
is now widely referred to as the computer age, in
which children and adults alike are armed with
personal devices that keep them in constant touch
with the outside world sometimes to the extent that
they seem to be lost should they mislay their smart
phone/cum camera/cum lap top/cum everything.
Perhaps the most important part of the period was
when we joined the European Union (and spent 50
years getting out of it), and the change from pounds,
shillings and pence to decimal currency, the switch
from Fahrenheit to Celsius and the metric system of
weights and measures, these latter changes being
welcomed by the younger section but constituted a
headache for us older folk.
Thus we reach the end of the 75 year era with
knowledge now at the click of a button but is this a
Good Thing?
The Wayland News April 2021 Page 8
Keep an eye out for the
first insects of Spring
During March and April we are often
treated to spells of warm weather,
which we treasure after the wet and
cold weeks of winter- it is a sign that
the seasons are changing. The Earth is
approaching the time in its orbit
around the sun when our hemisphere
‘leans’ towards the sun, exposing us
to warming rays for longer each day.
This change in temperature and day
length kicks off an incredibly
complicated sequence of events from
the moment the days lengthen in early
January, like a set of dominoes
toppling over, that means by now
there is enough heat and daylight for
us to see the first insects on the wing!
So far in March I have had regular
visits to my garden from early
bumblebees, buff-tailed bumblebees
and a few honey bees, and we have
had lots of reports of brimstone and
peacock butterflies on the reserve too.
All of these insects have the ability to
hibernate in winter, along with small
tortoiseshell and comma butterflies
too- so worth keeping an eye out
during your walks for these. Speckled
wood butterflies hibernate too, but
seem to need things to be a bit
warmer before they venture out of
Do You
Remember…?
(First Days At
Work)
As is the norm these days the
March meeting of the Inner Wheel
Club of Watton took place on
Zoom hosted by Club President
Beryl. In addition to the usual
discussions of the business details
of the club, President Beryl had
suggested members share their
experiences of going to work for
the first time.
Of course, for a lot of us that it is
a long time ago but a lot of
their boltholes! A popular species- the
red admiral- is not as tough as it looks
and generally can’t survive our UK
winters, as it can’t cope with a frost.
Nearly all individuals we see each
year have either migrated here from
southern Europe, or they are the
offspring of adults who did so earlier
in the summer. However, it is looking
increasingly likely that red admirals
can survive here along the south coast
of England and on the Scilly Isles, as
our winters gradually get warmer.
Another newcomer to our Suffolk
springs could be the hummingbird
hawkmoth- these tropical-looking
visitors love buddleia, red valerian
and salvia in the garden but normally
only turn up from summer onwards-
but February saw a surge in reports
from the southern counties so it looks
like they can now hunker down to
survive a UK winter too.
Along with bees, look out too for
female drone flies (a type of hoverfly)
which are beefier than the males and
are capable of hibernation, so emerge
earlier than the males which need to
hatch from a pupa. Like other
hoverflies (which emerge later in
Spring) they have a jerky, fast flight,
Several of our members have been
teachers and there were
recollections of arriving at
Victorian buildings housing large
classes of small children with
scarce resources. Classrooms were
sometimes divided into sections
so that up to three classes could
take place with a different activity
going on in each section. You can
imagine the noise. A lot of
ingenuity was needed in addition
to keeping the boiler, often
located in the middle of a
classroom fed with coal in order
to keep everyone warm. A
caretaker who in addition to his
duties was given to serenading a
class with hymns caused some
amusement. Not all schools had
their own play spaces and one
not smooth like that of a bee. Bee-
flies are distinctive ‘flies in a bee’s
clothing’ and have a fuzzy ginger
body and long proboscis (see picture
above) which they hold out in front of
them in flight, which you often notice
as they fly past you. They are really
attractive insects close-up and
fascinating to watch- if you want to
tempt them into your garden, plant
some primroses or grape hyacinths in
a sunny spot. Bees and butterflies will
enjoy these but also lungwort, winter-
flowering box (Sarcococcus),
crocuses, anemones or- if you have
the room- a pussy (or goat) willow.
To sit and watch these early visitors
in the garden is a real pleasure and a
good reason to pause for a while and
think of the warmer months ahead!
If you have any questions about your
garden wildlife, feel free to ask us at
the reserve in person, by e-mail
(lakenheath@rspb.org.uk) or
phone (01842 863400) and we would
by
be glad to help.
With best wishes for a happy Spring!
Written by Heidi Jones (Visitor
Experience Officer, RSPB
Lakenheath Fen).
member recalled marching 80
small children along the road to
the local park for play and
exercise. No Health and Safety in
those days! There were memories
of those outside toilets, ink
monitors and who could forget all
those little bottles of milk for
every morning break?
Did you know that Watton had
one of the first primary schools in
the country to teach French to it's
youngest children?
Holiday jobs delivering mail were
mentioned by several. There were
no post codes in those days so
sorting had to be done by hand
although this was usually done by
the regular staff. If you were
unlucky enough to have 20 storey
flats on your round you had to
Tha
Ovington
Crower
By tha Boy Sid
Hare yew orl gittin on then, hev
yew bin locking yoreselves away
like the ole Govmint hev sed, or hev
yew had enow on it?
Mind yew thas gitten better
accordin tew the local pearpa, an
sum onus hev hed a needle stuck in
our arms, sumwhere or anutha.
Horry wos lucky he jist went up tew
tha doctors in Watton fer his, me an
tha missus hed tew goo tew
Thetford fer ours, but thet went
orlrite an we hent hed no trubble
like they sed we might git.
Never mind tha medical stuff, tha
ole weather hent bin tew sharp hev
it, git a cuppla fine days an goo ter
hell iffen thet dunt pour wi rearn
agin. We hent gitten on tew well wi
tha cultiveartin yit, did git tha last
o’ tha beet away, hed tew goo tew
Bury, cos tha Wissey wun shut.
Farmer he say thet he ont grow beet
enny more if tha price dunt goo up a
bit, git a better return on taters he
say. Still a fare owld amownt o’
wuk tew dew tew git them in and
git ‘em up agin.
The pub hev run owt of beer agin,
so we’ve hed tew rely on Horry’s
home brew, which is gitten betta
tew be honest, an thas cheapa.
Heese torkin about settin up wun o’
these micro-breweries in his shud,
but I carnt see him tearkin a lot of
notice of tha regulearshuns can
yew.
He cum rownd tew mine tha otha
nite, (had a bottle or tew wi him, so
he new I’d let him in). He sed he
wos worrit abowt tha ole Cowncil
Chairmawtha, cos he hent sin hide
nor hair of har fer sum time, nor
heard har hollerin up tha rood. I sed
tew him I sed “Hev yew bin rownd
tew see har then?” “No” he say
“Thas more than my life is wuth
tew goo an bang on har door, dew
yew think shees orlrite Sid?”
I dint know, but tha nex day she
cum rownd wi wun o’ har ole hens
thet dint seem tew be tew well. I
thort thet mite be egg bownd, but
coon’t feel enny eggs in har, so I set
har on tha floor an she just went
uner tha tearbal and set thar. I
reckon she wos broody so I sez tew
har ladyship thet she orta goo an see
ole Doddy up Carbrooke rood an
get sum eggs wos bin fertilized an
deliver to each one as there were
no collection boxes downstairs.
Several members had left school
at what we would now regard as a
very young age (the earliest was
13) but somehow then it was
never difficult to find a job. Office
junior, factory work, working in
retail, housekeeping,
apprenticeships, were all possible.
Some with moving on to day
release or courses at the local
collage for further training or
progression through your own
hard work on the job all brought
results and job satisfaction.
One member remembered being
left in quite a small room with a
large and noisy machine to counta
very large amount of coinage, she
can hear the noise to this day!.
stick em unda har, leave har
sumwhere quiet, an she might bring
off some chicks, then fatten em up
fer Chrismus. Thet larst bit dint goo
down tew well, but I did see har
ridin har bike down tew Doddies
the nex morning. So I wos earble
tew tell Horry she wos orlrite an he
cud stop worritin.
I hear thars a cupple in tha willage
wos jist celerbrearted thar diamond
wedding—cor blarst thas 60 years.
Thar hed a card from tha Queen, but
Horry sed it wos a sympathy card
not a congtatulearshun wun. Hees
allus a bit funny abowt marriage, an
dint hold wi it himself, cud be why
hees lived as long as he has.
Well thas time tew git back tew
wuk, got a bit of hedging an ditchin
tew dew, while thas tew wet tew git
on tha land propa. So dew you fare
tew kip well and of corse. Dew yew
kip a troshin.
Regards Boy Sid.
St Mary’s
Church
Sunday
Service at
10am by
Zoom
Sadly, due to the current guidelines
and for everyone’s safety, St Mary’s
Church is still closed, but we are now
holding our 10am Sunday Service by
Zoom. Every Sunday, the meeting
links can be found on our website
page, www.stmaryswatton.org or on
our Facebook page
@StMarysChurchWatton. We look
forward to seeing you all there! Keep
checking our website for any future
updates.
St Mary's
150 Club
Winners
1st prize £50 - ticket number 34 –
Mrs Green
2nd prize £25 - ticket number 41 -
David Riley
There were some thoughts of the
small amount of pay that was
often received in those early days
with money needed to pay
mother's for housekeeping and
having to save up for weeks to
buy the clothes you wanted to go
out in. Weekly pay received in a
small brown envelope……….,
cheques and monthly salaries
came much later.
This is a brief account of our
memories, perhaps it will stir
some of yours and, like us, you
will enjoy the journey
Brenda Davis
Club Corresspondent.
I am always pleased to answer
enquiries about Inner Wheel Ring
01953881792 or e maill
brendadavis30@icloud.com
The Wayland News April 2021 Page 9
Dolly’s Deceit
By Sue Hart
Dolly wound her thick, waist length
hair, still chestnut with little sign of
grey in her 70s, into a rough bun as
she had every day of her adult life.
She pulled on the two and a half inch
heeled shoes she always wore to add
to her four feet eight inches and
stepped nimbly over the cobbled yard
towards the privy behind the wash
house. She grinned as she
remembered her younger nieces and
great nieces finding it necessary to
cling to the wall as they teetered
towards the flatter path at the side of
the cottage. Returning to the kitchen
Dolly rinsed her hands and splashed
some cold water on her face from a
bowl balanced on an orange box in
the middle of her larder, she would
top up the buckets in which she kept
the fresh water drawn from the pump
in the yard, shared by the group of
cottages later. Dolly picked up her
shopping basket and purse and went
out of the back door with no thought
of locking it behind her.
As she walked at a brisk pace along
the road from West Raynham to
Helhoughton her mind was full of
what she would do with the small
pension she was about to collect.
Thank goodness she grew so much in
her large plot at the side of the cottage
and neighbours gave her eggs. Dolly
had to make a little go along way
which included breaking her beloved
Woodbine cigarettes in half. She
ignored the fact that she thus created
two butts as she saved these and
rerolled the ‘fag ends’ when times
were especially hard. Her ‘ration’ of
the Woodies and the Guinness she
drank never lasted the week. On
pension day she always had to go
round to the back of the pub in her
own village in the evening to pay her
debts to the kindly landlord to cover
the cost of extra supplies she’d had.
He had known Dolly all his life and
often felt sorry for the little lady, not
forgetting the fact that her spending
in the course of a few months added
up, especially when members of her
large extended family visited.
Having collected the pension from the
tiny Post Office Dolly went to make
her purchases in the only shop which
sold just about everything.
‘Hello Miss Dolly my woman how
are you today?’ Mr Bloy the owner
asked her.
‘What is it champagne and caviar or
the usual?’
‘I’m doing, ‘said Dolly using the
quaint Norfolk phrase. Their entire
conversation was in the Norfolk
vernacular still spoken by most
people in the villages in the 1950s
although education and travel were
beginning to change that.
He noted that Dolly bought even less
than usual and suddenly realised why.
‘You’re off gallivanting soon I
reckon.’
‘Yes,’ Dolly smiled, never a beauty
he suddenly caught a glimpse of what
might have been youthful charm. As a
boy he vaguely remembered her
‘walking out’ with a local lad who’d
disappeared to the trenches and like
so many was now just a name on the
war memorial.
‘I’m off to see that Boy Horrie next
week and some of the others no doubt’.
‘That boy Horrie’ was her youngest
brother, Horace. Now in his 60s the
youngest of 15 children would bear the
title until he or his siblings had all
departed this life. Horrie and Ivy, his
wife had a grocer’s shop and Dolly
went to stay for at least a fortnight
annually, sometimes more. She felt that
she contributed to this by helping in the
house. During her stay she always
visited a couple of nieces and their
respective husbands who lived fairly
near. The husbands tended to be quite
generous. It helped with stretching the
pension and she always went home
with a few extras. Bert Bloy had known
them all, having had many an ear
clipping and finger shaking from their
elderly, but still fearsome, mother when
he’d been cheeky or tried to climb their
apple tree as a boy.
‘Do you give them my regards and I
hope they’re down soon.’
The following week Dolly packed her
bag, this time she did lock the door. She
walked a few miles to the nearest
station, caught the train to Kings Lynn
then another which chugged over the
river, through the fens and actually left
Norfolk, just, taking her a few miles
over the border into Lincolnshire,,
almost as good as going abroad in
Dolly’s eyes.
She had a lovely time, Horrie gave her
a small packet of Woodbines every day
and always bought her a bottle of
Guinness from the pub opposite his
shop which he visited nightly.
One evening Dolly went to the smart
home of her niece Ellen. She had heard
that Ellen and her daughter, Anne, were
away for a few days as it was the school
holidays, they would be home by
Friday and Dolly was going to have
Sunday dinner with them. Ellen and
Fred also had a business, a small café
and shop. Dolly didn’t mind at all that
they were away. Fred was an extremely
generous host especially when it came
to alcohol and tobacco, possibly
because of his own indulgence in the
former. Dolly was settled into an
armchair in the elegant sitting-room
with a full glass, an ashtray by her side
with a well stocked cigarette box
nearby on a side table. Fred went out to
refill the glasses, on his return he spied
Dolly through the crack in the door. Her
almost empty handbag was open as she
scooped cigarettes from the several
boxes in the room Fred and Ellen had
been in ‘good ‘ service and had grand
aspirations based on what they had seen
in the large houses of their youth. This
had included decorative boxes
containing cigarettes and cigars for the
enjoyment of guests although not quite
on the scale practised by Dolly. Fred,
by this time in the evening quite
mellow, laughed and was to dine out on
the story for years to come.
Dolly tottered back the mile and a half
to meet her brother in the passage,
‘I guess Fred gave you a drink or two,’
he said, looking at her flushed face. She
was about to say she’d had a cup of tea,
noting the telltale bulge of a Guiness
bottle in Horrie’s pocket, but thought
better of it. The family had a reputation
for being, not mean, but extremely
careful, often through necessity and she
knew that they looked after her well.
She was the only fit one left to remain
single and she had cared for their
mother and an ailing older sister for
many years. This left the others to leave
home, make their lives, raise families
and sadly, fight in wars.
When Dolly returned to her cottage, her
small case much heavier than when she
left there was an important looking
envelope on the mat, along with a
couple of hand written ones which she
recognised as coming from two of her
sisters.
She sat down to read the former.
Electricity was coming to the village at
last and, having experienced its joys for
two weeks Dolly dreamed of lights
which came on at the flick of a switch,
a wireless which need neither
accumulator nor battery and possible a
small fire which needed no coal nor
cleaning. She also looked at the price
being asked, not a lot, but more than
Dolly had, apart from the burial money
she kept strapped under her clothes. She
would write to the family the very next
day and post the letters when she went
to collect the pension, two whole weeks
worth, she thought. As she lay in bed
Dolly suddenly thought of a plan, if she
played her cards right she could afford a
few luxuries next winter, maybe even
stop buying Woodbines in packets of
five and breaking them in half.
Sure enough Dolly was up very early
and wrote to all her brothers and sisters
and nieces and nephews.
The years passed and the word went
round that Dolly was breathing her last,
loudly gasping and wheezing, about to
succumb to ‘the family chest’, aided by
the beloved Woodbines. The adult
members of her large family gathered at
her bedside, crowding into the tiny
bedroom with its immaculate white-
work cotton bed covers and brass
bedstead, to watch the little lady leave
this world. The doctor had been so this
must be the end, nobody remembered
Dolly having anything to do with
doctors. Suddenly her eyes opened and
she sat up.
’What you doing here?’ she said. ‘I’m
not going yet you know’, She glanced
knowingly at one or two of her nearest
and dearest and their spouses. ’You can
keep your eyes and hands off Mother’s
stuff.’ There was much shuffling of feet
and a couple had the grace to blush.
Although it was a different cottage the
contents were those they had grown up
with and having become more worldly
they realised there were one or two
‘nice’ pieces in the form of copper
kettles and clocks although nobody was
likely to fight over the stuffed birds in
glass domes.
A few months later Dolly did breathe
her last and the family gathered at a
local hotel, following her burial in the
family plot in the village churchyard.
The funeral money had not been
enough and as usual they had all
contributed with the refreshments paid
for by one of the more affluent, better
educated nephews who liked to impress
and was already wondering if His
Lordship on whose estate it was, would
sell the cottage for a few hundred
pounds. He looked round at the
assembled company,
‘Well’ he said, ’she’s finally gone, poor
old girl, still she didn’t do too badly. I
paid for her electricity to be connected
and her bill every winter.’
There was a sudden silence following a
sharp intake of breath from those
assembled, then they all spoke at once
‘But so did we—we did—I did too, she
wrote----‘ Then the truth dawned, poor
Dolly, crafty Dolly, had written the
same letter to everybody and all had
paid for the connection of her
electricity. As it had worked the first
time she had managed to have
electricity bills paid for the rest of her
life, in other words they had kept her in
Woodbines and Guiness for several
years.
When the younger members of the
family brought up by ‘not mean but
careful’ and extremely astute, adults
heard the story they laughed heartily
and drank many a toast over the years
to the seemingly innocent little old
lady who had got the better of
‘them’. One or two upon reflection
did begin to wonder if their own
offspring shared other genetic
characteristics than stature with
Dolly.
Sue Hart
Dolly’s Deceit
Great Aunt Dolly, four feet tall,
Upon my father came to call,
High-heeled shoes upon her feet,
Hair still chestnut, never neat.
‘Come in Dolly, have a drink,
Walking gives a thirst I think.
Cigarettes are on the shelf
Do sit down and help yourself.’
My father peering through a crack,
Saw Dolly filling up her bag.
‘Help yourself’, is what he’d said
And always generous was that Fred.
Fourteen siblings Dolly’d had
Now lived alone but was not sad,
Woodbines and Guinness pleasure
gave
Spent all on those, why should she
save?
Dolly’s sweetheart, handsome Jack,
Went to war, did not come back.
Dolly never found another,
She went home and nursed her
mother.
Sister Aggie with broken heart
Came to recover from Cupid’s dart.
Two sisters lived in their cottage
home
Then Dolly was left all on her own.
As long as there were ciggies and
stout,
She didn’t worry, wanted nowt.
These were friends on a chilly night,
Little money for heat and light.
But every winter Dolly wrote
To some of the family a little note:
‘Dear Fred, dear George, dear Horrie
too,
I really don’t know what to do.’
‘I can’t afford to pay my bills.
There’s nothing there for winter’s ills.
I wonder if you could just help me,
It’s cold out here too dark to see.’
No-one knew about the others,
Not sisters, nieces, nephews, brothers.
Till Dolly died and all found out
They’d paid for all the fags and stout.
In euphemistic middle age
Those left remember childhood days.
We think of Dolly with a grin,
Clever lady to take them in!
Sue Hart September 2000
Letter from
Australia
By Chris O'Connor
Australia is home to the 11 most
venomous snakes in the world, the
deadliest spider in the world, and
some of the most venomous marine
life. And yet according to a recent
study Australians are twice as likely
end up in hospital because of a bee or
wasp sting than an encounter with
any other venomous creature..
The study which took place recently
showed more than a third of the 3,520
people admitted to hospital for
contact with a venomous animal or
plant had been stung by a bee or a
wasp. About one in five were taken to
hospital for a spider bite, and 17.3%
had been bitten by a snake. Some
13.6% had been bitten by an ant, tick
or caterpillar, and 11.2% had been
stung by a marine animal.
Just seven people sought hospital
treatment following an encounter
with a venomous plant.
Australians were taken to hospital for
bee and wasp stings in 2017-18 at a rate
of five per 100,000, twice the rate of
hospitalisation for spiders (2.7 per
100,000) and snakes (2.4 per 100,000).
Bee stings accounted for 927 hospital
visits, and wasp stings 329. One
unlucky person was recorded as having
been stung by both on the same day. No
one was stung by a hornet.
Most of the 666 recorded
hospitalisations for spider bites
concerned the widely distributed
redback spider. Sydney’s funnel web
spider, the most deadly in the world,
accounted for just 25 hospitalisations.
Brown snakes were the most commonly
listed venomous snake species on
hospital reports. Only seven cases of
bite by taipan – the most venomous
snake in the world – were listed. Two
cases were logged as “contact with
powered lawnmower” or “bitten or
crushed by snake” as well as a
venomous snake bite.
Not included in the report were almost
2,000 cases of people being bitten or
crushed by a non venomous snake.
The report also listed 73 cases of people
being stung by jellyfish, including 41
people who were stung by irukandji
jellyfish,- the most deadly on earth -
and 63 people stung by stingrays..
Experts say it's a myth that Australia is
home to world's deadliest species
A report by the CSIRO in 2019 said
that while the venom of Australian
snakes had high toxicity levels, they
could not be called the deadliest in the
world because the annual death toll
from snake bites was “practically
nothing”.
.So if you are planning a trip down
under – once Covid is over – then fear
not.
Out & About
Watton.
As some readers may remember I
wrote a small article for the February
edition where I moaned on about the
rubbish being deposited at the side of
our country lanes in and around
Watton and surrounding Villages, in
particular the dump of Toxic waste
oil and engine oil filters my wife and
I came across in Sparrow Hill
(Peddars Way), Thompson in early
January, so you can imagine my
thoughts when on the 5th of this
month (March) when walking down
Crows Lane, in Merton
We can across an almost identical
dump of Toxic old motor oil and
filters lying in the undergrowth
clearly visible only 1 meter from the
road, on both occasions the dumps of
Toxic Waste were only a few meters
from streams of clear water running
into the local rivers in the area and a
serious danger to our wildlife.
This and the previous find have both
been reported to the Environmental
Agency who are taking this matter
very seriously and have asked me to
pass on their details and request that
any member of the public that find
any more dumps of this Toxic waste
Oil and items to notify them on Tel:
0800 80 70 60, Serious Incident
reference No:1896552.
The Local constabulary and
Breckland Council have in turn also
been notified. It is believed that the
culprit is most likely an unlicensed
and unregistered individual carrying
out vehicle servicing in the Watton
Area. Thank You.
Richard Adams
The Wayland News April 2021 Page 10
L to R Fred, F/O Glyn Harries (see first letter) Sgt. ‘Bish’ Bareham
The Letters of
Freddie Thripp
There are no letters home from Fred in
1939 (that I have) but he was continuing
his training at Cranfield. Unfortunately
the Operations Record Books (ORBs)
contain very little in 1939 as well, so we
must draw a veil over Fred's training
and continue eavesdropping on his
communications home during April
1940 and these ones are amazing in
some of the facts they reveal.
The letters, by and large, are undated,
so the only indication of dates are the
events he describes when they can be
correlated with entries in the ORBs
such as in the following letter:
'A' Flight, 82 (B) Sqdn. RAF Watton
Dear Mum Dad Rene & Harry.
Here we are again or at least again.
What with flying and rugby, we are
nearly all physical wrecks. If you don’t
hear about anymore Sylt efforts, and
across the front page of everything, you
can rest assured that there is quite a bit
of action going on. We all got in about
15hrs last week and they were not on
this side of the world. One of B flight
pilots got hurt in a car crash the other
day, and as my pilot was the only one
spare, he took his place on one of those
trips, and is still on it as far as we
know. He bombed with the rest of them,
then next time they looked round to
reform formation, he was missing and
still is. The operator was another good
chap and he had only returned from
leave the day before. Then when they
go over in the middle of the night when
no one can see them they cannot fly
with the extra weight of their medals. I
don't know what the weather has been
like in Beds, but we have had the lot in
the last few days, We had hot sunshine,
rain snow, hail, gales, and finished up
tonight with a thunderstorm. We had 4
more operators posted to our squadron
today, so it should relieve us a bit more
now. We have changed over to summer
routine now, so that we are supposed to
get up at 6.30, but it is usually about
sometime after 7 before we do, then we
have to carry on till 4.30. Well as long
as we do not get too many cloudless
days, we will be happy, and as we soon
hope to get into Coastal Command,
then things will be different. Well I
think this is about all the news for the
present, so will say cheerio as usual.
With the love of me. Fred
PS Excuse the writing as there has been
a war on with orange peel, and every
couple of seconds you have to duck or
get hit.
Fred's 'regular pilot' was Flying Officer
Glyn Harries (above, middle) On
Monday, 1st April, 1940, Harries took
the place of another pilot as Fred
explains above. The ORB (National
Archives: AIR-27-681-12) records the
Harries' loss along with that of Sergeant
Herbert H Kelleway, Leading
Aircraftman Eric L Wolverson of
whom Fred wrote “The operator was
another good chap and he had only
returned from leave the day before.”
From the ORB:
“Nine aircraft took off from Bodney to
attack shipping off Danish coast at
1100 hrs. . . . . some small Flak Ships
were attacked, no hits were observed
but some bombs were observed to fall
about 50 yds short. F/L Hall, Sgt. New
Batt and F/O Harries forming a
section, at position of Danish coast saw
4 ships taking evasive action in pairs, 2
mile apart. Attacked northernmost
ships at 3,000 ft. Bombs released from
F/L Hall's and F/O Harries' aircraft. 4
– 250 lb also fell 50 yds short of the
vessel. Third aircraft did not release
bombs. Bombing carried out under
A.A. fire. F/O Harries seen to leave the
target I minute later and not seen six
minutes later. Aircraft returned to ships
to search for F/O Harries. Could not
find any trace so returned to base
landing at 1500 hrs.”
Fred's sentence “Then when they go
over in the middle of the night when no
one can see them they cannot fly with
the extra weight of their medals.” gives
us a remarkable insight into the morale
of the squadron. The comment refers to
the night bomber force, usually the
Wellington squadrons. It seems clear
that the Blenheim Boys felt rather
neglected while they were undertaking
what was probably the most dangerous
task of daylight raids. In later years the
Blenheim and its crews became known
amongst themselves as the forgotten
bomber. There has been speculation
that this was because the losses in the
daylight force were really very high and
to focus on them in the publicity would
have been bad for the country's morale.
From the Summary of the ORB
(National Archives: AIR-27-681-11)
for the 2nd April the weather is
described as follows:
“Local Weather:_ Wind S.S.W. at 10-
15m.p.h. backing to S.S.E. Cloudy
during most of the day. Thunderstorms
at 1240, 1405, and 1545 hours. Cloud
base 1,000 ft. Visibility 4 -6 miles
decreasing in rain to 2,000 yds.”
So it seems likely that Fred wrote that
letter on the 2nd April 1940. I just love
the description of a “war with orange
peel” and one can visualise Fred sitting
on his bed in the barrack block perhaps
or maybe in the NAAFI with a cup of
tea, writing his letter.
A new pilot joined Fred's crew as a
replacement for Glyn Harries, Flying
Officer Theodore Moseley Hunt
(pictured right) who seems to have
been known as “Joe”.
Fred distorts the timelines to protect his
family from some of the grim truth
about events here at Watton in his
letters and this is amply illustrated in
the next letter:
“'A' Flight. 82 (B) Sqdn. RAF Watton
Dear Mum Dad Rene & Harry.
Well I arrived back OK, but that later
train did run from Hitchin. But still, 4
of us went out to tea when we got
Thetford, so it was not so bad. Since I
have been back though, they made sure
that I caught up with the hours I lost
while on leave, as I have been down to
fly every day, even early Friday
morning. I have just got back from a
4hr trip, no dinner again, and on a
Sunday too. I think I have had about 5
meals since Thursday, not bad. But boy
oh boy, did they have fun while I was
on leave. One of our machines engines,
cut out while attacked a Flak ship, but
came in again, after the machine had
hit the water, ripped his tail wheel off,
and bent the tips of his props,
meanwhile trying to dodge some
fighters. It was 2 of our chaps that went
over to photograph Sylt, and the only
thing in the news was correct, was that
they had heavy A/A's and fighters, they
did not drop any bombs either. They
said said that they could see hardly any
damage done at all. Another one of our
machines got a dozen or so holes in it
including one in the tank. Well I think
this is all for now. With Love. Fred”
I think this must have been written on
the evening of Sunday 7th April 1940
since in April 1940 Sundays were 7th,
14th, 21st, and 28th and the only flying
in the Summary ORB (National
Archives: AIR-27-681-11) is on
Sunday 7th April:
“Six aircraft standing by from 0530
hours at 3 hours notice, Ops 683.
Operations cancelled. Air Firing
programme carried out between 1030
and 1600 hours by both flights.”
So this is the only occasion Fred can
have flown for four hours on a Sunday.
But the rest of it does not fit well and I
think the leave he refers to must have
been in May. But one thing is clear, this
letter is a great example of Fred
shielding his family from the truth
while at the same time being desperate
to tell them what happened:
“But boy oh boy, did they have fun
while I was on leave. One of our
machines engines, cut out while
attacked a Flak ship, but came in
again, after the machine had hit the
water, ripped his tail wheel off, and
bent the tips of his props, meanwhile
trying to dodge some fighters.”
The ORB (National Archives: AIR-27-
681-12) records the following entry for
4th April 1940:
“Aircraft type and No.: Blenheim
P6895, Crew: F/O Hunt, Sgt Crawley,
LAC. Thripp, Duty: Attack on
submarines, Time Up: 0416, Time
Down: 0732. Details of Sortie or
Flight: This aircraft went to attack in
area west of HELIGOLAND to
CUXHAVEN. Encountered slight cloud
at 4,000 ft. vis. 5 miles, at 540 00' N 040
00' E. At 530 55' N, 090 00' E at 0546
hrs. 10,000 ft. to sea level cloud 10/10
vis. 50 yds. [Essentially they flew into a
massive cloud bank!] At 070 50' E
cloud 6,000 ft. to 600 ft. 6/10ths this
arivracft returned owing to bad
weather. In a turn over the North Sea at
low level the starboard engine
momentarily failed and the pilot in
turning the petrol cocks lost control of
the aircraft. The aircraft struck the sea
ripping the tail wheel off and bending
the tips of the starboard airscrew. The
pilot regained control and climbed
through cloud to 10,000 ft. and
returned to base, landing at WATTON
at 0732 hrs.
So, Fred was not on leave. He was
onboard the aircraft that hit the water!
That must have been just about as scary
as it can get. But Fred's reasons for the
aircraft hitting the water differs
somewhat from the official account in
the ORB. So who is telling the truth?
The original duty was submarine attack
and maybe they just saw a Flak Ship
and a target of opportunity and went for
it. It was not uncommon to have
engines cut after bombing because of
the way fuel was gravity fed to the
engine and because of the flight profile
attacking a ship, which meant the
aircraft encountered a period of zero
gravity for a second or two as they
went over the top of the ship. On the
other hand maybe Fred just
exaggerated a bit, but personally, I
believe Fred's account as he has no
reason to exaggerate whereas if the
Pilot and crew were not obeying orders,
to the letter, there may have been some
trouble for the pilot. I leave you to
make up your own mind on this!
Fred's last letter from April gives
indications that the losses the squadron
are experiencing are beginning to take
their toll on the way Fred is feeling:
'A' Flight, 82 (B) Sqdn. RAF Watton
Norfolk
Dear Mum Dad Rene & Harry.
Well after another full week of activity,
I have found time to write once again,
late of course, but better than not at all.
Our squadron has been in the limelight
again. Those battleships that were
supposed to have been "bombed"was the
result of our mob. But they did not hit
any of them, though they were very
close to them and may have buckled
them a bit. Two of us were over there at
about 5.30 to 6. in the morning looking
for subs, but we did not see any, and we
were over Cuxhaven, but too much low
cloud for safety, but I heard the Gerry
W/T stations banging away telling
every body we were there. The other
crew managed to get under the cloud in
Wilhelmshaven and saw the ships, and
had stuff slung at them from old
blunderbusses to big berthas, but got
away with it. The other squadron had 2
machines on an early morning effort,
and one piled in a few miles from the
drome, all three killed, with only the W/
T op. in any decent shape, and we had
one today doing the same thing taking
one Sgt. to Scotland on pass, with 2
new replacements. We do not know
what happened yet but the pilot got
away in his 'chute, the other three it is
hard to say anything about as they can
not identify them properly yet, they
were in such a state, as the machine
went into the ground and exploded. The
pilot is half mad still so they have to
wait for a while to get the whole story.
If any one still says that they do not
know that there is a war on tell them to
wait till I home next and I will let them
Flying Officer ’joe’ Hunt
know what it is like to lose some of your
pals, 9 in all from our Sqdn. and 6 from
the other Sqdn. As for sleep and meals
we get them when we can. Well it is
nearly time to get our orders for
tomorrow, and I dont like the rumour
going round so I suppose we will be up
again at about 1 o'clock. Cheerio for
now. With Love. Fred
The accounts in the ORB (National
Archives: AIR-27-681-12) make it very
clear that the raid he Fred talking about
where the squadron is in the limelight
again took place on the 4th April - the
same date as Fred's striking the sea
adventure - though it does seem he is
responding to reports in the newspapers
and he is scathing about the accuracy of
the reports. (Nothing changes!!)
The account of the crash from his own
squadron “and we had one today doing
the same thing taking one Sgt. to
Scotland on pass, with 2 new
replacements. We do not know what
happened yet but the pilot got away in
his 'chute, the other three it is hard to
say anything about as they can not
identify them properly yet, they were in
such a state, as the machine went into
the ground and exploded. The pilot is
half mad still so they have to wait for a
while to get the whole story.” The
same ORB tells us this happened on the
8th April which must have been when
Fred was writing this letter. Pilot - Sgt
Bennett managed to bale out. Sgt Ian
Nairne Murdoch Observer, Sgt George
Chapman Observer. U/T. and AC2
John William Kempton WOp/AG were
all killed.
The other loss was from 21 Squadron
and the crash about which Fred talks,
was on the morning of the 6th April at
about 0405hrs when the aircraft struck
trees on the Merton estate and two of
the crew – P/O Ian Stapledon (Pilot)
and LAC John Brayfield Ball (Wop/
AG) were killed instantly and are
buried at St Mary's here in Watton. The
Observer Sgt Walter John Wetton was
found alive impaled on a branch, but
died later from his injuries. He is buried
at Heckington near Sleaford.
All of this is taking place in April
1940 – during the period of the so
-called Phoney War when
supposedly nothing much of
interest was happening. I will
remind you of Fred's words
again: “If any one still says that
they do not know that there is a
war on tell them to wait till I home
next and I will let them know what
it is like to lose some of your pals,
9 in all from our Sqdn. and 6 from
the other Sqdn.”
The Wayland News April 2021 Page 11
This event would take place in
Watton Evening Wi the lady’s parlour,
withdrawing room and be
or

February is the month where WI’s nationally show their
support for a cleaner, greener world that works for everyone.
They show this support by wearing and sharing ‘Green
Hearts’ So for our meeting this month it seemed apt to
welcome Chris Bell, Forecasting Director of Weatherquest
UK, and lecturer in Meteorology both at UEA. He is also
seen as a weather presenter on BBC Look East.
Chris has spoken to our WI previously, our talk this year was
about Climate Change, and Chris readily accepts he is no
expert but sees climate change from an operational weather
forecasters’ perspective.
Less than ten years ago science was still in its infancy
regarding Climate Change. Weather forecasting is short-term
conditions, days, weeks, even months; Climate Change is
long-term, looking to the past and into the future. Like most
things, everyone reads statistics and uses them to get their
point across. But on a world with huge temperature
differences – on one day, 2 years ago, the American Weather
Service satellites recorded -65oC in Antarctica and +48.3oC
in Phoenix USA, all forms of forecasting and statistics are
open to abuse.
Chris gave a lot of clarity and explanations regarding the
Industrial Revolution, the emission and uses of ‘Greenhouse
Gases’ – where we, as humanity, are and could be in the
future if we do not readily accept change. It will be the large
populations living close to the oceans that will suffer, leading
to displacement, and its those displacements that will cause
conflicts.
For our March meeting we were joined by Baroness
Bolsover, alter ego of Linda Jane Holmes (Pictured), who, as
the Baroness gave a hugely entertaining talk on the history of
‘Afternoon Tea Etiquette’.
Mid 1840’s – Anna Russell, the 7th Duchess of Bedford
complained of ‘having a sinking feeling’ in the afternoon,
between breakfast and dinner, the Victorians taking dinner
anywhere between 8 and 9pm. The Duchess started calling
for a pot of tea and some light food be brought to her private
quarters. The idea was so successful, it became a routine. The
Duchess began to invite a few friends for tea in the afternoon.
A new social event was born, the guests could catch up on the
latest gossip, discuss recent events, and meet with friends.
served on low-decorative
tables, it became known as
‘low’ tea.
The Duchess, as Lady in
Waiting and a lifelong friend of
Queen Victoria, to whom she
introduced to the idea, and so
doing gained an influential
supporter. The trend, with royal
backing, became a fashionable
pastime of the upper classes.
This ‘so called’ At Home tea
quickly spread throughout the
aristocracy, on a given day of
the week the hostess would
remain at home to receive her
visitors and serve tea,
sandwiches, and cakes, it was
not uncommon to visit two or
three ‘afternoon teas’ during
one afternoon. One should allow 30 minutes at each tea for
politeness.
These events were highly formalised, and the Baroness
demonstrated, to the amusement of the ladies, who joined in
with various teacups, saucers and a wonderful array of
napkins, the ‘Etiquette’ of correctly folding ones’ napkin,
‘crumbs belong on the floor not on your gown’; your posture,
to sit upright and show interest in the conversation, no elbows
on the table; folding the sugar into your tea – no stirring
allowed! Finally, the correct way to raise your cup and saucer
to your lips – sip not slurp – and to use your napkin to
daintily dab at one’s lips.
The Baroness rounded off the evening with some fun
historical facts: Joseph Tetley and Walter Whittard became
the first tea merchants to sell directly to the aristocracy. So
called ‘finger sandwiches’ came about during this period – to
be no longer than a lady’s middle finger and no thicker, and
of course the ubiquitous Victoria Sponge made its
appearance. The Baroness was highly amused by descriptions
of twenty-first century portion sizes, in the days of Victorian
‘Afternoon Tea’ all portions would be dainty, just a nibble!
Rotary Cake
Decoration
Competition
As we were unable to run our usual Young Chef
competition at Wayland Academy this year due to
COVID restrictions, we arranged a virtual Cake
Decorating competition. Pupils were asked to bake
and decorate a standard sponge cake and then take
photos of it. The photos were sent to us for judging.
Our judge, Chris Rowe assessed each entry for theme,
decoration and actual cake. Her only regret was that
she couldn’t eat any of them. The winner of the
competition was Bella Jarvis, whose cake looked
yummy, according to our judge. Joint runners up were
Jack Stadius Horn and Lauren Hudson. Mike Gicquel
HOWS
THAT!
By John Egerton
Larry walked to the wicket swinging
his bat with a carefree air. It was two
minutes to five o’clock and it was the
last over of the innings, the Squire
was bowling and there were four
balls left. There was no love lost
between Larry and the Squire, which
dated beck some years to when the
Squire had purchased en exotic shrub
and instructed Larry, as Head
Gardener, to plant it in a position
where Larry knew it would stand no
chance of survival.
Larry had been proved right, for
despite all his efforts the shrub had
withered and died. The Squire never
forgave him, not for losing the shrub,
but for being right.
Anyway, Larry had four balls with
which to make his mark in the game.
The first one he missed completely,
but the next two he drove through the
covers for four runs. Last ball, and
the Squire glared at him as he
unleashed a bouncer, which Larry
managed to time perfectly and pull
for six.
As he took his place at the table to
partake of the tea provided by the
ladies of the village, the Squire’s wife
whispered in his ear “That was a fine
six you scored , Larry. I think that
deserves en extra cream cake with
your sandwiches”, which did not
endear Larry to the Squire one little
bit.
It was the first time that Larry had
been able to play cricket in the
current season, as the Squire only
permitted his staff to have a half-day
off on Saturdays once the harvest had
been brought in, and this was the
annual fixture between the Squire’s
XI and the Village. Although Larry
worked for the Squire he was never
invited to play for his team, which is
why they found themselves on
opposite sides.
In those days (the year 1902) the
relationship between employer and
worker was not always particularly
friendly, and it was at the local Town
Goose Fair that contracts for the
following year were arranged. Thus
at the Fair the employer could give
notice to worker or vice versa.
However, in Larry’s case, part and
parcel of the job was the use of a
cottage for him and his wife, and
with a child on the way it would not
be too clever if he should fall out
with the boss.
The game continued with the
Squire’s team batting, and the Squire
was in, part of the last wicket
partnership, and the Village team
were one run ahead. The bowler sent
down a harmless looking ball, and the
Squire stepped out and sent it high in
the air towards where Larry was
fielding.
It was a fairly simple chance, but as
the ball came down Larry realised the
import of the moment. If he caught
the ball his team would win, but he
might be out of a job. Well, it’s only
a game. Isn’t it?
The Wayland News April 2021 Page 12

Please Support
YOUR Local
Businesses
Rotary Photgraphic Competition Runners Up
Jessica Chapman’s excellent close-up of a butterfly, and Maddie
Collier’s beautiful toad. 2nd and 3rd place pictures in the competition.

time who expressed surprise and disappointment at seeing them

Councillor's Chat
With Cllr Claire Bowes
As I write the Government’s Covid Vaccine programme has seen
more than 24 million people in the UK receive at least one dose of
a coronavirus vaccine in part of the biggest inoculation
programme the country has ever launched. In roll out terms we
rank fourth in the world with 38.6 doses given per 100 residents.
There have been a number of negative news stories about the
safety of the Covid vaccines, all so far have been debunked by
scientists and medical experts. Media focus is now on the
AstraZeneca (Oxford) vaccine as a number of EU member
countries have suspended its use. However medical and scientific
advice, including that from the European Medicines Agency
(EMA) and the UK’s medicines regulator, has said there is no
indication that the vaccine causes blood clots. In fact the number
of reported clots in those who have received the vaccine is no
higher than seen in the rest of the general population. The WHO
has also backed this up in support of the AZ vaccine. Personally
speaking and despite the scare mongering, I was happy to receive
the AZ vaccine a few days ago and encourage all to take
advantage of the vaccine offer as soon as you receive it, to protect
yourselves, your loved ones and to help us win the fight to control
this virus and to regain our social and economic freedoms.
Breckland residents are encouraged to access symptom-free covid
testing which has been launched in the District and was piloted in
Watton. The asymptomatic testing programme is being delivered
in partnership with Breckland Council and Norfolk County
Council’s Public Health Team. People without Covid-19
symptoms can book online (www.norfolk.gov.uk/rapidtesting). I
am very pleased to see Cherry trees back adorning our High
Street.
They have been planted with funding from Breckland Council’s
Market Town Initiative, which supports projects that encourage
footfall back into Breckland’s Market Towns.
As a Breckland Council member for Watton I was very pleased to
propose and support this particular project, following the removal
(not by Breckland) of the original trees a few years ago, which
were not replaced. I was contacted by a number of residents at the
suddenly gone.
Not only will these trees make the High Street more attractive and
welcoming to residents and visitors, they will help offset the
carbon footprint, in line with Breckland Council’s Environmental
Agenda, which was recently given cross party support.
For those interested the trees planted so far are 6 Prunus Avium
Plena (Wild Cherry) and 6 Prunus Accolade.
As well as the trees giving a display of both Spring and Autumn
colour, the blossom provides an early source of nectar and pollen
for bees; whilst the cherries in late summer/autumn are are a food
source for birds, including the blackbird and song thrush. The
foliage is the main food plant for caterpillars of many species of
moth, including the cherry fruit and cherry bark moths, the orchard
ermine, brimstone and short-cloaked moth.
Finally a reminder that local elections for Norfolk County Council
and the Norfolk Police and Crime Commissioner, will be taking
place in May. Polling day is May 6th. If you are not already
registered to vote you can do so online at www.breckland.gov.uk/
article/3422/Register-to-Vote or
www.registertovote.service.gov.uk
The deadline to register to vote is Monday 19th April
You may prefer to vote by post. If you have not already registered
for a postal vote this link will take you to the application form.
www.breckland.gov.uk/article/12755/Voting-by-Post
You should post your completed form to Electoral Services,
Breckland Council at the address given before 5.00pm on Tuesday
20 April 2021.
Please be assured that polling station voting on 6th May will be
conducted safely under coronavirus restrictions. Breckland
Council’s Returning Officer is taking additional steps to ensure
that public health advice around physical distancing, proper hand
hygiene and the use of face coverings is strictly followed.
Claire Bowes District Councillor, Watton Ward
Claire.bowes@breckland.gov.uk
County Councillor, Watton Division,
Claire.bowes@norfolk.gov.uk
07789796937
Promoted by Christopher Kemp on behalf of Claire Bowes and
Mid-Norfolk Conservatives both of 8 Damgate St, Wymondham,
Norfolk NR18 0BQ

THE WAYLAND NEWS

PLEASE READ!!! Page space is allocated strictly on a first come,
first served basis. 12 Noon on the 15th of the month preceding
publication is the last date and time that copy will be
CONSIDERED for inclusion. Arrival of your copy before deadline
does not guarantee inclusion, if you wish to be certain your
entry gets published, then please make sure it arrives in plenty RED 15. Countryfile
of time otherwise you may still be disappointed. 11. Answers all contain the work 14. Dixon of Dock Green
You can contact Julian by ringing (01953) 858908. 10. The RED Badge of Courage. 13. The Sweeney
The e-mail address is now: newsfromwayland@gmail.com
9. RED Adair. 12. The Power Game
8. RED Dawn.
Views expressed in articles in The Wayland News are those
11. University Challenge
7. Seeing RED. 10. Fawlty Towers
of the contributors and not the views of the publisher or 6. The RED Crescent. 9. Line of Duty
printers. 5. Simply RED. 8. Dinner Ladies
While every care and effort has been taken to ensure 4. The Man with one RED Shoe. 7. Call the Midwife
accuracy, the publisher cannot accept responsibility for 3. Derek REDmond. 6. Coronation Street
2. Little RED Rooster.
errors or omissions. 1. RED Lion.
5. Not Only But Also
4. The Thin Blue Line
This issue of the The Wayland News was published by: Watton Society Quiz - Answers 3. Bless This House
Julian Horn, 32 High Street, Watton IP25 6AE 2. Open All Hours
and printed by: 20. The Good Life 1. Porridge
Sharman & Company Ltd, Newark Road
19. The Likely Lads Ashill Puzzler's Anagram quiz
18. Softly Softly
Peterborough PE1 5TD. Phone: 01733 424 949 17. Acorn Antiques Quiz Answers
16. Mastermind