Professional Documents
Culture Documents
"THE MALLARD" February 2024
"THE MALLARD" February 2024
Wishing all our readers a very Happy New Year and Welcome to our first issue for 2024.
Overlooking the Post Office Pit towards St Mary’s . Photo Credit: P James
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Mallard News
This parish magazine is
published every month for the
QUIZ NIGHT AT GREAT MASSINGHAM
residents of Great and Little VILLAGE HALL
Massingham with the support of Thursday 22nd February to be held in the bar of the
the Great Massingham Parish
Council, the Parochial Church village hall at 7.30pm.
Council and Massingham Entry is £2.00 per person or £4.00 for non-members.
Village Hall Trustees. Either come along as a team, maximum of six, or join a team
Contact Details: on the night. No need to pre-book.
Editor: Sarah Harvey The following are dates for your diaries:
Byanoak, Leicester Road, 28th March, 25th April, 23rd May, 27th June, 25th July and
South Creake, NR21 9PW 22nd August. (These dates will also be
Tel: 01328 823391 posted on the QUIZ page of the village website)
e-mail:
themallardeditor@gmail.com
QUIZ NIGHT AT THE DABBLING DUCK
Website: Quarterly quiz at the Dabbling Duck.
www.greatmassingham.net
In aid of Community Cars.
Deadline for the Further details in next month’s Mallard and through the Quiz
next issue Emailed Newsletter.
17th Remember that your organisation can benefit from the
February 2024 quarterly quiz at the pub.
Just drop me a line at: robertcharlestaylor@live.com or give
me a call, 07908 244421, to register your interest.
In This Issue
QUIZ NIGHT
• New Defibrillator VILLAGE HALL CENTENARY CELEBRATIONS
• Quiz Nights (VH) Looking further into the future! Please hold Saturday
• Quiz Night (Pub) 13th July 2024 for the Village Hall Centenary Celebrations
• Quiz Night (Harpley)
which will include a quiz.
• Craft & Chat
• Village Hall AGM Further details will be publicised when they have been
• What’s in a Name finalised.
• FOSALM Just drop me a line, robertcharlestaylor@live.com if you
• Choral Society would like to receive regular updates by email of forthcoming
• Congratulations quizzes.
• Bulb Planting
• Local Hero Awards HARPLEY VILLAGE HALL QUIZ NIGHT
• Parish Council
• Pop-Up Restaurant Friday 9th February 2024 7pm for 7.30pm start
• Historical Society £2.50 per adult, teams of up to six
• Community Lunch Please bring your own drinks and nibbles
• Film Nights Please purchase tickets in advance by emailing
• Pre-School harpleylive@gmail.com
• Bingo
• Westacre Theatre Great Massingham
• Christingle CRAFT & CHAT
DATES Village Hall and Institute
• From the Rector
• Sad Loss of Edna From 2pm to 4pm CIO 1182009
• Church Services Village Hall Bar AGM
• Church News Monday 5th & 19th To be held at the Village Hall
• Toad Patrol February, on Tuesday 13th March
• Mobile Library Visits
• Dates for your Diary and 4th March 2024 2024, at 7.00 pm.
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Mallard News
WHAT’S IN A NAME?
I live in Great Massingham, Kings Lynn, Norfolk, East Anglia. Each of these place
names has an interesting history. The Welsh word llyn means a lake, and in the other
Celtic languages we find the related loch and lough, so Lynn may be a reference to wa-
ter, perhaps the Wash or to pools for producing salt. The 1085 Domesday Book men-
tions saltings at Lena (Lynn?) and the town as Lun and Lenn. The town was named Len
Episcopi (Bishop's Lynn) although the locals were often at odds with the Bishop of Nor-
wich. Although the area was not kind to English monarchs (Hereward the Wake an-
noyed William the Conqueror from the then island of Ely and King John of Magna Car-
ta fame lost his treasure and died from dysentery after crossing the marshy area of the
Wash), Henry VIII took over the patronage of the town and renamed it Lenne Regis or
King's Lynn.
Massingham is Anglo-Saxon in origin, the suffixes ‘ing’ and ‘ling’ meaning ‘of’ or
‘from’, as in earthling. This originally referred to a ploughman but since the 16th centu-
ry it has been adopted, as in Sci-Fi movies, to refer to someone from the planet
Earth. Ham is an early version of the word home and remains in modern English as
hamlet - a few homes. Great Massingham is the bigger home or homestead or village of
the people of the leader Maessa, as opposed to Little Massingham.
It is much easier to ascertain the origin of Norfolk, and Suffolk for that matter, which
are derived from the Anglo-Saxon for north folk and south folk. East Anglia also has an
Anglo-Saxon origin. The Angles were a tribe, along with the Saxons and Jutes, who
invaded England from the 5th century onwards. Their name is thought to derive from the
old Germanic for a fish hook, bent at a right angle, hence also explaining angler
(someone who fishes – the modern German verb for fishing is ‘angeln’) and ankle (the
point where the leg makes a right angle with the foot). Sir Terence Stephenson
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Mallard News
BCKLWN,
WEST NORFOLK
LOCAL HERO
AWARDS
Your Local Paper will be hosting the Local Hero
Awards, sponsored by the Borough Council of
King’s Lynn & West Norfolk, at the King’s Lynn
Corn Exchange on 24 April 2024.
The awards recognise those people in the West
Norfolk Community who are true heroes. These
people could be anyone from a member of our
uniformed services to a youth club volunteer,
dedicated carer or a teacher who inspired their
students.
For further details regarding the categories and to
nominate please visit www.ylpheroawards.com
If you are unable to vote online, please call Your
A BIG THANK YOU Local Paper on 01553 611111 between 9am and
A group of volunteers (pictured 1pm on a weekday and they can assist you.
above) recently planted bulbs on Nominations deadline: Friday 23 February 2024
the village green that were kindly at 5pm. Nominees must live or work within the
donated by Fakenham Garden borough of West Norfolk.
Centre.
Shop window
FITNESS CLASSES
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Mobile: 07780 776576 sandrreeve@gmail.com
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Mallard News
GREAT MASSINGHAM PARISH COUNCIL
The Parish Council meeting was held in the Village Hall on Monday 15 th January with
six Parish Councillors in attendance along with eleven parishioners.
Casual Vacancy: Prior to the January Parish Council meeting Jon Cole handed his
resignation to the Chair, following time served as a Parish Councillor. The Parish
Council thanked him for all of his time that he had made available and all that he had
contributed during his time on the Council. The Local Election Rules 2006 require the
Casual Vacancy to be advertised on the Notice Board and Parish Council Website for a
period of 14 days.
Parish Councillor Vacancy to be filled by Co-option: The necessary period under the
Local Election Rules 2006 required to advertise the Casual Vacancy has concluded and
the Parish Council have been advised by Electoral Services (BCKLWN) that they are
able to co-opt in order to fill the vacancy left by Mark Eldridge. Co-option for the
vacancy will take place at the 12th February meeting and application forms should be
returned to the Parish Clerk by Friday 9th February. For further information or to obtain
an application form please visit the Parish Council website (News) or contact Sarah
Harvey (Clerk), details below.
Finance: As, is always the case in January, the Parish Council is required to agree the
Precept for the next financial year, 2024/25 by 31 st January. Therefore, the annual
Budget and Precept were considered by the Council and it was agreed to increase the
Band D contribution by around 49p per month (over a 10 month period) which will
result in a annual payment of £71.39.
Donations were also agreed for organisations inside and outside of the village, including
the Community Car Scheme (£500), St Mary’s Parochial Church Council (£350) and the
Biodiversity Group (£250).
New Bus Stops – Station Road: The Parish Council has been advised by Norfolk
County Council that the ‘bus stops were provided at these locations to allow
sufficient and convenient access to bus services for the residents of Walcup Lane and
Summerwood Estate.’ NCC have further confirmed that ‘policy dictates that the
installation of bus stops on public highway does not require consultation with residents.’
They further explained that ‘the position of the bus stop opposite No.49 is on a minor
bend, however, with the speed limit at 30mph, it’s felt there is sufficient visibility and
time to allow a car to pass safely. NCC recommend that approaching a stationary bus,
drivers exercise additional caution when overtaking. It’s also important to note the
maximum time a bus could stop at this location is 6 times per day, with an average dwell
time of 10 seconds. Proportionally, this is a very small amount of time and therefore
significantly reduces any risk.’ The Parish Council were not made aware of the work in
advance and have raised these concerns with NCC. The Parish Council have also
requested that in the future should further projects be planned the Council are consulted
in advance so that these can be communicated to residents.
Next Meeting: The next Parish Council meeting will be held in the Village Hall on 12 th
February at 7.30pm. Members of the public are very welcome to join the meeting and
there is an opportunity to make comments or ask questions of the Council during the first
part of the meeting. Please note that the Parish Council will not respond to posts on
social media and would ask that any comments, complaints or compliments be
directed to the Clerk via the contact details provided. To contact the Clerk, Sarah
Harvey you can telephone 01328 823391, email gmparishclerk@gmail.com or write to
Byanoak, Leicester Road, South Creake, NR21 9PW.
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Shop window
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Mallard News
POP-UP RESTAURANT
Saturday 10th February
Great Massingham Village Hall
Arrive at 7.00 pm and dine at 7.30 pm
Starter: Roasted tomato and basil soup and
homemade rolls.
Main course: Chicken in tarragon sauce
seasonal local vegetables,
dauphinoise potatoes.
Vegetarian option: Winter vegetable and
tarragon pie seasonal local vegetables and
dauphinoise potatoes
Dessert: Chocolate mousse with an espresso
martini on the side
Cost £20
Community Lunch
Please Massingham
join us
Village Hall Bar Ducklings Preschool
Tuesday 27th February
For children age 2-4
MENU
£8 Arrive 12.30pm, eat at 1pm
Hunters chicken, jacket potatoes, veg.
Berry crumble with cream.
Come & meet friends for a chat.
The Bar will be open.
To book lunch please contact Deborah
Charity Number 91991
Lambert on or, email on
mrsdl1965@gmail.com by Tuesday 20th Feb.
Book now for September 2024
Email Pip
ducklingspreschool@aol.com
FILM NIGHTS for or text 07807185746
7 for 7.30pm
Members Night on Rural Crimes Police Officer
Thursday 1st February PC Chris Shelley 07900 407 106
Christopher.shelley@norfolk.police.uk
‘Past Lives’
Thursday 15th February
‘And Then Come the
Nightjars’
2nd February
£5 (plus a complementary drink )
At Great Massingham Village
at the Village Hall Hall.
For help with transport call Doors open at 7pm
Denny 07887 927 691. Eyes down for 7.30pm
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Mallard News
9
WHAT’S ON AT WESTACRE THEATRE?....
for much more information and to book
www.westacretheatre.com or TEL: 01760 755 007
7 Day Play Calling all budding young actors!
Join Lamphouse Theare's Becky Owen-Fisher this February half term for the chance to
make a play in 7 days! Westacre Theatre has joined up with award-winning playwright
and author Christopher William Hill as the young actors get to rehearse and perform one
of his plays in just 7 days under Becky's expert direction.
Friday 16 February evening through to the performance Friday 23 February 7pm
Screening in the studio: Wednesday Flicks Dream Horse
Dream Alliance is an unlikely race horse bred by small-town Welsh bartender Jan
Vokes. With no experience, Jan convinces her neighbors to chip in their meager earnings
to help raise Dream in the hopes he can compete with the racing elites.
Wednesday 7 February 2pm Tickets £12
NT Live Screening: Vanya
Andrew Scott (Fleabag, Sherlock) brings multiple characters to life in Simon Stephens'
radical new version of Chekhov’s Uncle Vanya. Filmed live during its sold-out run in
London’s West End.
Thursday 22 February 7pm Tickets £14
Mama G presents The Magic Bookmark
Audiences are invited to join "everyone's favourite pantomime dame!" (Metro) and Brit-
ain's Got Talent semi-finalist Mama G on a brand new, award winning, panto adventure
for the whole family!
Families are sure to love this storytelling show full of panto fun, interaction, song and
dance, puppetry, and some of the finest picture books currently on the market!
Saturday 24 February 3pm Tickets £12
CHRISTINGLE AT ST. MARY’S GREAT MASSINGHAM
How wonderful to see our village church, St. Mary’s, so full on
Christmas Eve at the Christingle service. It truly was a joyous
service of celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ; Immanuel –
God with us.
The children were in good voice as they sang “Away in a
manger” and they surprised us all with accompanying the
singing with sign language which they had been taught, at
school, by Mrs Rebecca Nash.
Christingles were presented to the children and families and the
circle of light that they provided, once lit, reminded us all of
the love of God that surrounds us all.
It really was a team effort and our dear friend, Revd. Julian Thompson, would have been
so proud of the way we all worked together to celebrate this special occasion. A fitting
tribute was made at the end of the service when all 112 members of the congregation
sung his song: “J-O-Y Jesus first, Yourself last and Others in between”
Thanks go to Mark Dobby at the Dabbling Duck who donated all the oranges; to Jo
Foster and family who transformed the oranges into Christingles and to Mark Brown
who played the organ so brilliantly. £306.40 was collected from donations and candles
boxes which traditionally goes to the Children’s Society.
It would be good to see you again at services throughout the coming year; you would be
made very welcome. For details of services at Great Massingham and surrounding
villages please go to the Benefice website: “www.ggmbenefice.uk”
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Shop window
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Message for Parishioners from Rev’d Sue Martin
Dear Friends,
Snowdrops, our first flowers of the year have already given us signs of
Spring. That’s a good thing! We could certainly do with some signs of
hope which is exactly what snowdrops and aconites do. Signs that Spring is on the way,
a promise of a new start, a new year with all the joys it may bring us for 2024.
I normally have the same New Year Resolutions, to be on time and to be more
organised, I may be getting somewhere with being on time but being better organised is
a ‘work in progress’! I thought a change was needed, so my New Year’s Resolution is
‘to live life and to enjoy all that is has to offer’.
God gives us all a chance to make changes, to start again and a hope for tomorrow. In
the book of Samuel, in the Old Testament in the Bible there is a famous passage where
Samuel hears a voice calling to him in the night. He thinks it is Eli, his guardian, but
after three times. Eli realises it is God calling Samuel. A sign of hope and promise for
Samuel and a change for Eli.
We have changes in our benefice (group of parishes) we are in ‘interregnum’, a time
when we don’t have a Team Rector. But we do have an excellent ministry team and an
amazing team of churchwardens, who have been working with the Archdeacon to
produce a ‘benefice profile’. An advert has now gone out to the wider world to seek a
new Team Rector. We have hope for the future.
It is also a time to say thank you to everyone who helps so much with our churches,
churchwardens, flower teams, the cleaners, tea makers, and for all who help in any way.
In Gayton, we had the Christmas Tree Festival, an amazing response from village
organisations, our church looked magnificent, not forgetting our wonderful flower team,
the Christmas Tree Festival team who put it all together, and our visitors. Enormous
thanks to everyone.
Our schools are key to our work in the parishes, over Christmas we saw large number of
services in schools and in churches to celebrate the birth of Jesus, these were incredibly
well supported and thank to all who attended and celebrated with us, it was a real joy.
February is a time of hope and promise, winter is not over yet, but days getting longer
and signs that Spring is on its way.
God Bless and peace to all. Rev’d Sue Martin
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Church Services February 2024
Date Time Service Location
Sunday 4th 8.30 am Holy Communion Roydon
February 9.30 am Family Service Harpley
10.30 am Holy Communion Grimston
10.30 am Songs of Praise Little Massingham
Wed. 7th February 9.00 am Holy Communion Harpley
Sunday 11th 8.30 am Holy Communion Congham
February 10.30 am Morning Prayer Little Massingham
10.30 am Holy Communion Gayton
10.30 am Songs of Praise Great Massingham
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Shop window
PRIMROSE COTTAGE
Boarding for dogs in the comfort of our Weasenham Road, Great Massingham
home Self-catering accommodation
Your dogs will be treated as one of the family Sleeps 2. Weekly or short breaks available,
for the duration of their stay. Daily minimum 3 nights. Parking & dog friendly.
walks & spacious grounds for your Contact Christine Riches
dog to play in. Tel:01485/520216, Mob: 0779 206 8143
Love and cuddles guaranteed! Email: c.riches21@btinternet.com
The Paddocks, Station Road, website: www.christines-norfolk-cottages.co.uk
SQUAD
bespoke meat and
produce, from our own
farm & local Suppliers
Heath farm Shop, Lynn Lane,
Great Massingham, Norfolk, PE32 2HJ
WOODBURNERS 01485 520 828
Open 9 - 5, Tuesday, Wednesday & Friday
Comprehensive stock to view at our 9 - 6 Thursday and 9 - 1 Saturday
showroom on
The West Raynham Business Park.
01328 838 665
e-mail: firingsquadwoodburners@yahoo.com
www.firingsquadwoodburners.com
APPROVED CLEARVIEW STOCKIST
Great Massingham
Village Hall and Bar
Opening Hours
Wednesday to Friday - 7pm to 11pm
Saturday 3.45pm to 11pm High quality fitted and free-standing
Sunday 12 noon to 6.30 pm furniture. Individually designed,
With some flexibility for special events
and occasions. All Welcome.
personally installed by experts from
Memberships Excellent facilities.
due from the Good beer, wines and our Great Massingham workshops.
st
1 April. spirits at competitive www.tenacityinteriors.com
The fee is £12.50 prices. Outdoor
per person for drinking area.
all adults over WiFi, Pool Table & CALL TODAY
eighteen. Sky on large screen. 01485 521888
Please come along and support.
14
Useful Numbers
Organisation Contact Phone No.
Allotment Association Daisy Robinson 07979 723 288
Biodiversity Project Tim Baldwin 520 813
Borough Council Alistair Beales By email only
Bell Ringing Dale Gagen 520 024
Bowls Club Peter Wadham 520 796
Church Contacts Stephen Hudson 520 450
Community Car Scheme Office 520 823
Coronation Club Jill Whitmore 520 609
County Council Stuart Graham Dark 07450 679 355
Craft & Chat Sue Nash 520 476 & 07802670711
Dabbling Duck Pub Mark Dobby 520 827
Doctors Massingham Surgery 520 521
The Film Night Arthur Allen 520 628
Fishing Warden Paul Smith PC Clerk 01328 823391
Trefoil Guild Shirley Rae & Rita Gostling 520 259 & 520 730
Massingham Historical Society Jeanne Robinson 520 455
Neighbourhood Plan Jess Cunningham By email only
Parish Council Peter James (Chair) & Sarah Harvey (Clerk) Clerk 01328 823 391
Pre-School Pip Grange 07807 185 746
Police Non-emergency 101
School Kirsten Stibbon 520 362
Tennis and Multi-Sports Club Steven Gould 07557 357415
Village Hall Hall & Bar & Debs Lambert 520 588
Village Stores and Deli Mark and Kerry Eldridge 520 272
Justin Anderson
General Gardening and Pest Control
For any enquiries please contact Justin on:
Mobile: 07879 087497
Email: justinanderson0876@gmail.com
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TOAD PATROL IN MASSINGHAM: VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!