North Walsham Guide

Bid to preserve North Walsham shop history destroyed in car smash

2011-08-24T07:56:00.000-07:00

A North Walsham local historian is battling to preserve a well-known feature of the town’s history, accidentally destroyed by a car smash.

The Edwardian fanlight bearing the name ‘RM Ling’ above the door of Boots the chemist, on Market Place, had been a familiar sight for over 100 years – until a month ago.

But on the afternoon of July 9 the shop front, including the fanlight, was badly damaged after a car crashed into the store. No-one was hurt in the accident.

Now RM – Ralph Michael – Ling’s grandson, Mike Ling, is trying to make sure Boots reinstates a replica of the sign.

Retired optician Mr Ling, chairman of the North Walsham and District Community Archive Group and a keen collector of local memorabilia, said he believed the fanlight formed a part of the property’s status as a Grade 2-listed building.

Repair work underway at Boots. The fanlight has been replaced with plain glass.

“I was horrified and very saddened by its loss,” he said. “I thought it was untouchable, like the Rock of Gibraltar.

“I would like to see a panel of as near similar description as possible put back. I know it isn’t the original, but I want to maintain the history of the building.”

The building had been a chemist’s for over 200 years, and was bought in 1906 by RM Ling who had his name picked out in gold leaf above the door, according to Mike Ling.

The business was taken over by Mike Ling’s father who sold it to another pharmacist, Neville Wharton, when he retired in 1974.

An early 20th-century photo of Ling's chemist in North Walsham

A spokesman for North Norfolk District Council confirmed that the fanlight was mentioned in the list description, and said that unless the shop front was restored as it had been, it would need listed-building consent and possibly planning permission.

A Boots UK spokesman said: “Our properties team will be working closely with North Norfolk District Council on this matter, and will ensure we comply with listed-building regulations wherever necessary.”

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2011-08-09T03:06:00.000-07:00

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Tiny strip of land stalls progress on North Walsham key eyesore

2011-08-05T03:05:00.000-07:00

A tiny strip of scrub land is stalling the redevelopment of what has been dubbed North Walsham’s worst eyesore.

Developers have been itching to sort out derelict 4 Market Street for well over a year-and-a-half.

But plans passed in November 2009 cannot go ahead because of a dispute over a patch of weed-ridden, unused, fenced ground estimated to cover an area smaller than a professional snooker table.

The impasse has frustrated and angered Walsham North Norfolk District Councillors Eric Seward and Virgina Gay who say they are “hammering away” at the problem and have pledged not to give up.

The demolished Grade 2-listed building, in the heart of Walsham’s Conservation Area, stares out at motorists entering along the key Cromer Road gateway to the town.

Boarded up and derelict: 4 Market Street

After years of neglect, dating back to about 2006, the former printer’s works, later a shop, was bought by businessman Mark Tentori.

He struck a deal with the district council to redevelop it together with the nearby council-owned public toilets which have been earmarked for modernisation.

The approved scheme would see a redevelopment consisting of new state-of-the-art public toilets, and three ground-floor shops with six flats above.

But Mr Tentori has been unable to proceed because the Land Registry has queried his ownership of a piece of land, needed for the redevelopment, which leads from beside the public toilets towards 4 Market Street. Mr Seward estimates that it measures approximately three feet by 18 feet.

4 Market Street, North Walsham. Date unknown. Picture: NORTH WALSHAM AND DISTRICT HISTORICAL SOCIETY

An earlier hold-up, involving a query between the Land Registry and district council over another area of land the council claimed to own, was finally resolved, after six months, in the council’s favour.

Mr Tentori, who does not live in Norfolk and could not be contacted for comment, has now registered an appeal with the Land Registry and Mr Seward and Mrs Gay fear that could involve many more months’ delay.

“We’re tearing our hair out over this, like the rest of North Walsham,” said Mr Seward. “We thought we had got it cracked. This latest delay beggars belief and puts the whole project in jeopardy.”

Mrs Gay added: “The immediate, passionate, anger about the state of this building has died down but it’s something people strongly mention if they talk about the town being unattractive.

“It was such a characterful building and so important to the nearby churchyard enclosure, which is one of the best in north Norfolk.”

Mr Seward said the position of 4 Market Street, its past glory and the length of time it had lain derelict probably made it the most notorious of a number of well-documented North Walsham eyesore sites.

“If people talk about the town going downhill, this is always at the back of their minds,” he said.

The council has set aside £70,000 for the redevelopment of the toilets which Mr Seward said were “not nice” for residents or visitors to use.

“If the Land Registry end up saying that land can’t be part of the development then we’re back to square one - it’s an integral part of the plans,” he added.

The council would be making strong representations to the Land Registry to resolve the matter quickly because the last thing anyone wanted was a permanently derelict building on the approach to the town centre.

Mr Seward said: “As far as we are concerned it’s an urgent priority that this site is sorted out.”

North Walsham may stage Market Place street party to celebrate Queen’s jubilee

2011-08-05T02:29:00.000-07:00

Tentative plans have been launched for next year’s diamond jubilee celebrations which could see North Walsham resurrecting a one-time tradition of royal-occasion street parties in the town.

Town mayor Vivienne Uprichard wants Walsham residents to throng Market Place and enjoy a day of food, drink and entertainment to mark the 60th anniversary of the Queen’s accession to the throne next June.

The event would in many ways mimic a public dinner held in Market Place to celebrate Queen Victoria’s golden jubilee, in 1887.

Mrs Uprichard told fellow town councillors that she hoped a street party would boost the town’s image.

“A major thing we can do as a town council is promote events and encourage an atmosphere of a busy town with lots going on,” she said.

If it goes ahead, the party is likely to take place on Sunday June 3, during four days of national jubilee celebrations which will see an extra bank holiday on Tuesday June 5, tagged on to the late May bank holiday which is being moved to Monday June 4.

Initial ideas are that revellers would bring their own chairs, tables, food and drink, and organisers would provide entertainment.

Mike Ling, chairman of the North Walsham and District Community Archive Group, said the town had a long tradition of holding Market Place parties to celebrate royal occasions, including two in the 19th-century and two in the 20th-century. At all of them, plum pudding had been served using a recipe which was still in existence.

The 1887 event was laid on for “all the poor of the parish” and saw over 2,000 people seated at trestle tables in Market Place where they were treated to cold beef, bread, pickles and beer, finished off with the town’s own-recipe plum pudding. They then headed off to the recreation ground for an afternoon of sports, amusements and fireworks.

Mr Ling said he hoped if next year’s party went ahead, the plum pudding could be made available, “in the interests of continuity.”

North Walsham By Pass Closed 4th Aug

2011-08-05T02:26:00.000-07:00

Motorcyclist airlifted to hospital after collision with a bus in North Walsham

A man was airlifted to hospital this evening after a collision between a motorcycle and a bus in North Walsham.

The accident happened at about 5.30pm on Folgate Road, which was closed for about another hour.

The motorcyclist, believed to be in his 50s, is understood to have leg injuries.

Two ambulances attended but the man was taken to the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital aboard the East Anglian Air Ambulance. Land ambulance crews stayed to check over bus passengers. Fire crews from North Walsham and Aylsham also helped at the scene.

Police are appealing for any witnesses to contact Sergeant Price on 0845 456 4567.

FACEBOOK LANDING PAGE!

2011-07-15T04:01:00.000-07:00

We are Facebook Designs,our name says it all.

Facebook Designs are a sister company to a North Norfolk Web Designers - "Beauchamp Partnership" who started life in web design over 10 years ago.
Technology and graphic design changes throughout the years and Beauchamp Partnership has always been at the forefront of the ever changing world of Web.

Now with social networking and specifically Facebook becoming a front runner in business / bands / organisations daily life we - Facebook Designs have been born.

Is your Facebook page for your band / business / organisation looking generic? Do you want to be seen in the world of Facebook networking. Then Facebook Designs are here to help.

We specialise in creating and designing impressive, professional, affordable Facebook Designs. We can take aspects of your website and input them in a Facebook environment. We can re-produce your company design and input it into a Facebook environment or we can make you something brand spanking new!

With a team that has over 20 years graphic design experience and over 10 years web design and programming experience you will be in safe hands with Facebook Designs.

WEB DESIGN OFFER

2011-07-07T06:24:00.000-07:00

It's our birthday!!!!

As it's our tenth birthday we decided we'd like todo something to say thank you to North Walsham for making our web design business so successful for the last ten years so we came up with this...

10th Birthday Special Offer...
On-Line Web Shop for only £120 (per year)
for North Walsham Businesses.
Nothing else to pay!

Web Shop

Content Management

Guestbook

Photo Gallery

Google newsfeeds

Built in SEO features

Newspage/blog

Events management

Domain Name
eg. www.yourbusiness.northwalsham.biz

Email address
eg. yourbusiness@northwalsham.biz
Hosting

Customisation/Design (1 hour)

Consultation (1 hour)

Hooked up to existing PayPal account
Installation

Customer management

Postage price management

Order managment

Automatic emails management

Page copy management

Stock management

That's everything you need to get up and running, trading on-line. As
the owner of the website you have the control to edit any products, text, images
and many aspects of the sites appearance at any time and as often as you like.
There are so many ways of using our shop system that it's probably best if you
contact us with details of your on-line shop requirements so that we can let you
know whether our shop system is a suitable solution for you.

The shop system is sold 'as is'. Our flexible system is probably easier to
use than most of the 'big' systems available as it is aimed at small businesses
trading in the UK. There are bigger systems available but these are built to
handle the requirements of big and small businesses in any situation and in any
country. As such they come with a steep learning curve and you'd probably use
only 10% of what you pay for!

Our own website http://www.bpnw.co.uk/
is based on our shop system but without the shopping basket activated.

Examples of on-line shops we have created based on this system
include...

www.shopelvisuk.com

www.reboundcds.co.uk*
www.leesons.co.uk
www.stationery.express-printing.co.uk
www.music-hut.co.uk
www.retrovixens.com*
www.norfolkrugsandinteriors.co.uk
www.dieselelectro.co.uk*
www.western-star.co.uk
www.raucousrecords.com*
www.hellobear.co.uk
www.chippysmate.co.uk
www.afeastofframes.com*
www.erpinghamnursery.co.uk
www.hauntedweekend.com*
www.boards4u.co.uk*
www.jblkitchens.co.uk*

* These shops include some modifications to the basic system as per
customers requirements. The special offer price is for the standard system but
modifications can be made at extra cost.

We have many other on-line shops currently in use although these are based
on older technology. The above examples are just to give you a general idea of
what can be achieved.

PLEASE NOTE:
You will need a PayPal account to connect
your on-line shop to.
Offer is open to customers in the North Walsham area
only (approx 10 mile radius).
This offer expires July 31st 2011.

Why should you trust your website to Beauchamp Partnbership?

15 years ago we started making websites in North Walsham, 10 years ago we
decided to offer our services to everybody. During that time Beauchamp Partnership has been responsible for many top
North Walsham websites:

North Walsham Community Centre - www.nw-cc.co.uk
North Walsham Guide - www.northwalshamguide.co.uk
North
Walsham Live Aid - www.northwalshamliveaid.co.uk
North
Walsham and Community Archive - www.communityarchive.northwalsham.info
Griffon
Area Partnership - www.griffon.org.uk
North Walsham Area
Community Transport - www.nwacta.org
Pigney's Wood - www.pigneyswood.co.uk
North Walsham
Parish Church - www.saint-nicholas.org.uk

Many of North Walsham's established businesses have chosen Beauchamp
Partnership for their web solutions such as Bluebird, Norstead Hall Kennels, The Music
Hut, The King's Arms Hotel, Roger Hannant Motor Services, North Norfolk Laundry
Services, Kelly Clarke Motor Services, The Black Swan Public House, Foundry
Cars, Priory Haircutters, Three Cottages Restaurant and Skin Deep Beauty
Salon.

We have created over 300 websites for companies and organisations across
the country and beyond in our 10 years trading. Our expertise is not restricted to websites; we have also worked on many projects for intranets and company management
systems. Before moving into web design we had been involved in graphic design
and print for 15 years.

North Walsham precinct trader’s frustration at lack of action

2011-06-30T08:36:00.000-07:00

A frustrated trader trying to make a livelihood in North Walsham’s “dying” shopping precinct says a spring promise of cash to re-invigorate the town has so far failed to deliver.

Back in March bike shop owner Rob McEvoy asked North Norfolk District Council (NNDC) to dip into a £200,000 pot it had earmarked as part of its Leadership of Place project to help the town.

Mr McEvoy wanted about £1,000 to be spent on signs pointing shoppers to the St Nicholas Court precinct.

Four months, and one more precinct shop closure later, he is among only half a dozen remaining traders and, though signs are now promised, they are not yet in place.

“I think they are dragging their heels,” he said. “We need summer visitors to North Walsham to know we’re here. It isn’t much to ask and it could make a big difference”.

Since March a further shop, Counting Stitches, has closed in the precinct leaving only Mr McEvoy’s Bike Riders, a hairdresser’s, florist, bank, launderette and dance school, plus a charity day-centre due to open in a former butcher’s.

The precinct’s plight was highlighted in the News earlier this year when leading town figures described it as being like the Marie Celeste and dying on its feet.

On Tuesday North Walsham Town Council agreed to write and urge NNDC to crack on with the paperwork and get the signs in place.

Members are also sending NNDC deputy chief executive Sheila Oxtoby a list of gripes and suggestions, gathered in a small random survey of people in North Walsham, to demonstrate the town’s sense of urgency on the need for action to boost the local economy.

Collected by town councillor Liz Cornwall, the list includes calls for more varied shops, a clean-up, free parking, a better road system and some kind of trade fair or market on Sundays.

They hope to discuss it with Mrs Oxtoby on July 19 when she meets the town council to report on the Leadership of Place project.

Town and district councillor Eric Seward, who chairs the project, said it was a pity and frustrating that Mr McEvoy was still waiting for the signs but he had received free business advice.

Mr Seward added that he was encouraged that the new Tory administration running NNDC wholeheartedly backed Leadership of Place which he said was on track, although results could not be expected overnight.

It was hoped that a community development trust, run by local business people and residents, would shortly be set up to drive the project forward and attract more funding.

Mrs Oxtoby apologised for the delay in responding to Mr McEvoy. NNDC was confident of securing a further £50,000 towards setting up projects and some £5,000 to £10,000 of this would be put aside for a feasibility study into the precinct’s future, she said.

On Monday the NNDC cabinet will be asked to back the bid for extra cash, and a Leadership of Place report, including an action plan.

The timetabled plan details projects, some involving private developers, Norfolk County Council or other public bodies, ranging from refurbishing town car parks and improving traffic management in Market Place, to redeveloping the derelict shop at 4 Market Street to include new public toilets, and re-thinking the use of council-owned buildings.

“North Walsham is very much a priority. These are big schemes and if we really want to invest in the infrastructure and sustainability of the town, they have got to be seen as medium-term projects,” said Mrs Oxtoby.

District councillor Trevor Ivory, whose cabinet portfolio includes delivering the Conservatives’ Big Society ideas, said: “Leadership of Place is starting to tackle some of the long-standing issues which I think have held North Walsham back. It’s a blueprint for North Walsham to take control of its own destiny.”

EDP

2011-06-27T02:33:00.001-07:00

Wow! What a great 'Fun Day' on the park yesterday. Fantastic weather, loads of stalls, activities, entertainment and best of all, loads of people. No trouble, great atmosphere. Thanks to everybody to helped make this happen!

Events To Look Out for at the Fun Day

2011-06-22T01:45:00.000-07:00

A few events will be happening throughout the day at this years North Walsham Fun Day. Make sure you dont miss the following...

BMZ Bikers

Dog Agility

Regal Fight Club
Fight Display

Anam Cara Dance
Anam Cara perform and teach classes and workshops in Modern Belly Dance and American Tribal Style (ATS) in Norfolk. They will be performing a Modern Belly Dance Dance at the fun day.

North Walsham Dance
A dance for the fun day.

ALSO NOT TO BE MISSED: Craft stalls, Vintage Cars, East Coast Truckers, Vintage Tractors, Rides.

Big Black Cadillac

2011-06-22T01:33:00.000-07:00

See Big Black Cadillac at this years North Walsham Fun Day (2011)

Big Black Cadillac are a wild rockabilly band based in the North Norfolk area. The band started in 2006 to play classic Rockabilly and Rock 'n' Roll songs around Norfolk for fun. Big Black Cadillac have supported some of the most respected rockabilly band out today such as; Slim Jim Phantom, Darrel Higham and The Jets.

A band surely not to be missed!

Big Black Cadillac will be at the North Walsham Fun Day from Midday.

Big Black Cadillac's Webstite

Hello Bear

2011-06-22T01:21:00.000-07:00

See Hello Bear at this years North Walsham Fun Day 2011

Hello Bear are quirky indie pop band based in Norwich. The band perform self penned songs and have been making quite a name for them selves up and down the country. 6 months after Hello Bears formation the band the band had won EDP's prestigious Next Big Thing Competition and ended up signing with NrOne records.
The band are now getting frequent radio play with the BBC local and nationally.

This is a rare occation to see this band at an event such as the North Walsham Fun Day, make sure you dont miss them!

Hello Bear will at The North Walsham Fun Day from Midday.

Hello Bear's Website

Ugly Dog Skiffle Combo

2011-06-22T01:09:00.000-07:00

See the Ugly Skiffle Combo at this years North Walsham Fun Day (2011).

Ugly Dog Skiffle Combo are quite possibly living legends around the Norfolk area. Known for their party atmosphere and all round friendly nature.
The band have been skiffling for over 10 years but there approach has always been the same; "Too remind people of skiffle, introduce it to people and just have lots of fun".

Ugly Dog are known not just for playing Skiffle classics but for taking contemporary songs and giving them a skiffle twist.

CATCH THE UGLY DOG SKIFFLE COMBO FROM MIDDAY AT THE NORTH WALSHAM FUN DAY

Ugly Dog's Website

NORTH WALSHAM FUN DAY 2011

2011-06-22T01:05:00.001-07:00

North Walsham Fun Day

Sunday 26th June - Midday - 5pm

BMZ Bikers : Dog Agility : Regal Fight Club : Anam Cara Dance : North Walsham Dance
Bands: Ugly Dog Skiffle Combo, Hello Bear, Big Black Cadillac
Crafy Fayre, Rides, Stalls, Vintage Cars, Vintage Tractors, East Coast Truckers

North Walsham Focus DIY store closing today

2011-06-21T07:19:00.000-07:00

North Walsham will be counting the cost after Focus DIY closes today, with the loss of 22 full and part-time jobs.

The Cromer Road store has been axed as part of a programme of closures across the region and the country by administrators for the beleaguered DIY chain.

The firm has published a time line for closures, which will see most shops shut down by the end of the month.

At North Walsham, shoppers have been flocking to the store since the closure announcement to take advantage of a clearance sale, with many items discounted by up to 70pc.

The recession and its effect on the housing market had hit the DIY chain hard in recent years.

It had 178 stores before entering administration on May 5 including branches at Wymondham, Thetford, Beccles, Sudbury, Haverhill, Thetford, North Walsham and Fakenham.

However, the administrators later managed to sell 31 stores to B&Q and Kingfisher, including Fakenham, Thetford, Sudbury and Haverhill. Several more stores were also sold to Wickes and B&M Bargains.

But since then it has failed to find a buyer for its remaining outlets across the UK.

Michael Webb, manager of North Walsham Focus, said today that only one member of staff there had found alternative employment. The shop was empty and they were waiting for a phone call to tell them when to lock the door.

Last Thursday, Focus customers Justin Brown and Katie Marsh, of North Walsham, said they were not surprised that the store was closing because they felt prices were too expensive.

“They never seemed to do any offers and even with all that percentage off some of the stuff is cheaper at B&Q in Norwich,” said Ms Marsh.

“Hopefully, somewhere like Roys will expand into the building. It’s ideally positioned, with lots of parking.”

Mr Brown speculated that the edge-of-town site might appeal to Tesco or Morrisons. North Walsham already has Sainsbury’s and Lidl supermarkets.

Emma and Bryan Pearce, from Mundesley, were filling their boot with cut-price decorating items but said they previously only shopped at Focus if they ran out of an item which they needed urgently and couldn’t get to B&Q.

“I’m a builder and whenever I had to come here it was empty,” said Mr Pearce. “You paid through the nose for stuff.” He said he once saw a plumbing item “in fancy packaging” priced at £9 in Focus which he later bought for £2.40 at a local hardware shop.

Dave Robertson, deputy mayor of North Walsham and chairman of its planning committee, said they were deeply disappointed that the branch had not been among those sold off, which would have saved jobs. It was a big building to have empty on the outskirts of the town and its future use was uncertain, Mr Robertson added.

Bitter row over North Walsham play equipment

2011-06-13T02:00:00.000-07:00

A bitter argument has broken out in a usually-tranquil north Norfolk community over two eight-foot lengths of wood.

Parents claim the timber - two balance bars - was well-used by their children as part of a popular and much-valued play area.

But a couple whose home was nearest the bars say they had become the focus of anti-social behaviour which was making their lives intolerable.

The long-simmering row reached boiling point this week when North Norfolk District Council (NNDC) took the bars away, causing outrage among families.

The bars were part of five small items of wooden play equipment on an area of grassed open space surrounded by homes off North Walsham’s Birds Road.

Parents say children aged seven to 15 regularly use the grassed area for activities including football, dance routines, singing sessions, chatting and sunbathing.

Mother-of-two Emma Holmes, whose Gigli Close home overlooks the green, said friends who did not live on the estate were jealous that her nine and seven-year-old could play outside with other children in complete safety and within her sight.

Bonny Minton, of Birds Road, said she had first been attracted to the area by seeing trikes, scooters and other children’s toys left on the green while their owners were having tea.

“Obviously everybody thought it was a safe place, where nothing would get stolen,” said Mrs Minton, who has children aged 10 and eight.

Children playing on the green did get noisy, according to Sarah Baxter, of Birds Road, but it was only the natural laughter and excitement of boys and girls. “They’re kids - you expect that. It’s better that they’re out there playing than sitting at their computers getting obese,” added Mrs Baxter, who has a 12-year-old child.

The parents believe NNDC over-reacted by removing the bars in response to the couple’s complaints and to a council questionnaire sent to 22 homes which they claim was unclear, inconclusive and should have been distributed more widely.

“They’ve taken away some of the few things our children get enjoyment from. Why did this couple choose to buy a house next to a play area?” said mother-of-four Odette Britchford, of Wrights Close.

The couple, who asked not to be identified, said they had no problem with the ordinary noise of playing but the bars were attracting up to 16 children and teenagers at a time who would sit on them “shrieking and screeching” for up to two hours, sometimes until 9pm.

“We couldn’t hear our TV and were having to rely on subtitles,” said the wife. “Nobody should be expected to tolerate that. It is anti-social behaviour.”

Her husband stressed that at no stage had they asked for the bars to be removed. They had just wanted them repositioned, away from their home. None of the parents had volunteered to have them outside their property, he added.

Community relationships have deteriorated since April when a heated argument between the couple and a father over his child’s behaviour resulted in the pair dialling 999 because they claimed they were being heavily intimidated.

A police spokesman said: “Groups of young people were gathering at the play equipment which was not being used for its intended purpose.

“Local residents were given the opportunity, by the police and our local authority partners, to comment on proposals to remove or relocate the balance bar. After consideration and taking into account all responses, removal was agreed as the course of action.”

View Comments From Original

Norfolk Phrase Of The Day

2011-06-13T01:33:00.000-07:00

Dudder - To shiver or shake

Norfolk Phrase Of The Day

2011-06-02T04:58:00.000-07:00

Jollificearshuns - Fun and games

New mayor for North Walsham

2011-05-18T06:42:00.000-07:00

New mayor for North Walsham

North Walsham’s new mayor is Vivienne Uprichard.

Mrs Uprichard, 66, who lives in the town’s Harmer Close, served as deputy to 2010-2011 mayor Anne Rose and has been a town councillor for four years.

She was elected at Tuesday’s annual meeting of North Walsham Town Council where Dave Robertson was voted in as her deputy.

Originally from Birmingham, Mrs Uprichard, who has just become a Liberal Democrat member of North Norfolk District Council, moved to North Walsham about eight years ago.

She had previously lived in Germany for 18 years where her husband Adrian worked as a gardener with the Commonwealth War Graves Commission. While there, Mrs Uprichard taught English as a foreign language. She has two daughters and a son and moved to the area to be near two grand-daughters living in Worstead.

North Walsham pigeons to be culled

2011-04-19T07:11:00.000-07:00

North Walsham pigeons to be culled

A pigeon cull is about to get underway as North Walsham launches its deadliest weapon to date against the town’s most unwanted residents, dubbed health hazards and nuisances.

Traps are due to be set at strategic points around the town centre and caught birds will be killed.

The move follows years of attempts to reduce the number of pigeons in Market Place where they roost in disused shops, gather on ledges and foul large areas of pavement with droppings and feathers – but people are still feeding them.

In October 2008 town councillors arranged for a Harris hawk to fly through the town centre early one morning in a bid to scare away the pigeons. But they could not afford the estimated £20,000 cost of repeating the experiment twice a week for a year.

Environmental health staff from North Norfolk District Council (NNDC) will carry out the cull, which is due to begin later this month, with the backing of North Walsham Town Council.

James Wilson, NNDC’s environmental protection team leader, said: “The traps will be checked two or three times a day and the pigeons will be humanely destroyed in accordance with current best practice methods and all applicable legal requirements.”

He estimated that the pigeon population was in the hundreds and said the aim was to reduce numbers within the built area of Market Place where most of the problems were caused. Birds roosting in the ruined church tower will not be targeted. A cull carried out in the 1990s in Cromer was deemed a success, Mr Wilson added.

NNDC is writing to all Market Place businesses telling them about control measures taken to date and asking those who have not already proofed their buildings against pigeons to do so, using spikes or netting.

Particular hot-spots are:

* Coral’s bookmaker’s: Mr Wilson said the pigeons were “enjoying” hanging on to netting put there to discourage them

* 4 Market Street: the owners had tried to pigeon-proof the demolished building but the weather had destroyed their work. They would try again

* former Market Place fishmongers: it had been closed at the rear but the pigeons had found their way in. It has now been closed again

* Broadland Travel and Break charity shop: promises to proof both buildings had not yet been carried out. The ledge above the Break shop is now one of the worst for pigeons in the town

Mr Wilson said pigeons carried many diseases and their acidic droppings reacted with chemicals in stonework causing erosion. A build-up of droppings could also become infested with mites and insects which could then enter homes and stored products. Pigeons blocked gutters, downpipes and chimneys, which could cause water damage to properties, or lead to gasses such as deadly carbon monoxise being forced back inside a home.

He added: “Large numbers of roosting pigeons also give rise to odour and noise complaints, not to mention the risk to health and safety in terms of slipping hazards on pavements and fire escapes from accumulations of droppings.”

Mr Wilson is also going to investigate possible sites for posting notices asking the public not to feed pigeons after reports of crumbs being deliberately scattered around the Market Cross and suet balls left on ledges outside Market Place flats, discovered when members of the Christmas lights team were on ladders putting up displays.

Eric Seward, NNDC’s cabinet portfolio holder for the environment and a North Walsham town councillor, said the cull was only one of a number of preventative measures aimed at controlling the problem, but none of them would make it disappear.

* Pavements in Market Place, Market Street and Church Street are due to be steam-cleaned this Sunday as part of North Walsham Town Council’s efforts to spruce up the town.

And volunteers are needed to help with the town’s annual spring clean, on April 15, from 10am to 12.30pm, meeting at the town hall on New Road.

Plastic gloves and sacks will be provided but those taking part are invited to bring their own tools for helping clear litter and weeds from areas not cleaned by North Norfolk District Council.

Town councillors heard at their meeting last week that a writer from the Rough Guides series of travel books would be staying in North Walsham on April 18 and they hoped the steam and spring clean would help the town look its best.

The company’s series includes a Rough Guide to England, a Rough Guide to Accessible Britain, plus regional titles, but a spokesman was unable to say why their writer would be in the town.

this report was taken from: EDP

Did you go to the International Market?

2011-04-19T06:51:00.000-07:00

So who went to the International Market on 17th April?

I did! Was fantastic! It's just a shame more people didn't turn out. I sampled some of the fantastic food that was on offer:

Paella
Twisted Potato
Giant Garlic Prawns.

They were all fantastic and all the market stall owners were very helpful and polite. I hope the market comes back next year.

My own squabble with the whole situation is directly at some North Walshamers. When I got into town the market stalls were not busy at all. The busiest thing in town was the local sandwich shop. Not being funny..but why fill up on food from a shop that's going to be in town tomorrow when you could be sampling food from around the world from an event that may never come back to our town?!

I suppose that's North Walsham for you.

Here's a picture I took of some twisted potato!

North Walsham Band Make music Video

2011-04-18T07:38:00.001-07:00

International Market

2011-04-01T01:48:00.001-07:00

International Market Comes To North Walsham 17th April

Traditional Continental Market

Come and sample the delights of the Continent, as North Walsham hosts its first ever continental market!

On 17th April North Walsham, will be transformed into a bustling market place. Professional continental market traders from France, Belgium, Italy, Spain, Holland, Poland wearing traditional costumes will be selling high quality products including Britanny biscuits,olives, Swedish cider, Italian nougat, pungent cheeses, saucissons, Tartiflette from the Alps, charcuterie, fresh breads, croissants and much, much more! Or, for those of you with a sweet tooth, there will also be freshly cooked crepes. All of which can be washed down with wonderful Muscadet wines from a family vineyard in Frontignan.

As well as the fine edible goods, you will also be able to choose from a wide range of products including hand bags & leather items, Marseille soaps, lavender,children toys and pachmina! There really will be something for everyone!

Most of the products on sale will come from "the terroir" (the land) of the stall holder, where they are produced by small organisations such as family businesses, farms or small factories using traditional methods, maintaining a high standard of quality!
All of the traders will also wear their traditional local costume from 100 years ago, as well as decorating their stall to represent the area of the country they have come from. The market really will therefore provide you with a true flavour of the continent...

North Walsham Hospital

2011-03-31T06:48:00.000-07:00

Big hurdle cleared for £3.7m North Walsham hospital revamp.

A long-awaited £3.7m revamp of a community hospital is a step closer, after health bosses agreed the scheme.
The board of NHS Norfolk approved spending the money to redevelop North Walsham and District War Memorial Cottage Hospital. Plans for the redevelopment were passed by North Norfolk District Council in March. The 24-bed unit is expected to be operational by October this year.

The business case for the development also needed approval by the board of Norfolk Community Health and Care NHS Trust, to which the property will transfer in due course, and which was also given the go-ahead at a meeting this week.

Now the Strategic Health Authority, NHS East of England, will be the last hurdle as it also needs to green-light the plan.

At the NHS Norfolk board meeting, chairman Sheila Childerhouse said the project had been a good example of how to involve the public and use their comments and experiences as patients to help shape services.

David Stonehouse, director of finance and deputy chief executive, said: “It is something that the people of North Walsham deserve.”

Refurbishment of one of the buildings on-site, the former mental health unit Rebecca House, was due to be completed by mid-April 2011 to house out-patient services, but the meeting heard how this is likely to be slightly delayed.

Norfolk Phrase Of The Day

2011-03-30T07:19:00.000-07:00

Buttle - Bittern

Norfolk Phrase Of The Day

2011-03-29T08:58:00.001-07:00

Muckwash - Sweaty and dirty

Norfolk Phrase Of The Day

2011-03-28T08:53:00.000-07:00

Tizzick - Cough

Norfolk Phrase Of The Day

2011-03-21T08:11:00.000-07:00

Buskins - Leather leggings worn by farm workers

Whats On...

2011-03-18T05:48:00.000-07:00

A few gigs to look out for this weekend.

Friday 18th March

COMIC RELIEF with Gary James and his pay to play!
Orchard Gardens
North Walsahm
From 9pm

The Booze Borthers
Diplomat
Coltishall
From 8:30pm
£3 adv. £5 on door.

The Nightrollers
Cromer Social Club
Cromer
From 9pm

Saturday 19th March

Son Of Cash
The Railway
Coltishall
From 9pm

Bernie's Midnight Shift
The Duke
Bacton
From 9pm

Bare Essentials
The Orchard Gardens
North Walsham
From 9pm

North Walsham Precinct Dying

2011-03-04T07:08:00.000-08:00

North Walsham Precinct Dying

A succession of business closures has left North Walsham’s shopping precinct “dying on its feet”, according to worried traders who fear it will be very difficult to stop the rot in the current economic climate.

Shoppers are hit by a three-sided square of whitewashed windows, empty shop fronts, and To Let notices as they enter the St Nicholas Court precinct from the town’s central Market Place.

In the past six months the two largest units in the precinct – Norfolk County Council’s Connexions centre and CST’s Bar and Grill – have both shut up shop, joining Zelley’s jeweller, Roger Hilton hairdresser and butcher’s J and N.

And, in a fresh blow, Elaine Cull, chairman of the precinct’s traders’ association, says this year she will be closing her Counting Stitches shop, one of a handful still open.

Town mayor Anne Rose believes the number of absentee landlords charging escalating rents is partly to blame for the plight of the precinct, together with the economic downturn and practical problems such as its off-centre position and a lack of signposting to direct shoppers from Market Place.

She added: “It’s like the Marie Celeste down there – very sad indeed, but it’s privately owned and doesn’t come within the town council’s orbit.”

Rob McEvoy owns the Bike Riders shop which is one of the only remaining businesses in the main square.

He is four years into a 15-year lease and said he dealt with his landlord through a London estate agent.

“Absentee landlords have no idea of what is happening locally. It doesn’t look good down here. It’s still very tough for retailers and there are plenty of people struggling,” he said.

“This summer is critical,” said Mr McEvoy. “That’s when I do most business. It would be nice to see things pick up then with some of these units getting taken. If not, I will have to reconsider what I’m doing here.”

He has raised concerns about a planning application, lodged by charity Elizabeth FitzRoy Support, for a day care centre in the neighbouring former butcher’s.

Mr McEvoy fears it would not be open daily to the general public and would therefore present “another closed front” on the precinct.

At florist The Daisy Chain, one of four businesses still operating along the precinct’s side alley, owner Sarah Grady said for relatively little cost people could be enticed into the precinct by making it more inviting, with seating, trees and attractive planting. “At the minute people sit in the churchyard to have their lunch. Why not try and get them to come here instead?” she asked.

Ms Cull said after eight years in the precinct she planned to close sometime this year and run her business via the internet because it was no longer financially viable to trade from the shop.

“Sometimes I can go an hour or more without seeing anyone,” she said.

North Walsham Chamber of Trade chairman Colin Page said they would resist any attempt to permit non-retail use of precinct units, such as the day centre application. “Once you allow that to happen you never get the shops back,” he said.

The old buildings and yards demolished to make way for the precinct, which opened in 1971, could have been incorporated into an attractive shopping complex similar to those in Holt.

“Instead we’re left with these uninteresting buildings and in the current climate it wouldn’t be economic to bulldoze them and start again. We need some sort of effort to bring life back there.”

Mr Page said he believed finding takers for the larger units would be key to reviving the precinct’s fortunes.

But Bill Borrett, Norfolk County Council’s cabinet member for corporate affairs and efficiency, said they had a long lease on the former Connexions building, which was still being used as an office.

It was the council’s biggest office property in the town and, in a bid to cut costs, more staff could be moved there from other council buildings.

A spokesman for North Norfolk District Council said the management and occupation of precinct units was “essentially a commercial matter.” If the site were to be redeveloped, it lay within the town centre policy and core retail areas of North Walsham, where a range of uses would be acceptable, with retail and commercial on the ground floor.

He added: “The site also lies within the Conservation Area where new, good quality development would be welcomed.”

Extracted from EDP

Whats On...

2011-03-04T06:31:00.000-08:00

Things to look out for this weekend

Friday 4th March

Midnight Groove
The Kings Arms
North Walsham
From 9pm

Chibber
The Haig Club
Mundesley
From 9pm

Maxwell & Murphy
Orchard Gardens
North Walsham
From 9pm

Saturday 5th March

Bleaky and the Bopcats
California Tavern
Caister
From 9pm

Raw Edge
Kings Arms
North Walsham
From 9pm

The Hucklebucks
Orchard Gardns
North Walsham
From 9pm

Lee Vasey Band
The Black Swan Rooms
North Walsham
From 9pm
£3 on the door.

Sunday 6th March

V8 Rumble
Suffield Arms
Thorpe Market
2:30pm till 6:00pm

Mucked Up Funkies
The Boundry
Norwich
4pm till 7pm

Norfolk Phrase Of The Day

2011-02-28T05:01:00.000-08:00

Dwainy - Weak or sickly

Whats On...

2011-02-11T06:56:00.000-08:00

A few choice gigs to look out for this weekend.

Friday 11th Feb

V8 Rumble (Rockabilly)
The Kings Arms
North Walsham
9pm- Midnight

Big Pink (Soul, funk)
Black Swan Rooms
North Walsham
From 9pm
Free Entry

Flying South (Rock)
The Wild Man
Norwich
From 9pm

Saturday 12th Feb

V8 Rumble (Rockabilly)
The Mustard Pot
Norwich
From 9pm
Wild West Night

The Carnabies (Mod,Rock,Blues)
The Railway Tavern
Coltishall
From 9pm

Carol (Motown)
The Duke
Bacon
From 9pm

Sunday 13th Feb

We The Kings (Pop Punk)
The Waterfront
Norwich
From 7pm
Tickets £12.50

Bicycle thieves strike in North Walsham

2011-02-10T01:44:00.000-08:00

Bicycle thieves strike in North Walsham

Police are urging people to secure their push bikes when left unattended after a spate of thefts in North Walsham.
Opportunist thieves have walked away with three bikes that have been left unsecured in the town in the last few weeks.

The most recently reported theft, where offenders stole a yellow and black mountain bike from underneath a carport along Recreation Road, happened between February 5-7.

Two other unsecured bicycles were stolen from Happisburgh Road and Harmer Close last month, between January 7-23.

North Walsham Safer Neighbourhood Team Sgt Kersty Brooks said: “I would advise and strongly ask that cyclists secure their bicycle every time it is left unattended, even if it is only for a few minutes, as it only takes a few seconds for opportunist thieves to push or ride the bicycle away.”

Anyone with information in relation to thefts should call the North Walsham Safer Neighbourhood Team on 0845 456 4567 or e-mail sntnorthwalsham@norfolk.police.uk.

Extract from North Norfolk News

North Walsham Graffiti Artist!

2011-02-07T04:03:00.000-08:00

Police are closing in on a would-be wit who has been plastering a north Norfolk market town with out-of-the-ordinary graffiti slogans since the beginning of the year.

Instead of the usual obscenities, or ‘tags’ – a graffiti artist’s stylised signature – pedestrians in North Walsham have been confronted  with spray-can posers such as ‘Hold that Thought’, ‘We are the Punchline’ and ‘Something in Common’ on  walls and road signs around the town.

Police investigated one graffiti site in Market Place, reported in early January, and went on to identify a further 19 around the town.

Chief Insp Neil Baily told the latest North Walsham Town Council meeting that officers had recently pinpointed the shop where the Walsham wordsmith was buying his paint supplies.

The back of the perpetrator’s head had also been caught on CCTV one night and two youths had given the police descriptions after seeing him at work on a wall at the town’s library, according to Chief Insp Baily.
PCSO Alex Spink with an example of some of the North Walsham graffitiPCSO Alex Spink with an example of some of the North Walsham graffiti

“It may not be the normal mindless rubbish but this amount of graffiti is a significant issue for the town,” he added.

Out of 37 reported crimes in North Walsham during the month leading up to January 25, 18 were incidents of criminal damage which included graffiti.

Members of the town’s Safer Neighbourhood Team have also been working with schools to identify the person responsible.

Chief Insp Baily said a culprit who had committed some 200 graffiti offences had once been caught in Wymondham after a teacher recognised the tell-tale ‘tag’ decorating the cover of his exercise books as the same symbol which was scrawled on sites throughout the town.
North Walsham graffiti.North Walsham graffiti.

Some of the North Walsham graffiti has already been cleaned up by young offenders through the Norfolk Youth Offending Team.

Speaking after the meeting Chief Insp Baily said overall crime in the North Walsham district, which includes Stalham and all surrounding villages, was down 17pc since April 1 last year, representing one of the steepest reductions in the whole of the Norfolk Constabulary.

He praised the community for their support which he said played a significant part in helping police catch criminals.

“With these sort of lower-level crimes we get an enormous  amount of help from the general public and it means we can identify problems at an early stage. We will get there in the end with this one too,” he added.

Anyone with information can contact the North Walsham Safer Neighbourhood Team on 0845 456 4567 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

extract from Easten Daily Press

Norfolk Phrase Of The Day

2011-02-04T07:27:00.001-08:00

Harnser - Heron. (When Hamlet says that he can tell: 'A hawk from a handsaw' - some people have suggested this was transcribed wrongly and it should have read 'harnser'.)

Anger as council contractors nearly break into North Walsham cellar

2011-02-04T07:24:00.000-08:00

Street lighting contractors who failed to alert shopkeepers about their plans almost dug their way through to underground cellars in North Walsham’s ancient centre.

Roger Buck had to race over to the Market Place and stop Norfolk County Council (NCC) contractors Amey who were excavating outside his Express Printing business.

The incident has prompted anger in the town and follows complaints against Amey when the firm last visited Walsham to install lights in 2009.

The council has apologised and work in the town centre has now been temporarily halted.

Mr Buck was alerted by a member of staff in his shop who saw Amey contractors digging outside.

“I flew over there and just stopped them in time,” he said.

About 10 years ago, council contractors carrying out resurfacing work as part of a regeneration project in the town had breached the cellar under his shop which had then flooded as all the Market Place surface water drained into it, he added.

Amey had not made any contact with him and, if they had done so, he would have told them that a network of cellars ran underneath the town centre.

“They didn’t even put their heads round the door beforehand and say ‘we’re just about to start digging, is that OK?’” Mr Buck added.

Colin Page, chairman of North Walsham Chamber of Trade, described the lack of consultation as “ludicrous.”

Amey should have noticed that the current Market Place lights were all fixed to buildings and asked why, he added. The lights were not causing problems and Mr Page questioned why, at a time of public-spending cutbacks, the work was being done.

County councillor Paul Morse, who represents North Walsham, said he had dealt with several complaints when Amey were in the town two years ago.

“I have consistently pointed out to NCC that Amey fail to let residents and businesses know what is happening – they are contractually required to do this – yet it has happened again,” said Mr Morse. “You’d have thought they would have done some sort of survey before drilling in the Market Place.”

A council spokesman said the Walsham work was part of a county-wide project which began in 2008 to replace about 30,000 of Norfolk’s 50,000 lights, bringing them up to modern standards.

It was being funded out of a £38.1m government grant and the upgrading work was due to end in 2013.

Some 12,750 lights had so far been replaced, largely without problems.

“We have an agreed procedure for notifying residents of impending street lighting works; however on this occasion our contractors Amey did not follow the procedure,” said the spokesman.

“We are talking to Amey about what happened and have stressed the need for the agreed system to be followed at all times.

“We apologise for this omission and for any inconvenience caused.”

Amey would redesign the Market Place layout using wall-mounted lighting, and would seek permission to fit them on the buildings, he added.

Extracted from Easten Daily Press

Norfolk Phrase Of The Day

2011-02-03T03:56:00.000-08:00

Ranny - Shrew

Norfolk Phrase Of The Day

2011-02-01T08:05:00.000-08:00

Dene - Sandy stretch of coastline e.g. South Denes at Yarmouth.

Norfolk Phrase Of The Day

2011-01-31T08:11:00.000-08:00

Cooshies or cushies - Sweets

A149 Road Works

2011-01-27T08:59:00.002-08:00

A149 at North Walsham to close for repairs.

Repair work will begin on Sunday February 6 to resurface the A149 Cromer Road at North Walsham.

The works will extend from 50 metres west of the B1145 Greens Road to around 30 metres east of Kingsway.

The road will be closed for the entire day but the work will finish and the road will be reopened by Monday.

A fully signed diversion will be in place during the closure via Aylsham Road, Mundesley Road and the B1145 North Walsham Bypass.

There will also be access to homes and businesses within the works, although Norfolk County Council warns that there will be some disruption and apologises for any inconvenience this may cause.

The work which will cost £50,000 and is due to be carried out by the council’s environment, transport and development partnership.

Source: http://tinyurl.com/4kzbuys

Norfolk Phrase Of The Day

2011-01-27T08:59:00.001-08:00

Buskins - Leather leggings worn by farm workers

TAXI!!!! woof

2011-01-25T02:48:00.000-08:00

Pet taxi launched in North Walsham area

A new taxi for pets has taken to the roads of North Norfolk.

A local dog club has set up the “cabbie” service which mainly ferries dogs and cats to vets and kennels, but is also linked to a dog-walking service.

The back of a Nissan van has compartments that can take collie and spaniel sized dogs on the upper deck, and larger Labradors on the bottom. A bigger space behind the driver’s seat can a big deerhound.

Animal Magic, based in the North Walsham area, does training classes and provides a dog walking service for people who are at work, away from home, or unwell.

The taxi enables the pets to be taken to local woods in safety and comfort - but also on trips to the vets where the owner is too upset to drive themselves, and cannot find a traditional taxi to do the trip.

Club pet care manger Ann Corcoran, who is the “taxi driver” said: “I had seen similar vehicles in other places, and thought it would add to our services. We think we are the first club in the UK to do it.

“It is mostly vet trips, and walking for people where we are keyholders to their homes, but we can also be a bit like International Rescue in the pet world.

“Today I had a phone call from a lady skiing in Austria whose pet sitter was sick with the flu, and needed her dog walked,” she added.

The taxi also took pets to out of hours veterinary services in Norwich. It covers an area including Cromer, Sheringham, Aylsham, Bacton, Mundesley and Happisburgh.

To contact the pet taxi service call 07766 758146. For more information about the club and its other services phone 01263 720730 or visit www.animal-magix.co.uk

source edp24.co.uk

Norfolk Phrase Of The Day

2011-01-25T02:42:00.000-08:00

Squit - Load of old nonsense

North Walsham students heading to Oxford

2011-01-18T05:04:00.000-08:00

Three students from Sprowston and Spixworth are celebrating after learning they have won places at Oxford and Cambridge universities.

The three students all attend Paston Sixth Form College in North Walsham and received the news that they will be starting at the universities this September.

Paston College principal Peter Mayne, said: “I am hugely proud of their achievement in winning places at Oxford and Cambridge and on courses which are regarded as highly competitive. It is great to see students aiming high and reaching the heights of their ambition.”

The three students are Amorette Perkins, 17, and Mollie Whitehall, 17, from Sprowston, who are both going to Cambridge to read politics, psychology and sociology and Dale Rout, 18, from Spixworth, who will study mathematics at Oxford. A fourth student ,Amy Robinson, 17, from North Walsham, has also won a place at Cambridge, where she will be studying veterinary medicine.

Miss Whitehall said: “It’s exciting but still a bit of a shock. It will be nice to be moving out and still be close to home. I hope to go on to do a post-grad after I have finished. Everyone is really chuffed for me.”

Miss Perkins added: “I am really shocked as I didn’t expect it.

“My family and friends are shocked too.

“The interview was difficult as it was very abstract but now I’m excited to be going.”

The four had to demonstrate outstanding academic ability in their GCSE and AS results and in their predicted A-level grades.

These, together with their personal statements and college references, got them an interview, but winning a place was down to their own performance in the highly competitive interviews.

source

Norfolk Phrase Of The Day

2011-01-18T03:02:00.001-08:00

Sowpig - Wood louse

Norfolk Phrase Of The Day

2011-01-17T07:31:00.000-08:00

Claggy - Muddy or moist

Win A New Kitchen

2011-01-14T09:04:00.000-08:00

Win a new kitchen From Focus North Walsham

Whats On...

2011-01-13T06:36:00.000-08:00

Things to look out for this weekend in North Walsham and surrounding area.

Thursday 13th January

Johnny Jump (Traditional R&B)
The Rose Tavern
Norwich
8:30pm - 11:00pm

Norfolk Coalition Against The Cuts presents Misty’ (Jazz & Swing)
Norwich Art Centre
Norwich
From 8:00pm
£6

Friday 14th January

This Little Girl & The Dillicats (Rock n Roll)
Arkwrights
Norwich
From 7:30pm

Raw Edge (Rock)
The Unicorn
Aylsham
From 9:00pm

Saturday 15th January

Audio Junkie (Rock)
The Black Swan (Rooms)
North Walsham
From 9pm
Free entry

Mucked Up Funkies (Rock/Blues/Funk)
Kings Arms
North Walsham
From 9:00pm

Sunday 16th January

The Meteors
Norwich Art Centre
Norwich
From 8:00pm
£12 a Ticket

Honeydripper (Blues)
The London Porterhouse
Kings Lynn
From 4:00pm

Norfolk Phrase Of The Day

2011-01-12T09:06:00.000-08:00

that crazes me! - that really annoys me

Norfolk Phrase Of The Day

2011-01-11T04:54:00.000-08:00

guzunder - goes-under / another word for chamber-pot

Rumours...

2011-01-11T02:35:00.000-08:00

So Rumour has it that Argos or Iceland will be coming to North Walsham (where connections is apparently). However this is yet to be confirmed....

Rumours

2011-01-10T09:12:00.001-08:00

....Morrisons......hmmm?

2011

2011-01-06T05:03:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year everyone.
We are back in the office. Fresh and ready to start North Walsham-ing for all you followers.

Keep checking for new posts!!

Merry Christmas

2010-12-23T01:48:00.002-08:00

Hi Everyone!

Well guys, this is the last post of the year. What a year we've had! The North Walsham Guide website has doubled in size from last year. Thank you for all the new businesses that have added their business to our listings. Also thank you for everyone that has helped out with historical information and pictures, it's all greatly appreciated!

We'll be back in the new year with more of the same. Norfolk Dialect, historical facts and events taking place around the North Norfolk Area.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

The North Walsham Guide Team

Norfolk Phrase Of The Day

2010-12-23T01:48:00.001-08:00

Old Years Night - New Years Eve

Tales of the Unexpected

2010-12-22T03:57:00.000-08:00

Tales Of The Unexpected is a British television series originally aired between 1979 and 1988, made by Anglia Television for ITV.
The series was an anthology of different tales. Initially episodes were based on the short stories collected in the books Tales of the Unexpected, Kiss Kiss and Someone Like You by Roald Dahl.
The stories were sometimes sinister, sometimes wryly comedic, and usually had a twist ending.
The upbeat theme music for the series was written by the prolific film and television composer Ron Grainer.

Did you know that some of the filming took place in Norfolk and even NORTH WALSHAM!?
The episode "The Moles" was filmed in North Walsham and specifically at Barclay's bank and Whartons Chemist.
The story was about two businessmen on the verge of bankruptcy devise a plan to rob a bank. With the help of an experienced criminal, they dig a tunnel to reach the bank's vault. The only problem was that they had forgotten that the following day was Bank Holiday Monday and there would be no money in the vaults....woops!

The episode featured actors: Harry H. Corbett (Steptoe and son), Fulton Mackay (Porridge) & Bill Owen (Last Of The Summer Wine).

Little bit of North Walsham history to add to your ever expanding brain.

Here's a bit of the episode to wet your whistle

Norfolk Phrase Of The Day

2010-12-21T02:41:00.000-08:00

mobbed a rum'un - made a lot of fuss

Norfolk Phrase Of The Day

2010-12-20T08:45:00.000-08:00

he dint ortera dun it. - he ought not to have done it.

Whats On...

2010-12-16T07:51:00.000-08:00

In norfolk this weekend
Thursday 16th December

Circus of Horrors: Freaks and Feathers
The Playhouse
Norwich
Shows through the day
£15 - £18.50 a ticket

Honeydripper
The Walnut Tree Shades
Norwich
From 9:00pm

Bad Manners
The Waterfront
Norwich
From 7:30pm
£5.00 Ticket

Friday 17th December

Dale Bullimore
Black Swan Rooms
North Walsham
From 9pm

The Ugly Dog Skiffle Combo
West Runton Social Club
West Runton
From 9pm

Hello Bear
Norwich Art Centre
Norwich
From 7:30pm
SOLD OUT

Big Black Cadillac
Kings Arms
North Walsham
From 9pm

Saturday 18th December

Bill Faddden
Starfigher Rock n Roll Club
Wreningham
From 7:00pm
£10 on the door
with support from The Caesars and The Ladykillers

Bleaky and the Bopcats
Black Lion
Buxton
from 9:30pm

V8 Rumble
The Railway
Coltishall
From 9:00pm

Sunday 19th December

Swing Into Christmas
The Forum
Norwich
from 7:30pm
£11:00 Ticket

Norfolk Phrase Of The Day

2010-12-15T08:23:00.000-08:00

jiffle -fidget

Norfolk pensioners

2010-12-14T07:16:00.000-08:00

Pensioners from Norwich, North Walsham and Attleborough are the stars of a new film which aims to show life in a care home does not have to be undignified.

Nipping out for a wander round the park, eating a beetroot sandwich whenever you fancy one and not having your underwear mixed up with someone else’s.

For a group of Norfolk pensioners, that is what dignity in old age means to them.

Now they have made their screen debuts to star in a short film and explain how respect, independence, privacy and happiness are key to maintaining it.

For many, those terms are not often associated with care homes which more readily evoke images of communal living spaces and a heavy reliance on a series of  helpers.

But that is something the stars of I Am – who appear alongside fellow residents and workers at the four care homes where they live – hope to change.

Through the eyes of Doug Lee, of Philadelphia House in Norwich, Geoff Ward and Rita Dolby, who live at Rosemeadow in North Walsham, and Gwen Buckle, of St Edmund’s at Attleborough, the Norfolk County Council film aims to give an insight into their experiences.

Vicky Cowap, quality improvement manager at the council, said the film was a true reflection of the residents’ experience. She said: “We very much wanted them to lead it. It’s totally un-scripted.”

About 100 hours of footage was shot and condensed into the 16-minute film which was premiered in front of its stars at the George Hotel in Swaffham yesterday.

It will now be used to train future carers to stress to them the importance of helping maintain the residents’ self-respect in a setting that is rarely considered dignified.

Care assistant Rebecca Aldiss, who works at Philadephia House in Norwich, said it was important to show people how much care homes had changed in the past two decades.

She said: “I would never ever put my parents into a car home with how they were 20 years ago. I was shocked. It’s amazing how much it has changed for the better. Individuals are treated as individuals.”

The film will also be used to reassure people facing the prospect of moving into residential care.

Mrs Cowap said many people feared their independence would be the first thing to go when moving to a care  home.

“You think you are going to lose your individuality,” she said. “What we wanted to do with the film is show you can still live a good life, albeit in a care home.”

The film has been produced by the county council, which runs 26 residential care  homes and 13 housing-with-care units in Norfolk, including those featured in the  film.

It was funded from by at £10,000 grant from the Department of Health’s Dignity in Care campaign.

Doug Lee’s starring role in I Am sees him exploring Waterloo Park with care assistant Rebecca Aldis.

The 90-year-old has been at Philadephia House in Norwich for just over a year and said the film reflects life in a care home perfectly.

“I’m not restricted in any way,” he said. “I do as I like to a certain extent and I can’t praise the carers enough. I didn’t think there were people like that.

“Since I have been here, I have never wanted for anything and, within reason, what I have asked for I have got.”

The father-of-one, who lived in Bowthorpe with one of his grand-daughters before moving to Philadelphia House, admitted he had not expected to maintain as much as independence as he had.

Gwen Buckle, 90, moved to St Edmund’s care home in Attleborough three years ago after a stroke left her in need of extra help.

She said dignity, for her, meant still being treated as an individual by her carers and maintaining her own space.

In I Am she talks about a time when the catering staff at St Edmund’s rustled her up a beetroot sandwich when there was nothing on the tea trolley she wanted.

“I thought so much of that,” said Mrs Buckle, who lived in Old Buckenham before moving to St Edmund’s.

Rita Dolby said knowing she would be listened to by staff at Rosemeadow care home in North Walsham was incredibly important.

The 87-year-old, who is a former school secretary, said: “They are anxious that you should have what you want. We have residents’ meeting and the things mentioned, very often, are implemented within a couple of days.”

Mrs Dolby, a mother-of-one, moved from her North Walsham home to Rosemeadow after operations on her hips..

Geoff Ward, who also lives at Rosemeadow, has been there since January 2005 and said life in the care home was what he made it. “I get to do the things I like, when I like,” he said.

The 72-year-old, who moved to the care home after a stroke, said one day he walked into his room and found his washing had been mixed up with somebody else’s but after raising it with his carers it was quickly dealt with. “I suggested laundry bags and that’s going to happen,” he said.

This is an extract from the evening news. If you do not wish for it to be show please contact.

Norfolk Phrase Of The Day

2010-12-14T04:45:00.000-08:00

Swaaafum - Swaffham

Norfolk Phrase Of The Day

2010-12-13T09:17:00.000-08:00

fillum - film/movie

Whats On...

2010-12-09T07:43:00.000-08:00

Usual run down of bits and bobs happening in North Walsham and the surrounding area this weekend.

Thursday 9th December

A Midsummer Night’s Dream
Paston Theatre
North Walsham
A new play by the far east theatre company. This production is set in the 1980s with, Sloane Rangers for Lovers and New Romantic fairies! The production last about an hour and is fast paced, dynamic with music and dance. £5 & £2(students & concs). This is running until the 10th.

Stone Cold Sober (Rock)
The Brickmakers
Norwich
9:00pm till 11:00pm

Black Rebel Motorcycle Club
UEA LCR
Norwich
From 7:30pm
tickets are £13.00

Friday 10th December

Midnight Blue (Rock)
The Kings Arms
North Walsham
From 9:00pm

DANSTAR (music from 60s to today)
Poachers Pocket
Bacton
From 9:00pm

Hi Definition (music from 60s to today)
Community Centre
North Walsham
From 8:30pm

Saturday 11th December

Bleaky and the Bopcats (Rock & Glam)
Arkwrights
Norwich
From 9:00pm

Uprising (Rock)
The Black Swan Rooms
North Walsham
From 9:00pm

Whats Up (Pop)
The Kings Arms
North Walsham
From 9:00pm

Sunday 12th December

Mark Watson
The Playhouse
Norwich
8:00pm
tickets £18.50

A Norfolk Night w/ Pat Nearney & Danny Paltton
Orchard Gardens
North Walsham
From 7:30pm

The Bluetones
The Waterfront
Norwich
From 7:00pm

Norfolk Phrase Of The Day

2010-12-08T03:07:00.000-08:00

Wot choo up ter uh day - What are you doing today?

Norfolk Phrase Of The Day

2010-12-07T03:53:00.000-08:00

Sproight - Fizzy lemon drink

Norfolk Phrase Of The Day

2010-12-06T07:16:00.000-08:00

Card - Traditionally eaten with chips, might well have been caught off Loose-tarfed

Christmas Lights Turn On

2010-12-06T01:39:00.000-08:00

I could put down in my own words about the celebrations from Saturday. However I couldnt make the North Walsham Christams Lights switch on.
The EDP were there and this is what they say ......
http://www.edp24.co.uk/news/hammer_hero_switches_on_north_walsham_christmas_lights_1_746005

More Snow

2010-12-03T04:58:00.000-08:00

How's everyone enjoying the snow? Nice to look at rubbish to be in.
Only go out if you need too!!

Here's a little picture I took this morning ourside work just before the 2nd wave snow showver came down.

More to come so they say. Who has placed a bet for a white Christmas this year? Not long to go 3 weeks and 1 day

Whats On...

2010-12-02T01:34:00.000-08:00

It's that time again for me to pick out a few delights to look out for this weekend. If you want your event here next week contact us through www.northwalshamguide.co.uk

Thursday 02 December

Bob Warnes "Do you remember these?" (music through the decades)
North Walsham Community Centre
North Walsham
From 7:30pm
(Included Christmas Buffet)

Friday 03 December

V8 Rumble (Rockabilly)
Cromer Social Club
Cromer
8:30pm till 11:30pm

Replica (Rock)
The Haig Club
Mundesley
9:00pm till late

The Planks (Soul & RnB)
The Blueberry
Norwich
9:00pm till 11:00pm

Saturday 04 December

NORTH WALSHAM'S CHRISTMAS LIGHTS SWITCH ON.
CELEBRATIONS START FROM 3PM

V8 Rumble (Rockabilly)
The Mustard Pot
Norwich
9:00pm till late

Zarkov's Rocket (Rock)
The Kings Arms
North Walsham
9:00pm till late

The Collective (Rock, Pop, Soul)
The Black Swan
North Walsham
9:00pm till late

Sunday 05 December

Rob Charles (Easy Listening)
Tyneside Club
Sheringham
3:00pm till 6:00pm

Mucked Up Funkies (Rock to Funk)
The Boundary
Norwich
4:00pm till 7:00pm

HAVE FUN!!!

It's The 1st Of Dec...you know what that means!

2010-12-01T03:07:00.001-08:00

....It will soon be Christmas. We all know the bits leading up to Christmas is the best. Lots of things to see and do.
Anyway on the 4th December North Walsham will be having it's annual switching on of the lights. Celebrations start from 3pm in the market place.
As always there will be lots to do for all the family to enjoy. Stalls, Food, Rides and entertainment a plenty!

Go along an support the town and show your interest in North Walsham.

To get you in the spirit of all things Christmas here is the cover of a shopping times from 1995 the Christmas Edition. (Click to view full size).

Norfolk Phrase Of The Day

2010-11-30T03:30:00.001-08:00

pishamire - ant

Norfolk Phrase Of The Day

2010-11-29T06:06:00.000-08:00

mobbed a rum'un - made a lot of fuss

Snow

2010-11-29T02:40:00.000-08:00

Snow Business like this Snow.
So we wait all year for the snow to come and when it gets here the UK is pretty much on standstill.
However bad snow has been forecast for the last week or so in Norfolk - so where are the gritters?

I had a gig last night and on the way to the gig i didn't see any and on the way home i didn't see any. Hmmm?

One good thing about snow the countryside takes on a different look. Something magical i say.

Norfolk Phrase Of The Day

2010-11-26T02:37:00.000-08:00

co ter heck - an exclamation of amazement

Whats going on.....

2010-11-25T02:32:00.000-08:00

Events to look out for over the next few days!

Thursday 25th November

HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO ALL!!

The Yesterdays (60s)
Searles
Hunstanton
7:30pm

Turkey In The Straw (Bluegrass)
The Stores Cafe Bar
Norwich
10pm till 12pm

Friday 26th Novemebr

Replica (Rock)
The Kings Arms
North Walsham

V8 Rumble (Rockabilly)
The Walnut Tree Shades
Norwich
9:00pm Till Late

Envisage (60s to today)
The Haig Club
Mundesley
9:00pm till 12:00am

Saturday 27th Novemeber

Outathablues (Blues)
The Stanley
Norwich
9:00pm till 11:00pm

Egypt (Blues Rock)
Edward VII
Norwich
9:00pm till late

Law and Disorder (Rock)
Black Swan Room
North Walsham
9:00pm till 12:00am

Sunday 28th Novemebr

Chris Wall (Acoustic)
Orchard Gardens
North Walsham
from 7:00pm

G (Music and Comdey)
White Swan
Great Yarmouth
from 5:00pm

Serious Sam Barrett (Folk)
The Cidershed
Norwich
from 2:30pm

Norfolk Phrase Of The Day

2010-11-23T07:30:00.001-08:00

dwile - floor cloth, sometimes dishcloth

Norfolk Phrase Of The Day

2010-11-20T04:58:00.001-08:00

that'll larn yer - that'll teach you

Whats going on.....

2010-11-18T02:23:00.000-08:00

Gigs to look out for this weekend!

Thursday 18th Novemeber

V8 Rumble (Rockabilly)
The Rumsey Wells
Norwich
9 till 11

Friday 19th November

Hello Bear (originals)
The Forum
Norwich
From 5pm
A part of Children In Need. Invite only im affraid! But you can watch it online and on tv.

Raw Edge (Rock)
Kings Arms
North Walsham
9pm till late

Coupe De Ville (Rock and Pop)
The Woolpack
Norwich
9pm till late

Saturday 20th November

Aviator (Rock)
Kings Arms
North Walsham
9 till late

RED HOT ROCKERS (Rockabilly)
The Boundry
Norwich
9 Till late

Midnight Circus (Rock and Soul)
Wash & Toape
Hunstanton
8:30pm till late

Get Involved With History

2010-11-17T09:22:00.000-08:00

Read this from the BBC about a new project regarding Norfolk's High Street History
http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/norfolk/hi/people_and_places/history/newsid_9133000/9133056.stm

Millfield Gift/Pamper Afternoon

2010-11-17T06:53:00.000-08:00

Come along and support your local school, get some great Christmas gifts and treat yourself to some "pampering". 10% of sales from all stalls go to the school, there will also be a raffle. Fun and Fancy Baths will be attending!

Millfield School, North Walsham
Times: 2pm - 4pm

Norfolk Phrase Of The Day

2010-11-17T03:37:00.000-08:00

backards - backwards, 'I hetter keep goin' backards and forrards up to Norwich

Norfolk Phrase Of The Day

2010-11-15T07:26:00.000-08:00

tergether - One particular expression is the greeting of a couple with the phrase Mornin'/Evenin' together a form that is also used in German speaking countries. (This is extensively used in Norfolk)

Norfolk Phrase Of The Day

2010-11-11T07:39:00.000-08:00

Fool - Petrol or Diesel - Not to be confused with 'fule' a slight silly person

North Walsham 1940

2010-11-10T06:49:00.000-08:00

Here's a news paper cutting from a Canadian newspaper from 1940 with a stroy about North Walsham.

Norfolk Phrase Of The Day

2010-11-10T02:31:00.000-08:00

blar - cry

Norfolk Phrase Of The Day

2010-11-09T02:29:00.000-08:00

mawkin - scarecrow

Norfolk phrase of the day

2010-11-08T00:46:00.000-08:00

he'll square yew up (he will chastise you)

Norfolk Phrase Of The Day

2010-11-04T07:09:00.000-07:00

wus up?' - what's wrong?

Norfolk Phrase Of The Day

2010-11-03T03:31:00.001-07:00

troshin - originally 'threshing,' now working in general

Norfolk Phrase Of The Day

2010-11-01T03:33:00.000-07:00

he dint ortera dun it - he ought not to have done it.

Norfolk Phrase Of The Day

2010-10-28T07:56:00.000-07:00

a'smornun - this morning, as in 'I saw her a'smornun' also 'a'sarternun',and'a'sevenun'.

Norfolk Phrase Of The Day

2010-10-25T06:56:00.000-07:00

my heart alive! - expression of surprise, similar to 'good gracious me!', sometimes shortened to 'my heart' as in 'my heart thas dear' meaning 'good heavens, that's expensive'. When Norfolk people use the term 'good gracious', they will sometimes say 'good gracious on to me'.

Tonight and Tomorrow

2010-10-22T08:32:00.000-07:00

North Walsham Remembered
A unique collection of photographs. 2 slides shows daily. Admission £1. If you have items of old North Walsham please bring them along ... we would love to see them.

The Methodist Church Dayspring Centre

Times: 9am - 4.30pm

Norfolk Phrase Of The Day

2010-10-22T04:48:00.001-07:00

hintut - Isn't it, as either statement or question.

Norfolk Phrase Of The Day

2010-10-19T02:46:00.000-07:00

putting on his/her parts - having a tantrum, or acting up - usually of a child

Norfolk Phrase Of The Day

2010-10-18T04:46:00.000-07:00

how much did you give for it? - How much did you pay for it?

Norfolk Phrase Of The Day

2010-10-15T04:25:00.001-07:00

dwile - floor cloth, sometimes dishcloth.

Whats going on.....

2010-10-14T08:36:00.000-07:00

..This weekend:-

Friday 15th October

The Collective (pop, rock)
The Diplomat,
Coltishall
9 till late

The 'WILD GONERS'
Starfighter Rock 'n' Roll Club (Rock n Roll)
Wreningham Village Hall,
Wreningham
7:30 till late
£10 on the door

PHIL HALEY & THE COMMENTS (Bill Haley Tribute)
ARKWRIGHTS
Norwich
7:30 till late
£8 on door

Saturday 16th October

V8 Rumble (Rockabilly)
The Stanley
Norwich
8:30 till 11

The Stylotones (Ska)
California Tavern
Hemsby
9 till late

Bernie's Midnight Shift (Rock n Roll)
White Horse
Cromer
9 till late

Sunday 17th October

Chris Wall (Acoustic)
Orchard Gardens
North Walsham
From 7pm

The Revolves (60s)
Oliver Twist
Great Yarmouth
4:30pm till 8:00pm

Egypt (Blues Rock)
Edward VII,
Norwich
7pm till 9:30pm

North Walsham Guide

Bid to preserve North Walsham shop history destroyed in car smash

We're on Facebook!

Tiny strip of land stalls progress on North Walsham key eyesore

North Walsham may stage Market Place street party to celebrate Queen’s jubilee

North Walsham By Pass Closed 4th Aug

Motorcyclist airlifted to hospital after collision with a bus in North Walsham

FACEBOOK LANDING PAGE!

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It's our birthday!!!!As it's our tenth birthday we decided we'd like todo something to say thank you to North Walsham for making our web design business so successful for the last ten years so we came up with this...

10th Birthday Special Offer...On-Line Web Shop for only £120 (per year)for North Walsham Businesses.Nothing else to pay!

Why should you trust your website to Beauchamp Partnbership?

North Walsham precinct trader’s frustration at lack of action

Events To Look Out for at the Fun Day

Big Black Cadillac

Hello Bear

Ugly Dog Skiffle Combo

NORTH WALSHAM FUN DAY 2011

North Walsham Fun Day

North Walsham Focus DIY store closing today

Bitter row over North Walsham play equipment

Norfolk Phrase Of The Day

Norfolk Phrase Of The Day

New mayor for North Walsham

New mayor for North Walsham

North Walsham pigeons to be culled

Did you go to the International Market?

North Walsham Band Make music Video

International Market

North Walsham Hospital

Norfolk Phrase Of The Day

Norfolk Phrase Of The Day

Norfolk Phrase Of The Day

Norfolk Phrase Of The Day

Whats On...

North Walsham Precinct Dying

Whats On...

Norfolk Phrase Of The Day

Whats On...

Bicycle thieves strike in North Walsham

North Walsham Graffiti Artist!

Norfolk Phrase Of The Day

Anger as council contractors nearly break into North Walsham cellar

Norfolk Phrase Of The Day

Norfolk Phrase Of The Day

Norfolk Phrase Of The Day

A149 Road Works

Norfolk Phrase Of The Day

TAXI!!!! woof

Norfolk Phrase Of The Day

North Walsham students heading to Oxford

Norfolk Phrase Of The Day

Norfolk Phrase Of The Day

Win A New Kitchen

Whats On...

Norfolk Phrase Of The Day

Norfolk Phrase Of The Day

Rumours...

Rumours

2011

Merry Christmas

Norfolk Phrase Of The Day

Tales of the Unexpected

Norfolk Phrase Of The Day

Norfolk Phrase Of The Day

Whats On...

Norfolk Phrase Of The Day

Norfolk pensioners

Norfolk Phrase Of The Day

Norfolk Phrase Of The Day

Whats On...

Norfolk Phrase Of The Day

Norfolk Phrase Of The Day

Norfolk Phrase Of The Day

Christmas Lights Turn On

More Snow

Whats On...

It's The 1st Of Dec...you know what that means!

Norfolk Phrase Of The Day

Norfolk Phrase Of The Day

It's our birthday!!!!

As it's our tenth birthday we decided we'd like todo something to say thank you to North Walsham for making our web design business so successful for the last ten years so we came up with this...

10th Birthday Special Offer...
On-Line Web Shop for only £120 (per year)
for North Walsham Businesses.
Nothing else to pay!