1

Priest-in-Charge:Rev. Marion Harrison, Itteringham Rectory, The Street, Itteringham NR11 7AX.

St Andrew, Blickling; St Andrew, Little Barningham; St Andrew, Wickmere;St Andrew, Saxthorpe with Corpusty; St Mary, Itteringham;

SS Peter & Paul, Edgefield; SS Peter & Paul, Oulton and Irmingland.www.sevenchurches.org.uk

March 2012Se en Churches Newsletter7

Spring will comeFresh, green and delicate, white heads bowed before the wind, the tiny Snowdrop

lightens my heart. The promise of Spring is here, Winter’s hold will be broken and the world of nature will awake. See Rev’d Marion Harrison’s March Reflection inside....

2

3

I wonder if like me you are in a state of what I call holding my breath. I find

myself in this state every February and March. It’s a time of watching and waiting.

A time of hoping and looking forward expectantly for the signs of the Sun’s return,

the earth’s awaking and the season of warmth and colour.

As a child my father would tease me by asking if Spring had sprung yet. And I

suppose the habit of looking for the signs of Spring are by now well and truly a part

of who I am.

It starts with the lengthening of days. It is no longer dark when I get up in the

mornings and the evenings are beginning to draw out. I know that, slowly, the Sun

is moving back up from the southern hemisphere. There is no warmth in the light,

the north wind still moves over the land and winter still lingers, threatening to hurl

one last cold spell before giving up its hold.

I know Spring is coming. It comes every year. But for a second or two I wonder,

will the cold never go, will winter last all year. And then they appear, small and

unobtrusive but oh so welcome! At first just a few bravely pushing up through the

soil and last year’s leaf litter. Fresh, green and delicate, white heads bowed before

the wind, the tiny Snowdrop lightens my heart. The

promise of Spring is here, Winter’s hold will be broken

and the world of nature will awake.

And in my heart and soul I know the Son is coming

and I rejoice.

March Reflection

Rev. Marion Harrison

4

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5

BLICKLING

Sam Berwick: 07810 553321

I know that I should be writing about things that happen in March, but actually I am in a post Valentine’s day bad mood and need to write about old fashioned love!

The papers and radio waves are, as I write, full of stories about lovers falling out, the difficulties of internet dating and the importance of prenuptial agreements. I have read nothing about the joy of growing older together, loving each other’s differences and little foibles, and actually enjoying one another’s company. As I am sure that there are plenty of couples in Blickling who are doing exactly this, I thought that instead of concentrating on the negative, I would celebrate romance by asking the readers to enjoy one of my favourite poems about remembering when we first met our partner to be. It is by Christine Rosetti:

The First Day

I wish I could remember the first day,

First hour, first moment of your meeting me;

If bright or dim the season, it might be

Summer or winter for aught I can say.

So unrecorded did it slip away,

So blind was I to see and to foresee,

So dull to mark the budding of my tree

That would not blossom yet for many a May.

If only I could recollect it! Such

A day of days! I let it come and go

As traceless as a thaw of bygone snow.

It seemed to mean so little, meant so much!

If only now I could recall that touch,

First touch of hand in hand! - Did one but know!

Dont’ be one of the eighty-three percent of couples who can’t even be bothered to celebrate their anniversary after more than two years of marriage, or the sixty-four percent of married couples who refuse to hold hands after a mere ten years together. Here’s to making Blickling a more romantic place than the rest of the U.K. Get back to holding hands again as you stroll lovingly around the lake!!

6

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7

EDGEFIELD

Church News

Following the proposal that, on one Sunday each month, a “community-based” activity – not necessarily “church-based” – could take the place of a conventional service, a useful meeting was held in the Village Hall to discuss different possibilities. A number of interesting and helpful ideas – from a wide range of age groups – were put forward. These will all be carefully considered. Anyone who has any further suggestions is encouraged to get in touch with a member of the PCC.

We hope that the church windows, currently being repaired, will be back in place during March.

Edgefield Village Hall Committee (from Dawn Hulbert)

We are very busy clearing out the annexe at the hall in readiness for the arrival of the new chairs. As some of you will know, David Kinsley very kindly left a legacy towards the cost of purchasing comfortable chairs for the hall. We have applied for, and been given, a grant which has helped and the Village Hall funds will provide the rest of the monies needed.

At our last meeting we were delighted to elect two new members to the committee - Ghislaine Kinsley and Catherine Witts. We are, however, still looking for new members, especially with Jubilee year celebrations needing many hands to help on the big day. We will be holding a meeting on 11th April for anyone interested in helping.

Our 9th March concert tickets are selling well, so be sure not to miss this evening of music, mirth and, we are informed, a bit of old ‘Norfolk squit’. Tickets from: Dawn, Tel 01263 587379 or Angie, 587446.

The 29th March coffee morning will be followed by our A.G.M. Please come along and have a little refreshment and a chat.

Good Friday Coffee Morning

On Good Friday, 6th April, Richard and Ann Brooks will be hosting their usual Good Friday coffee morning from 10.30 onwards at Church Farm. There will be home-made hot cross buns and coffee, as well as Bring and Buy produce and gifts.

Cards in aid of “Air Ambulance” will be available. Other donations will be in aid of “The Friends of Edgefield”. Please come along with your friends.

Richard Peaver: 01263 587486, rhpeaver@btinternet.com

8

18th March Mothering Sunday Special tea at the Greedy Goose and hall

display on ‘Mothers’. Pre-booked tickets only.1st April Gardens open for NGS, 12-5pm

Walks open every day until duskHall open Friday afternoonsApril 20th – October 26th,

2-5pm (last entry 4pm)

Aylsham Agricultural Show Association has just launched its 2012 Food Hero Competition. Organisers are on the lookout for the county’s best restaurant, producer, retailer and new business and also this year a new category: the individual who has made an “outstanding contribution” to the production and promotion of home grown food and drink. The awards are run in conjunction with the Aylsham Show held every August Bank Holiday Monday. Nominate for the five categories before Monday April 30 via an online form by visiting www.aylshamshow.co.uk/localfood.php The categories are as follows: Best Use of Local Produce on a Menu - Sponsor PIC UK Best New Food or Drink Venture started in 2011/2012 - Sponsor Gressingham Foods Best Food Supplier or Producer, promoting Local Produce - Sponsor BOCM Pauls Best Drink Producer - Sponsor Dewing Grain Aylsham Show’s Individual Food Hero The best in the four business categories will go into the overall Championship Competition Sponsored by Larking Gowen and the winner of that will be presented with the Ken Dye Memorial Salver on Show Day.

Aylsham Food Hero Contest Launched

SEASON TICKETS AVAILABLE: £30 (Family) £18 (Individual)Special Events Programme for Halls and Gardens available now. Phone/write for details.

Mannington and Wolterton Estates, Norwich, NR11 7BB (01263 584175/768444)Or visit our Website: www.manningtongardens.co.uk Email: admin@walpoleestate.co.uk

9

ITTERINGHAM

Hurry, hurry, hurry if you haven’t booked your ticket for the Quiz night on Friday 16th of this month. Book please by 10th from Sandra or the shop. £8.00. Fun, sausage and jacket potatoes. Bring your own lemonade or whatever.

Another two reminders: Michael’s Spring Fair; Community Hall Sunday 25 March 11-3.30.

Rogation Sunday: 29 April. Meet in the car park of the Walpole Arms at 10.00a.m. for our usual perambulation and blessing of crops, water et al.

CA B D

E F G

We regularly use seven churches in our Benefice but how well do you know them? Below is a photograph of each church’s tower with an identifying letter.

All you have to do is name the village AND the name of the church. (So if you think Church A is St Mary’s and in Wickmere, you simply write A=St Mary’s, Wickmere etc).There will be a small prize for the first correct entry emailed to Richard Lynam (richardlynam@btinternet.com).

June Clarke: 01263 587786

Name that church!

10

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the maximum benefit for each student’s body.Edgefield Village Hall, Bircham Centre Reepham

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Block booking only after your first class

Contact Liz Ward: 07740 105 339e-mail: jlward@talktalk.net

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11

LITTLE BARNINGHAM

“Community Sundays” for Little Barningham will happen on the first Sunday in each month. Each church in the benefice is to have one Sunday each month to involve their village in some, probably non-church, activity. On March 4th at 10.30 there will be coffee or tea and cake in the village hall – and a chat to decide plans for the future – as well as plenty of time for a good mardle.

“Doing Church Differently” was indeed different last month, and very sadly (for us), the last one for which Geoffrey will be responsible. We literally ran out of chairs. The subject, not surprisingly, was “Moving On” – not only Geoffrey and me, but our benefice, ourselves as Lent approaches and our priorities. Forty four stayed for lunch. Fortunately we did not run out of food – Pam had cooked ample shepherd’s and cottage pies, there were quiches, baked potatoes and oh! the puddings! Just as pleasing were those who washed up and did such a great job of clearing up afterwards. Laurel Farm was virtually back to normal in no time at all.

Ted Linford’s well attended Memorial Service took place on the 20th – what would have been his 89th birthday. The village hall is now in good condition and a pleasure to use. Ted was one of the trustees and one of the major helpers in getting it refurbished when Ellie Betts managed to get funding for the necessary loo and refreshment facilities. He was also a member of the Parish Council. He and Pauline have lived in Parva Close for 27years following his retirement from the farm. They were very close and our sympathy goes out to Pauline and his son, Rod. One memorable comment to Geoffrey by Ted was to not preach a bouncy sermon the day after Norwich City had lost at football.....

There will be Quiz and chips in the Village Hall 7.00p.m. on March 24th. Please contact Debbie on 577430 – she must know numbers to order the food.This is my last contribution to the magazine. Barbara, for personal reasons, cannot now take on the commitment. Debbie Love has kindly offered to take it on. Tel. 577430, e-mail evoldr@hotmail.com Margaret Foot: 01263 577405

Local Produce Market Old School Hall, Fulmodeston

Saturday 17th March 10am to 2pm

Free entry. Light refreshments. More details from: www.fulmodestonmarket.com

NEW!

12

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The pancakes have been devoured and so we move into the period of lent. As you will see from this copy, there is a weekly course to participate in, a devotional book to be read and an away day for quiet reflection. Also as always there is a wide range of services throughout the Benefice, to take us through to the Hot Cross buns and chocolate eggs.

Community Sunday.Our first Community Sunday took the form of Matins, read by one of the

Churchwardens. This month we would like to invite as many parishioners as possible to join us for the annual spring clean of the church and church yard from 09.00-12.00 on Sunday 25th March. If you have indoor or outdoor skills, we would love you to join us for a morning of fun as well as hard work. Refreshments will be provided but extra tools would be appreciated. Please help us to keep our church in good order.

Date for your Diary.Remember to keep Saturday 23rd June free for our 13th Annual Village Box Day

Party! We hope you can all come along to this. There will be all the usual attractions and events plus more. Look in next months magazine for more details.

Meanwhile........ in May we plan to hold a Garage/Carboot/White Elephant Stall on the Street to raise money for the Box Day Funds. If you have anything to donate please give it to Antonia at The Forge, or Kim. Clothes, toys, cakes, plants, bric a brac and white elephants much appreciated.

If you would like to help with the May stall (a weekend probably, date to be confirmed) or on Box Day please contact Antonia 734324, Kim 734626, or Lesley 735194

OULTON

Sue Hall: 01263 734245

16

16

STEPHEN DAVIES BSc MRICS Independent Chartered Surveyor and Estate Agent

Shire House Shirehall Plain Holt, NR25 6BG

Tel: 01263 712785/711700www.stephendavies.info RESIDENTIAL SALES,

VALUATIONS AND SURVEYS

16

Event at Blickling begin this month with -Back Stagebetween 11th and 27th March

Hellebore Week from 12th to 18th Marchplus special events at the Hall. Please contract National

Trust for more details.

Pond HouseBed & Breakfast

SaxthorpeTel: 01263 585080

www.pondhouse-norfolk.co.uk

Blickling Estate When Did You Last Visit? A complete Norfolk estate with something for everyone. Follow four centuries of history, from the Boleyn family to the connection with the Royal Air Force. Enjoy more than 50 acres of beautiful gardens, a walk in the historic park, and three floors of heritage in the Jacobean mansion.

Blickling Estate When Did You Last Visit? A complete Norfolk estate with something for everyone. Follow four centuries of history, from the Boleyn family to the connection with the Royal Air Force. Enjoy more than 50 acres of beautiful gardens, a walk in the historic park, and three floors of heritage in the Jacobean mansion.

Registered charity No. 205846.

You're never far away from us, so come along for a visit

Tel: 01263 738030 www.nationaltrust.org.uk/blickling www.facebook.com/BlicklingEstate

17

SAXTHORPE WITH CORPUSTY

Jo Boxall, Parish Clerk writes: ”Following the recent ‘snowy spell’, residents in Corpusty and Saxthorpe may have noticed that the roads in the villages were much clearer and safer than usual. The Parish Council identified a need for more roads to be gritted. Due to a lack of resources, Norfolk County Council said they were unable to satisfy this need. The Parish Council decided to take action and have purchased a grit-spreader and a large amount of grit. The gritting has been organized and carried out by Cllr Archie Mitchell, who has agreed to grit the roads when necessary and we are all very grateful to him for his efforts. Thanks also to all the residents in the village who make use of the grit bins. Your efforts are much appreciated!”

Corpusty and Saxthorpe Garden Society have Tony Goode coming to talk on ‘Crocuses’ on March 7th, and Tim Fuller with ‘Hardy Geraniums’ on April 4th.

St Andrew’s will be holding another Community Sunday on 11th March, gather in Church at 3.0pm.

North Norfolk Knitters meet on 13th March in the Village Hall, 10.0am until 12 noon.

LinC welcome Jill Hill with her illustrated talk on “Garments and Textile Design on 21st March. You may have seen her beautiful items in Corbett’s Gallery, so why not come along?

Families Together meet on Thursday, 15th March, the theme will be mothers. As usual children 5-11+, accompanied by a parent or guardian are warmly invited to enjoy fun, games, music, a hot meal and more, between 3.30pm and 5.30pm.

The bird gates, shown in the February Newsletter, (photograph by Brian Monks, not Judith Banks) were kindly donated by Peter Seaman, in memory of James and Eva Lee, who were involved with St Andrew’s Church between 1911 and 1969. We are very grateful for such a generous gift.

The Seven Churches Benefice is planning a children’s activity on Good Friday, April 6th in the Village Hall, from 12 noon until 3.0pm. There will be craft, music, fun, games and much more. Parents and any adults who have been attending the Good Friday services around the parishes are invited at 3.0pm for a cup of tea/coffee and a hot cross bun. Any children interested should call Pam Daniels on 577436, or Judith Banks on 587319, for more information. The children should bring a packed lunch, drinks will be supplied.

The Jesu Bus will be visiting the Village Hall Car Park every Thursday, with a few exceptions, with its interests and activities for High School young people, between 4-5pm.

Are you having unwanted callers at your door? Worry no more, with one phone call to Consumer Direct, on 08454040506, you can receive a free, “No cold callers” sticker for your door. Judith Banks: 01263 587319

18

I am sorry to be still talking about Christmas in the March newsletter but we all hibernate in February so I thought I would use the opportunity to show a picture of our fabulous band who worked so hard over the festive period. This picture shows them accompanying the carols at the turning on of the Regent Street lights before Christmas.

We have said farewell to Ellie and Trevor Hayman who have left the village after many, many years. Ellie’s late husband

worked for the estate and they lived originally at Fringwood Farm before moving to Wickmere. They have not gone far – to a bungalow in Roughton – and are being visited by their friends in the village.

There was a lovely family service on 19th February, though with a congregation down a bit from the highs of the festive period. Those who attend always enjoy Marion’s services. She always manages to pitch things just right.

At the AGM of the Village Hall Committee on February 6th villagers heard reports on the great progress we have made on the development of the hall in the last year. Very soon we hope to be able to report that the work has finally been completed. The committee was re-elected with two changes of office – Dominic is taking over as Chair and Gill Boddington as Secretary. Barbara Shaw remains Treasurer. Other members of the committee are Tim Riches, Richard Hembling, Helen Goulty and Lesley Ash.

The next major social event being planned by the committee is the celebration of the Diamond Jubilee in June. Vic Shaw remembers that at the party for the Coronation, the village kids (of which he was one!) all entered a decorated bicycle competition. Does anyone have a photographic record of this? Or of anything else that happened in the village at the time of the Coronation or of the Silver Jubilee? Now what do the kids of today want to do? Shall we re-run the decorated bike competition? Or do you have any better ideas? Please let any member of the committee know your views.

Pat Beginn has been working at the farm since the autumn but he and his wife Sue have only recently moved into the village. We wish them much happiness in their life here.

WICKMERE WITH WOLTERTON

Helen Goulty: 01263 570043

Dominic Boddington01263 577300

Wickmdere Christmas Band photograph by Dom Boddington

19

Nature Notes

Ah! The English countryside …. sleepy villages… open spaces…far removed from the overcrowded rat race of city life. Yet within our parish boundaries is a place where excess numbers of inhabitants squeeze together under one roof, competing for food, savagely fighting for space, battling for survival. “Where?” I hear you cry….. In the Oak trees!

Each mature tree can support 300 to 400 species of insect and more than 30 species of lichens. Younger trees also provide important habitats. Amongst the dead leaves stubbornly clinging to the saplings in the plantations and along the roadsides, round nut-like structures can be seen. Measuring about one inch across these are Oak Marble Galls. Also known as Bullet Galls, Oak Nuts or Devonshire Galls, they are just one of many types of gall found on Oaks. They are caused by the activity of a species of wasp, Andricus kollari, the female of which lays an egg in a developing leaf bud. The larva that emerges releases a chemical as it feeds. The tree reacts by creating a growth, or gall, around the larva. In time, this gall hardens to become a brown ball that inadvertently protects the larva, whilst inside,

a spongy mass provides a protein-rich food source. After pupating, the wasp - dark brown, bearing none of the characteristic stripes of their larger relatives and measuring a mere 2 millimetres - emerges, drilling its way out through the hard outer casing, creating a woodworm-like hole.

Not actually a native species, the wasps were imported to Devon in the 1830s from the Middle East in order to extract Tannin, which is found in the galls. Tannin had been used for centuries in leather - making and cloth dying, as well as to produce a type of ink (it was in fact the ink used to write the Dead Sea Scrolls and the American Declaration of Independence!) Twenty years after their introduction, worried farmers began an unsuccessful attempt to eradicate the wasps and their galls, fearing they may threaten the acorn crops on which their pigs fed. Their attempt failed and today, no longer deemed a threat to Oaks or acorns; it seems they are here to stay.

Medicinally, Oak Marble Galls were used by American Indians to treat sores, cuts and burns, and Chinese doctors to ease dysentery and ulcers. Nearer home, they used to be mixed with hog’s fat to produce a cure for piles. I dread to think how that remedy was discovered!! Sue Appleby

 Illustration of oak leaf and galls by Sue Appleby

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Catch up with Corpusty School

Confucius, he say:Those who jump off a bridge in Paris are in Seine.A hangover is the wrath of grapes.Time flies like an arrow. Fruit flies like a banana.Conjunctivitis.com is a site for sore eyes.If you don’t pay your exorcist, you’ll get repossessed

March Groans

Report by Ellie and Lottie

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Lost In Translation

The quest for the “actual words” of Jesus continues. The current view is that he spoke Aramaic but to create the Gospels an oral tradition of Jesus’s actual words was translated into Greek. So if Greek is the language in which Jesus’s words are presented to us, what evidence is there that they were originally Aramaic?

Here is one of several examples; where a text is found in two or more languages scholars try and identify the original. If there is a play on words in one language, not in another, this wordplay is virtually always in the original language and said to be “lost in translation” as it transfers into the second.

In Luke 16:3 according to Jesus a shoddy steward says: “What am I to do? Dig? I am not strong enough. Go begging? I should be too ashamed.” In Aramaic there is a root word “cpr” with two quite distinct meanings - to dig; and to be ashamed. The play on words is present in Aramaic but not in the Greek translation. Thus making it probable the original language, Jesus’s first tongue, was Aramaic!

ROGER ASKHAM 1 August 1939 – 26 January 2012

Roger came to live in Corpusty and Saxthorpe in 2007. His sprightly, focused figure was soon a familiar presence in the community. Born in Cambridge he worked as a designer and artisan and, when he came to live in our community, became involved in the development of the Community Plan to which he gave his ideas, quiet drive and design skills. The Plan will be published next month and thus his contribution to the community will continue long after his death.

Roger spent four years extending and renovating the home he shared with Marie. He did much of the work himself, reflecting his commitment to sustainable living and the environment, as did his long engagement with the work of the Campaign for Protection of Rural England. As well as Marie, Roger leaves a large, warm and loving family. We shall miss him and think of him often.

MARK RHODES FURNITURE

Designer Furniture Maker

STYLISH & PRACTICAL FURNITURE

From Traditional to Contemporary

Fitted Kitchens, Bedrooms, Free Standing Furniture and many other commissions undertaken

Tel no: 01263 761809

www.markrhodesfinefurniture.co.uk

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Village People

Marie Askham from Corpusty and her family would like to thank most warmly all members of the local community who sent cards, flowers, other gifts and messages of sympathy following the death of her husband Roger in late January. This show of support was greatly appreciated by them all. (Please see an appreciation of Roger on page opposite).

Congratulations to Rosie and Kevin Beales who in late January had a son, Edward, a brother for Ellie. (He arrived just a few hours after we went to press last month!)

Wickmere’s Dominic Boddington’s company Respect4us was in the Observer’s list of Top 50 Britain’s New Radicals changing the UK for the better.

Val Johnson from Corpusty Stores (was!) again “volunteered” to help out with Corpusty’s Big Breakfast. Lynn Norrington makes an excellent recruiting sergeant!

Kev and Laney Burton from Wickmere have been to Iceland to see the Northern Lights and to do a spot of whale watching.

Diana Jacob and Alison Mawson from Edgefield have helped raise £16,200 for Holt Youth Project and Against Breast Cancer. In November, they are going to the Great Wall of China to walk for Holt Youth Project. Any donations would be very welcome. Their website is www.justgiving.com/diana-jacob.

Kathy Lynam from Corpusty has crocheted 37 of the 144 squares she needs to make her daughter, Claire, a blanket.

Wickmere’s Scott McKenzie has published his novel “Drochaid” online. Anyone who wants to read a Gaelic thriller and has £2.05p to spare can dowload it from http://www.amazon.co.uk.

Joan Farmer who has been the talented and dedicated organist at Wickmere for the last two and a half years has slipped and broken her left wrist. Rumour has it that it wasn’t slippery ice or freezing snow but an innocent plant that caused her fall. Whatever it was, we all wish her better (and back able to play) soon.

Many of us have fond memories of Peter and Nina Chapman, Peter was our curate for a very important couple of years. So it is very good news that he is to be licensed as an Assistant Priest within the Roughton Group of parishes.

Due to pressure of work, Little Barningham’s Brian Macarthur has stepped down as Editor of this magazine but we have no news on a replacement yet. And the moment he announced his decision he got a very bad cold!

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Blickling Sam Berwick 07810 553321

Mike Lindsell 732662l

Edgefield Lorna Ross 712359

Angela Turner 587292

Itteringham Mollie Fowell 587356

Little Barningham Pamela Daniels

Michael Daniels 577436

Oulton Stephen Jefford 587480

Sue Hall 734245

Saxthorpe Merlin Waterson 587610

Heather Monks 587118

Wickmere Tony Hurn 577309

Scott McKenzie 577332

CHURCH WARDENS

Printed by Barnwell Print Ltd, Dunkirk, Aylsham, Norfolk NR11 6SU Tel: 01263 732767 www.sevenchurches.org.uk

Date Event Venue Time March7th Corpusty Garden Club Corpusty Village Hall 7.00pm9th Edgefield Concert Edgefield Village Hall 7.30pm13th North Norfolk Knitters Corpusty Village Hall 10am-12pm15th Families Together Corpusty Village Hall 3.30-5.30pm21st LinC (Garment & Textile Design) Corpusty Village Hall 7.00pm 24th Quiz and Chips Little Barningham Village Hall 7.00pm25th Spring Fair Itteringham Village Hall 11am - 3.30pm29th Coffee Morning and AGM Edgefield Village Hall 10.00amApril4th Corpusty Garden Club Corpusty Village Hall 7.00pm6th Good Friday Coffee Morning Church Farm, Edgefield 10.00am6th Good Friday Children’s Activity Corpusty Village Hall 12.00-3.00pm

Diary for March/early April