Interactive web version of our FREE magazine- just click on the links June 2020 COMMUNITY MAGAZINE FOR COLTISHALL, HORSTEAD, STANNINGHALL, GREAT HAUTBOIS, SCOTTOW,BADERSFIELD, BELAUGH, HOVETON & WROXHAM The TO CONTENTS MARLPITFRONT PAGE Welcome to our ‘On Line Only’ community magazine - This PDF is fully interac�ve, simply click on any link, our website and Facebook page is on the bo�om of every page please visit and comment Page 2 contains links to all ar�cles, local groups and our adver�sers. Return to Page 2 by clicking on the yellow ‘TO CONTENTS’ boxes A changing role for our Common – few boats but visitors, too many! BACK TO CONTENTS Please visit and comment Find us on FACEBOOKand at www.themarlpit.co.uk COMMUNITY MAGAZINE FOR COLTISHALL, HORSTEAD, STANNINGHALL, GREAT HAUTBOIS, SCOTTOW,BADERSFIELD, BELAUGH, HOVETON & WROXHAM JUNE 2020 The BACK TO CONTENTS MARLPIT Community Links The Marlpit Facebook Horstead & Coltishall Community Group Hoveton & Wroxham Group Contents front page wroxham fc page 3 editorial wroxham fc bv wildcats unite marlpit ve75 report communications hub by margaret bird good neighbours notice wroxham lions report re. charlie smith in may the month of may by dp hard time ...by margaret bird railway roundabout by ian hall afternoon tea kings head weekday takeaway menu horstead poors land trust kings head sunday takeaway menu brian thirtle 1934-2020 rev chris engelsen tithe barn report the isolated prophet by john hindley coltishall parish council notes broadgrace church domestic abuse & violence notice sponsored floodlighting & urc notices whb twinning report marpit voulenteer team victims of abuse notice our mp’s and councillors wi & bure valley rotary report clubs and associations north walsham rfc Links to our advertisers Just Financial Kings Head Rob Holmes Guitar Tui�on 1st Class Aerials Clear View Financial G Row & Co Accountants Red Lion Westover Veterinary Centre Tina Thacker Farm to Fork & Fish Horstead Garage Ltd Bright Start Pla�en Pest Control Shades Hair Fashions Qualified Gardener Buffer Stop Books Ma�hew Webb Julian Hudson Pendefords Property Specialist Edward Boardman Michael Taylor Stobart & Hurrell Skyblue Decora�ng Ben Jefferies Property Ladder Myne� Electrical The Mower Doctor Slimming World Chris Ryan Decorator Col�shall and Horstead Preschool Clapham & Collinge Solicitors Chris Beardsmore Smith & Pinching Hewi� and Grant Steve White Colchester Inns Recrui�ng Cars BACK TO CONTENTS Pleasevisit andcomment p2 Find us on FACEBOOK and at www.themarlpit.co.uk COMMUNITY MAGAZINE FOR COLTISHALL, HORSTEAD, STANNINGHALL, GREAT HAUTBOIS, SCOTTOW,BADERSFIELD, BELAUGH, HOVETON & WROXHAM JUNE 2020 BACK TO CONTENTS MARLPITThe PAGE 3 EDITORIAL Page three Worrying times: Be good, stay safe, await return to ‘the normal’ How times are changing. A year ago we would never have believed such a pandemic could happen. Because of it, this Marlpit issue, again, is online only, on our website www.themarlpit.com and Facebook. We hope the July issue may be in print again – many readers are requesting that, shops and businesses too, more of which should be open for business by then. So please, editorial contributors and advertisers – hopefully all is going to improve, so please support us – contribute! Now to our P1 pictures and Coltishall common. The usual popular holiday hire boats have been absent for the past couple of months. Now the Broads Authority has confirmed private boats may return, but only for day visits. Will we see hire boats soon, even this season? Very bad financial news for local boatyards if not. The common has taken on a different role now. Numerous couples are visiting it, many from away, Norwich, even further field. Bank Holiday Monday had too many groups, not all respecting two metres. Other days of the week too they picnic, lie out in the sun – in some cases abusing the instructions to not be within two metres of others. We hear Horstead Mill has been over-populated too at times, police there checking. The Anchor Street end of the common is seeing numerous cars, some badly parked on grass, when its busy. The ice cream van has returned, welcome and popular, but they must take care to service customers queuing two metres apart. How long will this last? Is it indeed easing, as many seem to think? The pubs are doing a good job with bookable take-away food, even drinks. Very helpful for we locals. Hopefully they may be able to open again soon, albeit with restrictions. It is up to us all to observe, respect and only go by the rules. While they change… please, local readers, do observe them. Some visitors are abusing, including cyclists some of whom are riding on the footpath, forcing walkers to step into the road, risking speeding cars. That is also bad news – so many cars speed over the common, always have done. Worse still the drivers look at the river and common, taking their eyes off where they are driving increasing risks! Please, you, our readership and population, join us in trying to get through this so difficult time safely. We see many local people who ARE being good… lets keep it up. Stay alert, enjoy but respect our great villages and county, hopefully life will soon return to ‘normal’ - whatever that may be! Paul Thomas, Chairman and The Marlpit team. BACK TO CONTENTS Pleasevisit andcomment p3 Find us on FACEBOOK and at www.themarlpit.co.uk COMMUNITY MAGAZINE FOR COLTISHALL, HORSTEAD, STANNINGHALL, GREAT HAUTBOIS, SCOTTOW,BADERSFIELD, BELAUGH, HOVETON & WROXHAM JUNE 2020 BACK TO CONTENTS MARLPITThe MARLPIT VE75 REPORT The Marlpit reports on May 8th: VE Day Anniversary Many union jacks are flying around Norfolk homes today, Mayth 8 In memory of VE Day, 75 years ago with great significance for Norfolk, which had been bombed much – and RAF Coltishall’s significance during the war. A Norfolk star,with great heroes, was RAF Coltishall, started in 1939, then atScottow Aerodrome, and first built as a bomber station, traditionally it should have been named after the nearestrailway station –henceitwould have been RAF Buxton, but to avoid confusion withBuxton inDerbyshire,it was named after the localvillage Coltishall instead. The airfield entered service in May 1940 as a fighter base. During WW2 RAF Coltishall flew firstHawker HurricaneswithDouglas Bader,leaderofNo. 242 Squadron. They had suffered significant losses during theBattle of France,andduringthesummerof1941Bader,whohad had both legs amputated after a crash in 1931, made 12 kills. His heroism did much to restore recognition of the squadron’s achievements for Britain. His ultimate 23 victories made him the fifth highest ace in the RAF. However,on 9th August 1941, he suffered a mid-air collision, parachuted to the ground but both his artificial legs were badly damaged. Coltishall later became home tonight fighters.AsNo. 124 Squadron,atthat time a fighter-bomber squadron flyingSupermarine Spitfires they crucially bombed GermanV2 launch sites in the Netherlands. Subsequently Bader,a Londoner,was knighted in 1976 and died in 1982. He is also renowned for saying "Rules are for the obedience of fools and the guidance of wise men" – significant because he had disobeyed the rules over his artificial legs.. Paul Thomas, Chairman and The Marlpit team. BACK TO CONTENTS Pleasevisit andcomment p4 Find us on FACEBOOK and at www.themarlpit.co.uk COMMUNITY MAGAZINE FOR COLTISHALL, HORSTEAD, STANNINGHALL, GREAT HAUTBOIS, SCOTTOW,BADERSFIELD, BELAUGH, HOVETON & WROXHAM JUNE 2020 BACK TO CONTENTS MARLPITThe GOOD NEIGHBOURS NOTICE COLTISHALL AND HORSTEAD GOOD NEIGHBOURS The Coltishall and Horstead Good Neighbours have been busy with requests for collection of prescriptions, delivery of groceries and general calls for information during this difficult time. As volunteers we are keeping in touch by telephoning our residents once or twice a week making sure they are alright and to see if they need any assistance, just a telephone call is very much appreciated. If you require any assistance (any age resident can contact us) please telephone07799 277455 and we will be able to assist with your request. Thank you to all our volunteers for helping. Hopefully we will be able to get back to having our lovely afternoon tea parties soon and we look forward to seeing everyone soon. Julie Douglass BACK TO CONTENTS Pleasevisit andcomment p5 Find us on FACEBOOK and at www.themarlpit.co.uk COMMUNITY MAGAZINE FOR COLTISHALL, HORSTEAD, STANNINGHALL, GREAT HAUTBOIS, SCOTTOW,BADERSFIELD, BELAUGH, HOVETON & WROXHAM JUNE 2020 The BACK TO CONTENTS MARLPIT RE. CHARLIE SMITH IN MAY Charlie Smith CHARLIEColtishall SMITHman gave lifetime of community service The articles in the May issue of The Marlpit set me thinking about the upheaval concerning schools in the 1970s and early 1980s when my children were attending Coltishall Infant and Junior Schools. In October 1975, Coltishall Junior School Headmaster, Charlie Smith, approached the County Education Officer requesting additional staff and a mobile classroom due to a rise in projected pupil numbers following the development of housing at Kings Road and College Close. The supply of a mobile classroom was turned down for financial reasons but Charlie Smith vigorously pursued the matter with the County Education Officer, the Chairman of the Education Committee and another Councillor. Despite these efforts and letters of support from parents, the provision of a mobile classroom was finally rejected in May 1976. In the mid-1970s, comprehensive schools were being established and moves were in hand to change Infant and Junior Schools to First and Middle Schools; the Middle Schools being for the 8 to 12 years age range. A proposal became known in October 1975 of the intention to enlarge Hoveton St. John County Primary School as a step towards the creation of Hoveton Secondary Modern School as Broadland High School (a comprehensive for all abilities) thereby ending the selection of children for Grammar Schools. It was clarified though, that the Hoveton St.