Winter/Spring 2008 G Issue No.15

HOLKHAM NEWSLETT ER

AVING to make the decision to close down the HHolkham Pottery factory this summer was a sad one. Holkham Pottery was started more than 50 years ago by the fifth Earl’s wife, Elizabeth, and at its peak, employed 100 people and sold its distinctive pottery around the world. However in today’s competitive and global market (where more than half the world’s pottery is made in China), it was no longer viable to continue production. Despite its dedicated and long-serving staff, it had been losing money. My thanks to Douglas Codman, Jane Bray and Nancy Hipkin who, between them, worked at the Pottery for a total of 115 years.

My responsibility is to the Hall and wider estate and I am afraid that sometimes, tough decisions have to be made. Holkham Pottery was one of the estate’s first attempts at diversification away from agriculture. In the past few years there have been many more, but agriculture — and the land — still play a very important part in the make-up of the estate, both visually and financially. It was therefore a huge honour for my father, Holkham and its employees, when he was awarded the The Bledisloe Gold Medal by the Royal Agricultural Society, in The end of an era recognition of outstanding achievement in the successful land management and development of an English agricultural estate.

Holkham Pottery has On the subject of agriculture, it is pleasing to see the return ceased production after 56 years in business, see pages 10-12 to Holkham of South Devon cattle, which were Coke of Norfolk’s preferred breed more than 150 years ago. It is, however, sad that we do not have any sheep this year. Apart from 2000 and 2002 (the year after the last foot and mouth outbreak) we have had sheep at Holkham continuously since the 19th century, but I am confident they will return.

I would like to record my thanks to the many estate All the fun of the Fair employees who this summer worked some extremely long and unsocial hours. In particular, the farm men who worked for 30 This year’s Holkham Country Fair enabled the consecutive days in trying conditions from 7.30am until 10pm estate to donate more than £20,000 to a number as they brought the harvest in: a magnificent effort. Also, our of charities and organisations, see page 8 chefs who work split shifts day in, day out and the many other people on the estate who regularly work nights, such as those in the hotel and pub, the Hall and of course, the gamekeepers.Your hard work does not go unnoticed and we are most grateful for your commitment.

The Holkham Country Fair on 21 and 22 July was, as ever, a success. Congratulations to the team who put together an continued on page two

www.holkham.co.uk excellent, new and thought-provoking Holkham stand. As a positive letters and comments from visitors commenting on result of such a great fair, we have been able to give away the excellent visitor experience: “One of the best experiences £20,000 to local charities and countryside organisations, I have had in well over 150 stately homes in England,” was how which will be followed by a further £20,000 next year. In one summed it up. addition, we helped the Norfolk Churches Trust (of which Lady Leicester was vice chairman at the time), to raise £30,000 through a ‘Stately Car Boot Sale’ at the Hall.

Finally, my thanks to the Room Stewards in the Hall and to the staff in the Stables Café. I have never seen so many Viscount Coke Archives

MANY of my extracts from the Archives for previous Newsletters have illustrated life at Holkham during the past 400 years. Much of the information in the records relates to other parts of the estate, so I am starting the alphabet again, with snippets relating to various Norfolk properties.

A is for Ashill

The manor of Panworth Hall, near Ashill, about six miles south-east of Swaffham, was bought by Sir Edward Coke in 1590 and sold by the third Earl of Leicester in 1912.

Two maps, drawn in 1581, are still in the Archives. These are the oldest maps we have; most of the 160 estate maps are from the 18th century but, remarkably, no fewer than 14 maps are dated before 1700. The cartographer, Thomas Clerke, was apparently in a light-hearted mood when he drew the Ashill map.

B is for Beck Hall

Beck Hall, at Billingford, was another of Sir Edward Coke’s purchases, bought in 1606. The tenant, Sir John Prettyman, ABOVE: Detail from left it ‘in a very decay’d condition’ in 1618 and rebuilding the Thomas Clerke’s map of Ashill, 1581. house cost £200. Another £150 was spent on repairs 20 years later. When Thomas Coke succeeded to the estate in 1718, As his agent told Thomas Coke: ‘By the very great charges his grandmother’s second husband, Horace Walpole, had a that have attended the repairs and alterations of the manor lease of Beck Hall in return for repairing it, apparently house at Beck Hall, you may see that great houses, unless they unsatisfactorily. are used as the mansion house of the family, are burthens [burdens] upon the estate.’

C is for Creake

The school at South Creake, like many on the estate, was subsidised by the Earl of Leicester and his tenants. It was enlarged to take the Waterden children in 1874.

In 1882, the vicar wrote to the agent at Holkham with news of the school since the advent of a new head teacher. Attendance was improving, without the need for compulsion: ‘The good sense of the people, joined with the tact & energy of the teachers (who soon gained the love of the children) have done all that was needful… last year we had 228 children on the books: the average attendance was 153… an improvement on previous years. This year we have 208 on the ABOVE: Proposed school at North Creake, drawn by S.S. books and the average attendance is 163, i.e. three quarters Teulon, 1846

— 2 — are daily in school… The smaller number on the books is due to the fact that hitherto there was a residuary of dull HOLKHAM ones left by the old system, who had not passed the standard to enable them to go to work. Now these are all weeded out, FARMING or superannuated!’ COMPANY LTD The vicar lamented the fact that the payment by the I am sure I am not the only one bemoaning the wrong sort parents was only one penny a week: in his previous parish in of weather this year, but it would seem that all that could go Westmorland they had willingly paid three pence or four wrong, actually did. pence, ‘but there the people thoroughly appreciate education. Here they are only learning to do so. But they are learning’. The incredibly dry start to the spring gave ideal conditions for establishing sugar beet and spring barley. As the dry time continued, worries emerged over poor potential yields due Christine Hiskey to lack of water. At least with the reservoir in the Park, Archivist revenue from irrigation could help ease the pain. But no! As the potatoes and carrots started requiring water, the heavens opened and it rained and rained in torrents. At least the spring barley was saved, but the sugar beet did not like sitting with wet roots without any sun and in some places locally, the crop has died completely. On the lighter land it held on CAN YOU HELP? but any thoughts of a record tonnage soon vanished.

As harvest began, the warm sun returned to at least allow a relatively easy start. Yields looked about average so all was not lost. Then the fortnight of constant drizzle in August caused wheat and barley to sprout in the ear. This is disastrous for malting barley, as the maltsters prefer to grow the barley in a controlled environment, not the field. So, virtually all the spring barley is destined for animal feed. The wheats lost yield and also the specific weights dropped below the magic 72kg/hl figure and deliveries are being subject to penalties. At least the autumn has been kind and crops have been drilled in good conditions, but now we could do with some rain!

During the summer, the grain drier at Egmere proved frustrating to say the least. We were hampered by an electrician who talked a better job than he did! I quote: I have just received a lovely batch of photographs from the “Don’t worry, I’ll have it all running 100% before you know it. daughter of one of the maids who worked at Holkham in We had the same with another farm a few years ago and I’ve about 1938-41. never been back to it.” I wonder why?

These photos are two of several recently sent by Molly Some of you will have noticed the red cattle in the Park Kearn, nee Dunn. Her father, Bill Dunn, was the head recently (see photo below). John Smith, the new herd gardener and the family lived in The Bothy until 1950. Her manager, has bought a small herd of South Devon cows and mother, nee Brenda Standen, second from left in this photo, calves. This will become the nucleus for the suckler herd at worked in the Hall around 1938-41. Can anyone identify any Chalk Hill. Many of the current cows are well past their best of the other staff? If so, please contact me in the Archives. and the South Devon should give a bigger beefier calf when crossed with a continental bull such as a Charolais. John has also begun updating the housing and handling facilities at Warham to enable him to handle animals more easily and safely, and to monitor growth rates in youngstock.

The South Devon cattle and their Michael Turner calves are settling into the Park. Farms Manager

— 3 — The Hall

BLINK and another season has come and gone and what a season it has been. We had a terrific Easter then it started to rain and rain. I thought at one point that Phil Bishop would be able to start picking up passengers for the lake cruise at the Cricket Pavilion.

By the time you read this we will have finished two major film sessions with a third underway. Colin Shearer had sole control over the crew that came to film a TV “docudrama” entitled “Victoria’s Men”. I was away on holiday so the full weight of five very long working days fell on his shoulders. It’s a tribute to his remarkable good nature that all of the crew walked away unharmed at the end of the shoot. Holkham’s librarian, Sam Mortlock, launches his latest book. A brief respite followed with me holding the fort while Colin and his sons thrashed up and down Welsh hillsides, Some of the cleaning problems were self-inflicted of course — pausing only to howl at England’s defeat in Paris, before we Pat’s drooling on set whenever Ralph Fiennes was about will were both back in the thick of it with the start of filming of be remembered for years to come by all who witnessed it. “The Duchess”, about Georgiana, the Duchess of Devonshire, starring Keira Knightley and Ralph Fiennes. I know it sounds The third film shoot — my aren’t we popular this year — glamorous, but in reality it’s 10 days at a level of excitement was for a film “My talks with Dean Spanney”, starring Peter marginally less gripping than watching paint dry, or having Ian O’Toole and Sam Neill. Fortunately, this was a much smaller Barrett sing folk songs at you all day! production, which lasted just three days and only required the use of two rooms. All credit to Mark Taylor, Ian Barrett, Lou Bailey and Peter Godwin and his team for preparing the house for the shoot Amid all the usual routine concerts, operas, guided tours and for putting it back together again. Thanks also to the and weddings, our librarian, Sam Mortlock, and his publishers unsung heroines of the Hall, Carole Cox, Pat Dickerson, Sonia arranged for the launch of his latest book ‘Norfolk Churches’ Horsman and Rosemary Turner, who have ensured that the in the Saloon. Sam is pictured in full flow mid way through Hall was returned to its normal ordered state of cleanliness. his excellent speech extolling the virtues of the wonderful variety of churches in the county. This, by the way, is the third book he’s had published in the past two years.

POLICE PEDAL This season saw the introduction of the ticket office in the PotteryYard under the control of Christine Hawkes, ably POWER assisted by Kerry Cave. It has proved to be a great success, in future, all tickets to the Hall and Bygones will be sold from here. Sadly, this meant the demise of the cashier post in the Hall and the retirement of Christine Cardwell. Although I know she hates the word, Christine has been an absolute stalwart on the cashier’s desk and we will all miss her.

The way we manage the house during the open season will change next year and we will need replacement room stewards and someone to run the Audio Guide from Easter to the end of October. If you’d like to know more about working at the Hall, please contact either Colin or myself for an informal chat on: 01328 710667.

HOLKHAM recently funded the purchase of a £700-plus Towards the end of the season, a visitor approached the police bicycle for use in the Wells area Safer Neighbourhood room steward in the North State Sitting room, and pointing to Team, which comprises three police community support the fallow deer on the north Park, asked: officers, a dedicated beat officer and a sergeant who together “What are they?” cover 13 parishes. PCSO Andy Dixon (far right) is pictured “Fallow deer,” replied the room steward. above with the new mountain bike, having been presented “They’re beautiful—are they plastic?” with it by Lord Coke. Also pictured (from left) are: PCSO Emma Hendry-Smith, PC Lee Anderton, PCSO Mike Blowers Mike Daley and Holkham’s Resident Agent, Richard Gledson. Hall Administrator

— 4 — LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION!

Have you been wondering what it was like having famous actors like Keira Knightley and Ralph Fiennes in the Hall? Mike Daley reports from behind the scenes of ‘The Duchess’

ANYONE going past the Hall at the things to do is detailed and seems endless. end of October and the beginning of November could be excused for thinking The week before filming starts, it’s case of that it was undergoing major repairs — “all hands to the pumps” as we clear the what with the huge scaffolding towers, big State Rooms of everything listed in red cherry pickers, metre upon metre of location agreement. electrical cables and more lights than you could shake a stick at that were all over The Prop Master and his team arrive two the place. days before shooting starts and off load tonnes of props and start to “dress” the With a crew of 200, “The Duchess Film house. While all this is going on, riggers Co” used the Hall as a location for “The and electricians set up numerous Duchess” starring Keira Knightley and scaffolding towers and massive lights, two Ralph Fiennes. What will eventually end up ABOVE: Actresses are filmed in front of large generator lorries are also on the screen will be the result of hours the fountain on the terraces. positioned — one to the north the other of dedicated work by this huge team of on the south side of the Hall. Just one of technicians and artists. these trucks will produce enough power to light the whole of Holkham village. Almost all of the filming took place on the first floor State Rooms with the A marquee was erected by the cricket Statue Gallery, Long Library and Stranger’s pavilion and used to store costumes for Wing being pressed into service from time the cast and the 70 or so extras that were to time. selected from the hundreds who applied. Incidentally, the extras included: Lord Of course, preparation for such a massive Coke’s mother, Valeria, Viscontess Coke, invasion of the house takes a considerable her consort, Mark Hassall, and Marit Maufe amount of time and effort. With big of Leith Farm, Burnham Thorpe. Trailers for feature films like this, the process starts the actors were positioned on the coach weeks before filming begins when various park, and the first of hundreds of cups of members of the unit visit to assess the tea and coffee are brewed. location and confirm its suitability. Filming goes on for 10 hours each day, These visits culminate in a full-scale but preparing for the shoot and clearing technical reconnaissance when all the ABOVE: A huge battery of lights was away at the end of the day often adds a team — including the directors and required to film “The Duchess”. couple of hours to that, so Colin and producers — walk through the script and I are faced with some very long scenes in order to plan the shoot in the working days. What follows is two weeks finest detail. of the mysterious process called making a movie that will, everyone hopes, bring Negotiations then take place to make critical acclaim and of course profit, to clear what the unit may or may not do all concerned. once shooting begins; which rooms need to be cleared of Holkham furniture and Our thanks go to a very professional crew artefacts; whether fires are allowed; what and in particular, the Location Manager, lighting is required and which carpets need Tom Stourton, who had the unenviable to be removed. task of keeping all of us to the agreed contract at all times! The unit props dept measure light switches and power point outlets so that These photographs, I hope, will give you they can make shallow boxes to cover some idea of the complexity and enormity them during filming. All the bulbs are of the task. Everyone here wishes good removed from our wall lights and luck to the feature film; and boy is it quiet chandeliers and permission given to use now they’ve gone! ABOVE: Hundreds of props had to be candles in certain areas — the list of carried in before filming could start.

— 5 — Gardens Department

FOR us gardeners, the weather is often a problem: too wet, too cold, too windy or too dry. But whatever it seems to throw at us we tend to get by and carry on. However, the wet this year did tend to get us bogged down, literally in some cases. Then thanks to the sunny warm end to summer, the grass just kept growing.

It’s amazing how our often neglected lawns just seem to get on with it, even if we don’t sometimes give them the loving care they deserve. We have purchased a tractor mounted scarifier that should help us to get some better quality grass. It will get rid of all the dead grass (thatch) and rake out most of the moss and help to control some of the wilder grasses that blow on to our lawns. At first, it looks as though it’s ripping the heart out of the grass, as it will dig into the ground to about 5in if needed, which does make it ABOVE: The new scarifier will help to improve the lawns. look a bit rough. But, after we have given it some aeration (run over the ground with a machine that puts a series of holes in to the lawn) and given it some fertiliser, and in some We should finish work on tidying up the last two front areas, some more seed, within a few months it really greens sections of the Walled Garden this winter. This will involve up and encourages a better lawn next season. This, however, pruning the shrubs; renovating the pathways and the clearing will have to be repeated in the spring (albeit not so of the frames and the rest of the greenhouses. These areas will aggressively) to finish the process. then continue to be regularly maintained, giving Holkham Enterprises a larger are in which to host wedding receptions.

As per usual, maintaining the grounds at Pinewoods has FORESTRY kept us on our toes this season—for the time we had a THE Woods Dept has been complaint that the grass was too short rather than too long! felling dead, hollow and rotten At times, we had to be a bit careful about which areas we trees (mostly Beech) at the attempted to cut due to the wet ground. We have just started South Lodge, with the intention pruning the beds, which should keep us busy for around six of doing some re-planting. Some weeks. With the help of the new scarifier we should also be of the trees we have taken out able to improve the quality of the greens and fairways on the must be about 280 years old, pitch and putt course. and have been falling down with worrying regularity. They were At The Victoria, we are currently clearing out and Kenny Rowe retired in replanting of some of the beds, not only at the hotel, but also planted by William Kent, the October after 50 years designer of the Hall and early with the Woods Dept. . at some of the lodges and the staff houses as well. The new Park, at the same time as the planting should give the flower beds more all-year round foundations of the Hall were laid in 1735. interest and topping them off with bark mulch should make them easier to maintain next season. Freddy Futter and I have been to look at a firewood machine and have two more coming to the estate for a demonstration. Peter Godwin Head Gardener We have also started supplying Ilex leaves to London Zoo again this year, for the giraffes, okapi and oryx to browse on. When a huge Ilex falls and dies at Holkham, the main tree is cleared away, leaving just the stump. Soon, scores of saplings spring up around it and it is these young shoots that the browsing animals like to eat.

Finally, Kenny Rowe (see photo above) retired on 16 October 2007 after spending all his working life working for the estate Woods Department. We all went out for a meal to mark the occasion and wish him well for the future.

Ian McNab Head Woodsman

— 6 — Holkham Foods

HOLKHAM Foods is preparing for its winter hibernation down to Lady Anne’s Drive on nice weekends throughout after the end of another summer season. the winter and I’d like to thank Eileen Heyhoe for taking on this job with such aplomb. This year has been a very busy and happy one here at the Stables Café. All the staff enjoyed the season, which has been We enjoyed good Holkham Ice Cream sales despite the very successful despite some awful bouts of weather that weather, with the lavender flavour selling particularly well and caused flash flooding. On one occasion, we ended up plum ripple and elderflower selling out! paddling barefoot in the kitchen in a bid to get the water out and it really was all hands to the pumps with mops I would like to thank all my staff for their hard work this and brooms! year and look forward to seeing them all at Easter next year, for hopefully another happy and successful year. The food trailer on Lady Anne’s drive has had a good season back with Holkham Foods, but again, the weather didn’t do us any favours as the rain meant many people stayed Wendy Mason away from Holkham Beach. We will still be sending the trailer Holkham Foods Manager Outdoor theatre 2008 productions SHOWS Peter Pan THIS year’s open air theatre on Tuesday, 29 July at 6pm productions proved to be lucky with Mad & Merry Monarchs the weather, the only hitch occurred on Friday, 1 August at 7pm during Cry Blue Murder when the cast Alice’s Adventures struggled to cope with the noise of an in Wonderland impromptu air display by the RAF. on Saturday, 16 August at 5pm Charley’s Aunt The actors from Cambridge Touring on Friday, 22 August at 7pm Theatre performing Wind in the Sleeping Beauty Willows were very excited to see the on Wednesday, 27 August at 6pm pre-prepared mole hills in the Walled Gardens, so thanks go Peter Godwin for supplying those at such short notice! I write-up of the event several weeks would also like to thank the Countess later in his column, ‘Travels with Cara’. of Leicester for stepping up to the task of drying some sodden costumes from a Audience numbers were very good previous night’s performance. for the children’s plays; however, I hope to improve on attendances next year. I was impressed by the degree of With this in mind, we will be putting professionalism of all the theatre on the programme listed above. We companies we invited this summer and ABOVE: Mike Souter prepares to hope to have your support in 2008. execute Anne Boleyn in this summer’s Finally, I would like to wish you all a especially enjoyed the guest appearance production of The Merry Wives of by the broadcaster and Eastern Daily Henry VIII. happy festive season and thank everyone Press travel writer, Mike Souter, as who was ‘roped-in’ to help me this year. executioner of Anne Boleyn in The Merry Wives of Henry VIII, performed by Distraction Theatre. Those avid EDP Kerry Cave readers amongst us will have caught up with Mike’s brief Events Coordinator

— 7 — Marketing Department

HOLKHAM hosted the bi-annual fishing industry and compost. It Country Fair in July—who would have attracted a great deal of interest, keeping thought that there could have been many children amused digging for the such a stark contrast in the two days. hundreds of worms working away in On Saturday—after overnight high the soil bed. Elsewhere, bemused visitors winds and torrential rain—the event were entranced by the display of got off to a good start. Sadly, as the day digitally enhanced images depicting progressed, the weather deteriorated possible future scenarios for the estate. and the rain returned; which impacted Photos of vineyards growing on the on the first day’s attendance figures. slopes of the south drive and an image of the Hall surrounded by water due to Fortunately Holkham’s sturdy rising sea levels certainly got peoples’ marquee afforded shelter for many and minds working on the possible impact the opportunity to peruse an impressive of global warming. display. The theme highlighted the valuable work the estate does for Holkham recently took part in a new education, conservation and the initiative called ‘TopLots’, an eBay environment, along with our range of auction in which various UK museums, leisure and tourism enterprises. It was Visitors to the Country Fair were galleries and heritage attractions went not only colourful, but also educational impressed by the estate’s display online offering a vast range of auction and informative, using 300 photographs, lots. This was the first auction of its kind props and displays. Although our marquee was in the middle and for Holkham, a rather unusual way of raising funds for of parkland, we managed to set up two 42in plasma television the ongoing heritage work carried out at the Hall every year. screens to run our tourism video and a somewhat unusual Lord Coke put forward two packages: a lifetime pass for two presentation highlighting important dates and unusual facts people to visit the Hall, Park and gardens and a personal tour about Holkham. Did you know, for instance, that there were around the Hall for four people followed by lunch in the 45 servants in the Hall in the 1840s or that the present Lord impressive North State Dining Room. We look forward to Coke’s batting average for 2007 was 0.66? welcoming the successful bidders.

In the environment section, Peter Godwin’s worm farm demonstrated an efficient method of waste disposal, which Laurane Herrieven also provides marketable products such as worms for the Marketing Manager

www.holkham.co.uk WINS AWARD

IN October, the Holkham diversity and modernity of the website won the regional Enjoy entire Holkham operation. England Awards for Excellence One of the judging panel in the Tourism Website commented: “I found your website Category. The results were to be not only very easy to use, announced at an evening but inspirational! I have never ceremony held by East of visited Holkham Estate and England Tourism at Ickworth definitely intend to do so in House, Bury St Edmunds. the future.”

Our successful entry identified Our entry will now be judged the strength of the site—which as a contender in the Tourism was expertly re-designed by Website Category for the national WillisMcKenzie earlier this awards organised by Visit Britain. year—with its strong clean Jane Haynes and Laurane Herrieven accept Holkham’s Unfortunately, we now have to graphics and rolling imagery, award from East of England Tourism. wait until the New Year to hear highlighting the site’s valuable if we might be one of the finalists integration with the estate’s business objectives. It assists with — so, keep your fingers crossed! achieving these objectives by pulling together all the enterprises and activities that support these aims and reflects the quality, Laurane Herrieven Marketing Manager

— 8 — GIFT SHOPS

AS the summer issue of the Newsletter A festive feel at Ancient House. The businesses in Holkham village opened was going to print, we were working hard their doors again this year for late night on displays for the estate marquee at the Christmas shopping on the evenings of the Holkham Country Fair in July. 22 and 23 November. Disappointingly, the evenings were not particularly well Happily, despite the torrential rain when attended, with Thursday being cold and we were setting up the day before the wet and Friday again being very cold. Those first day of the Fair, it was an extremely who did come along however, were glad of successful weekend. Many visitors to the the complimentary mince pies and mulled marquee were surprised by all that we do wine in the Gift Shop. On the Friday at Holkham and left with a clearer vision evening, Fakenham Town Band entertained of what we work hard to achieve. everyone for more than an hour with Christmas carols and drew a small crowd Both gift shops at Holkham have done well this season, which is of hardy local supporters who cheered them on. pleasing, despite a downturn in retail sales countrywide. However, the season was not without incident. The Pottery Shop at the Hall The Ancient House Gift Shop and Gallery will be open right up was flooded twice during rainstorms in July. While I was getting to and including Christmas Eve and re-opens on 27 December wet at the Country Fair marquee, Julie Gould called me on the to start preparing for the sale which starts shortly after, so radio to say that as fast as she was clearing the water out of the remember to come along and see what bargains you can find. shop, it was pouring in through the ceiling and down the walls. I arrived to find Julie with two mops and her trousers rolled up to Finally, we were sad to see Holkham Pottery close in September her knees! The damage was so bad that part of the ceiling will be this year and would like to thank Jane Bray and Douglas Codman replaced during the winter, when the shop is closed. for all the pottery that they have produced for the shops over the years and wish them all the best for the future. I would like While doing a stocktake at Ancient House at the end of to thank all the ladies who work in the gift shops for being so October, Biddy Bunkle in the post office casually mentioned that flexible and helpful. It’s a pleasure to work alongside Julie Gould, she had been working there for 25 years to the very day. Many Margaret Chubbock, Jill Watson, Caroline Muncey and Sue Fisher. people come into the Post Office to ask directions to various destinations, and I’m sure that by now, Biddy must know every single occupant of every house in the area! We all send our Sylvia Daley congratulations to Biddy on her 25 years as Postmistress. Retail Manager

they do to help run Bygones. Paperwork is not a strong point Bygones Museum here and Christine is doing a great job of sorting out the many files and documents in the office that need attention.

THE Bygones Museum has enjoyed a successful summer This year, Lord Coke loaned his classic Airstream caravan season, with visitor numbers up on last year. The new ticket for display when not in use, which has proved to be a major office in the Pottery Yard gave us a boost and contributed to attraction — especially to the many members of The Caravan a lot more people coming and having a look round. Club who have visited Bygones. I am currently giving it a good polish, in preparation for The Caravan Club Rally at During the season, the museum comes alive: it has spirit, Holkham from 23-27 May 2008. a soul of its own. It’s vibrant, dynamic and fun. There is an indefinable link between people of the present and the We were pleased to receive some positive comments in the heritage of the past, which is represented in all the artefacts annual quality assurance report on the attractions at and collections from history. Holkham, especially as the inspector singled out our staff for praise. There were also some suggestions for improvement in We all have happy memories of children climbing over the one or two areas, so, look out for Bygones staff resplendent in fire engine, of the curiosity of the many visitors and the their new T-shirts next season! flattering comments in the visitors book this season. We must be doing something right! However, having less staff and with And, of course, listening to visitors always teaches us a lot. so much to do to keep up the Museum, there just hasn’t been Wherever suggestions for improvement come from, they are the time to write for the Newsletter. So this is the first news invaluable. Not only for the sake of Bygones itself, but of Bygones for a while. I would like to say a big thank you to because there is a deep awareness and pride that Bygones is a Hall Administrator, Mike Daley, and Marketing Manager, part of Holkham as a whole, the heritage and experience of Laurane Herrieven. They are always there when help and Holkham, which has shaped what the estate is today. advice is needed. Christine Hawkes, Laura Comer and our volunteer, Rex Vick, should also be thanked for everything Brian Ayton

— 9 — The end of an era

Holkham Pottery closed in September 2007 after 56 years of production. Here, the Countess of Leicester pays tribute to its staff, while Lady Glenconner remembers how her mother established the business

MY interest in Holkham Pottery began in 1986. It had been reduced in size in the 1970s and had a workforce of 11 people. Reluctantly, we had to cut back further in 1991 because much cheaper imports from China and Taiwan were beginning to affect sales.

We introduced a new range of lacquered lamps, obelisks and urns. Cyril Ruffles (pictured right), was still throwing superb hand thrown pots on the wheel, and he often treated The talented Cyril Ruffles busy making visitors to the Hall to a demonstration. It was mesmerising to Holkham Pottery in the 1950s watch a beautiful vase develop under Cyril’s fingers, the edges were so fine, and of course visitors went straight into named after the fifth Earl’s wife—and was inspired by the the shop and bought his vases. Soon, we started taking the ‘hole in the pebble’ that is often found on the beach. The pottery to trade fairs again, to increase sales. mug, jug, teapot and sugar bowl were all cast with the handles incorporated into the piece, creating a very modern When I arrived, Wilton Elston, who trained in Stoke on look for the time. More than a million of the mugs were Trent, was managing and designing items for the Pottery. made. Our range was extensive and diverse: we even made Wilton’s great forte was ‘relief’ work (this is a ‘raised and Watney Mann and Norwich Bitter beer pump handles, and carved’ moulding on a piece of pottery, similar to huge ashtrays for their pubs. Wedgwood). His designs were brilliant, and apart from the large number of flower vases he designed, he created Many local people have been employed at the Pottery mugs in relief for practically every cathedral in England. One over the years. White overalls were worn by everyone and a of his most successful designs was the Elizabeth range — team of two or three made the slip for the pottery and

DOUGLAS CODMAN

DOUGLAS CODMAN started work at the His quality control was fastidious. Time was Pottery at the age of 16 in July 1963 and simply not in Douglas’s vocabulary. stayed for 44 years. His first week’s pay was £1.73 (of which he gave half of this to his Every day that I have known him (21 years), Mum for housekeeping). he was never late for work, he never had a day off sick, and he has done countless On his first day, Douglas was assigned to hours of voluntary unpaid overtime for the Paul Trett in the casting department, where love of the Pottery. Douglas was never he had to bore holes in pomanders — in daunted, however tight the schedule. He fact, 28 holes in each pomander. Douglas was often seen on his bicycle at 11pm, was influenced and trained by Harry Plant, cycling up to the Pottery from his home in who was a former potter from Stoke on the village to tip out excess slip (liquid clay) Trent. Having worked under seven managers from the moulds he had filled earlier in the during his time at the Pottery, the first being day. One summer, when we were working Mr Corrigan [his son, Robin, captains the especially hard trying to make 4,000 mugs in Holkham cricket team today], followed by a short time, I realised that Douglas was Mr Russell, Mr Mcguire, Mr Sharp, Mr Mansell, Mr Jones and Wilton coming up to the factory every night to switch on the kiln at Elston. Douglas took over in 1992, when Wilton retired. 10.30pm, and then returning at 3am to open a vent. Eventually, he reluctantly agreed that I could do the early morning stint! Douglas Codman’s own skills are considerable: he could turn his hand to any job in the factory, from making the liquid slip, casting the Douglas’s wife, Jean — with whom he has four children — also pieces, to fettling and spongeing (removing the rough edges) to worked in the Pottery as a young girl, and that is where they dipping and spraying glazes, applying transfers and packing the kilns. first met. Jean is now head housekeeper at The Victoria Hotel.

— 10 — barrowed it around the building in dustbins to the bottom of the Bowling alley — the main area of the factory for NANCY HIPKIN casting pottery. NANCY HIPKIN has also worked for When Holkham Pottery closed in September, it brought the Pottery for 37 years. Although about the redundancies Douglas Codman, Jane Bray and she retired four years ago, she did Nancy Hipkin, who have worked there all their come back to the factory to work working lives (see panels below). Sylvia Guiney and Betty part-time. Ruffles also worked in the Pottery for many years, as did Cyril’s wife, Eileen, who ran the Ancient House shop for Nancy has seen many changes over years — she loved selling Cyril’s vases! Mark Clipston the years and became one of the started work on the Pottery accounts straight from school. quickest fettlers and spongers in the team. She also applied many As well as all those I have mentioned, we must pay thousands of transfers to the various tribute to all the people who have worked at Holkham mugs, lamps and vases. Pottery. It is the end of an era, and their hard work has produced millions of items, many of which are still used and will become antiques of the future.

It has been a privilege to work with so many talented ON THE ROAD and dedicated people and, I personally, have loved every minute of it. Daily visits to the Pottery were a relief from the domesticities of the Hall. I know them all well, and regard them as very good friends, and will remember them with great affection. I thank them for their support and help and friendship over the past 21 years, and I wish Jane and Nancy well in their retirement and am sure Douglas will enjoy great success as a freelance gardener.

The Countess of Leicester JANE BRAY

JANE BRAY (neé Beck) left school and started in the Pottery in 1963, where she has worked for a total of 34 years. ABOVE: Lady Glenconner pictured in the 1950s with just some of the Holkham Pottery range. When Jane first started her wage was 1/2d per hour (6p in MY mother, Elizabeth [wife of the fifth Earl of Leicester], came today’s money). Wilton Elston up with the idea of starting a pottery at Holkham after taught Jane the skill of hand watching a German prisoner of war throwing pots at the decorating, and in the early Brickyard at Peterstone. days, she learned to do everyones’ tasks. She learned how to paint the famous Snowdrop range and was part of a During the Second World War, a number of German and Italian team of six hand decorators who sat in a production prisoners of war were housed in wooden sheds near the line—some painting the flowers, some painting the leaves. church in Holkham Park and put to work at the Brickyard. As Back then, Carol Cox was part of the team and she still my mother watched this man create pots on a small wheel, she works in the house. was inspired to start making items to sell to visitors to the Hall. Cyril Ruffles, who also worked in the Brickyard and later Jane first met her husband, Maurice, when he was sent to became chief thrower at the Pottery, was taught how to pot by repair the roof of the Pottery, after it had caught fire. They the German POW. married in 1967, and she left in 1968 to have her two children, Kevin and Tracy, returning to her old job 10 My mother was also keen to find something for my sister, Lady years’ later. Carey, and I to do, to prevent us from moving to London. And so, in 1951, Holkham Studio Pottery was established (becoming For the past 15 years, Jane has concentrated on hand Holkham Pottery Ltd) in 1961. decorating and gilding, and has applied literally hundreds of thousands of transfers to the many mugs, plates, vases, lamps and Colman’s Mustard pots, to name but a few. continued overleaf

— 11 — I was about 16 when I first got no clothes. But, when I arrived in involved and it was a fascinating The chevron-design tea and dinner New York at Christmas time there service was a big hit with customers. experience. My mother was very were lights everywhere, including artistic, and having been to art lights in the shape of big crosses school in London before she on most of the skyscrapers — it married, she drew and painted was just fantastic. very well. She used to draw ideas and get a professional to interpret Then, while I was out there, I them into pottery. In the early received a telegram telling me that days, most of the items were hand I had been chosen to be a maid of painted, but, later, we moved on to honour at the Queen’s coronation transfers. My sister, Carey, is also and suddenly, my orders went sky very artistic and used to do high! We sold a great deal of Toby some of the more intricate jugs with images of the Queen and hand painting. Prince Philip on the front. The Queen Mother . . . as was the snowdrop range, which was made was an old family friend, so she was always very I could do some of the simpler work such as right up until the end. supportive of the business. fettling and spongeing, but I loved selling. I was in charge of marketing and was a travelling salesman. I can remember coming back to England aboard I used to go around all the local shops in the the Queen Mary and seeing my mother who had winter with my case and could often be found sat come to meet me and waving my order book, on the floor unwrapping pottery. saying: “Look Mum, look at all the orders I’ve got!” I was absolutely thrilled. My father was slightly sceptical at the beginning — he didn’t think his wife and daughters were At its height, Holkham Pottery employed nearly going to make much of a success of the business 100 people and was the biggest light industry in — but he was very supportive. He financed the north Norfolk. One of our bestsellers was the refurbishment of the old laundry into a light and moo milk saver: a device that you put in the bright pottery studio. bottom of a milk pan to prevent it boiling over. People also liked something called a wally wet tail. It was a green caterpillar with a My sisters and I were rather intrigued by the whole business, porous tail, which you placed in a plant pot and filled with water although it largely involved Carey and I, as Sarah is 12 years and it would continue to water the plant. A number of ceramic younger than me. It was rather exciting and new and we enjoyed pint pulling handles were also made and sold to local pubs. it very much. We used to go to Blackpool and Harrogate to try to sell the pottery and as we started off on a shoestring, we We had a shop in the Hall near to where the old Post Office always stayed in the attics of smart hotels and would then have was located, but it was only open when the house was open. to try to persuade buyers to climb lots of stairs to look at our However, it enabled us to keep the range on display at all times, wares — we used to flirt with the men! so we always had something to show potential customers. When I look back, I consider that we were very lucky to have We sold two dinner/tea services; one was the blue and white had something so interesting to work at. Lots of girls had to go chevron design, the other the ever-popular snowdrop design. The off and learn to be secretaries, but we got to work in our chevron design (see photo above) was one of our best-selling mother’s pottery. ranges. In those days, particularly in the years after the war, our colourful pottery was a novelty. There was a real market for I don’t like to boast, but I was rather good at selling. It was very pretty things as so much had been destroyed in the war and good training and it certainly taught me the gift of the gab! A few people had had to go without. years later, my experience led to a job in a small shop in Sloane Street in London, which sold some of our range. Because the Coke family was so well known in Norfolk and England, I got used to being able to go into shops and solicit In recent years, it’s wonderful that Lady Leicester kept it going for orders with ease. But, when, after an unhappy love affair, my so long and improved it. I’m obviously sad that it had to close, but parents sent me off to New York on a selling trip to get over it, it is incredible that it ran for 56 years and gave so many people so I got a bit of a shock when I tried to approach Saks in Fifth much pleasure. I can understand why it couldn’t go on, it’s much Avenue. I didn’t have an appointment, but I was confident that more difficult to run it as a profitable business now. they would see me, so I was rather taken aback to be told that there was absolutely no question of making an appointment with When we started out, my mother, Carey and I were determined their buyer for the next six months. Fortunately, the cousin I was that it would be a success. We really wanted to show our father staying with was able to pull some strings and I did manage to what we could do. I think he was rather proud of us in a way, get Holkham Pottery on sale in Saks on Fifth Avenue. especially as Holkham Pottery followed in the estate tradition of self-sufficiency. I just loved America. It was very exciting at a time when poor England was so drab. At home there were no lights, no food and Lady Glenconner

— 12 — Holkham Linseed BUILDING Paints MAINTENANCE

HOLKHAM Building WE have just enjoyed another successful trip to the Maintenance is in the midst annual Historic Buildings, Parks and Gardens event in of major changes that will London. This event is held alongside the Historic Houses make it a more competitive Association AGM and gives us a major opportunity to and efficient department. speak to other similar estates to Holkham, from across the country. We have several like-minded estates on our books The developments are in already and a set of new pictures that show how fresh the early stages at the Holkham Linseed Paint remains after five years, should moment, so I will be able increase interest and encourage more estates to use our to give you all a more products. We also plan to take a small stand at EcoBuild accurate update in next 2008 at Earl’s Court in London in February. This year’s summer’s Newsletter. event will be twice the size of last year’s and will give us a prime opportunity to show our products to key decision However, I can report that makers across the country. we are looking to purchase a new computer Darren Cave helps to fit the new finials at Model Farm. I have recently carried out reciprocal visits with “The programme, which will help Friends of Delapre Abbey” who are currently restoring a us to improve our service large glasshouse, not dissimilar to those that Holkham to Holkham tenants and employees. Amongst its many recently refurbished in the Walled Garden. I’ve also re- attributes, the new high-tech system (which will cost more than visited Cranbrook Union Mill, where I was able to sit on the estate has ever paid for a computer programme), will enable the Fantail stage at the very top with the steeplejacks! We us to book a morning or an afternoon appointment for repairs hope to be able to include some photographs in the next to be carried out and to keep records of a property’s assets. Newsletter when the works are completed. Restoration of another windmill, at Saxstead Green in Suffolk, is now Although the department is always busy, we have not had any underway under the guidance of English Heritage major projects to work on in the past six months. In addition, following a site visit earlier this summer. empty properties have been coming at a rate of about one a month, which is far less than usual and means we have been able Other projects include the painting of an entirely to get on top of some less urgent jobs, which ordinarily, we timber clad church in Yorkshire; this is being re-boarded would not have had time to get back to. and the painter is painting the boards inside and out with our paint prior to installation. We also had a telephone call Work on the new Holkham village drainage scheme is still on from an estate near Edinburgh, which wanted to paint a going. We are due to start work just before Christmas on the four storey high cupola. The call came in just as the next phase — from the Adnams shop down to the main road cupola was being lifted by crane into position, and, picking up numbers 28 to 32 in Holkham village. bearing in mind the weather, we’ve persuaded them to return it to the This summer, we installed some new finials on the outbuildings workshop for at Model Farm for Lord Leicester. The finials are approximately Saxstead Green painting first! windmill in Suffolk. 2m high and bolting them through the roof was pretty a tricky Don’t forget all job, which was greatly aided by our cherry picker (see photo). estate staff can get 10% off all Whittle Painting has been busy completing the external re- our products — painting of about 30 estate properties, including several so how about farmhouses which needed quite a lot of joinery repairs. Ron buying a small Teague and Liam Rowe have therefore had to put in a lot of jar of linseed work manufacturing new joinery for the site carpenters to wax to ensure install, so that we could try to keep ahead of the painters, which that the dinner has proved difficult to achieve at times. table gleaming for Christmas We are continuing to fit insulation in our properties and have Day? only about 10% to complete, mostly at Castle Acre and in Wells. All of the properties should be finished by spring next year, when we hope everyone will start enjoying the benefits and Amanda cheaper heating bills that come with better insulated houses. Taylor Sales Manager Barry Turner Building Maintenance Manager

— 13 — Moonlit stars rock at Holkham

Status Quo’s Rick Parfitt and Francis Rossi take control of the stage.

WHILE champagne corks popped and the Curry House The second evening’s concert commanded a totally simply ran out of curry, Holkham hosted another two different audience and the atmosphere in front of the Hall star-studded nights of concerts in the Deer Park. was quite literally ‘rocking’.

Being firmly ensconced in the Box Office afforded me a Rock support act, Macara, was more than capable of bird’s eye view of the evenings’ events. Bearing in mind the setting the atmosphere for the evening. Although they are official gate opening time was 6pm, many triple-billed fans relative newcomers to the rock scene, they showed brilliant started arriving before midday to get poll position for ‘the scope and sheer power of vocals to set the stage for Status stampede’ when the gates opened for prime front stage Quo. These grandfathers of rock were able to perform to position. It was quite a remarkable sight to see a siege of such a wide age group of people and yet still managed to young teenagers closely followed by their peers vying for the get toes tapping and arthritic knees knocking with hits best spot from which to see Girls Aloud, Jamelia and Shayne “Whatever You Want” and “Rockin All Over”. Ward. I must confess our audience for Status Quo the following evening proceeded to the stage in a rather more sedate fashion! Chart topping Girls Aloud belt out their latest hits. The first night’s concert kicked off with the fabulous Jamelia, who set the standard for a great evening, singing ‘Superstar’, followed by the silver-tongued X-factor winner, Shayne Ward, who wooed his audience with recent hits and graciously thanked his venue, Holkham.

The stage and lighting proved to be a brilliant complement to our stars and the only blip in the evening came about when our top of the bill group, Girls Aloud, were delayed signing autographs and meeting children backstage. Fortunately, when they did appear on stage, they came out with all guns blazing, singing “Biology”, shortly followed by all their other hits. A spectacular firework display followed and heralded the exit of our evening stars from the Park.

— 14 — THE VIP TREATMENT

MY company, Softley Events, was nothing that you hadn’t thought of’… delighted to be asked to host the VIP ‘An extremely enjoyable evening and hospitality for Holkham’s open-air we felt very well looked after’ … concerts this summer. ‘Fantastic staff – a credit to your company’, were just some of the Our guests enjoyed a thoroughly VIP comments made. experience from their private parking area to their own post concert party. Softley Events is a Norfolk-based event They were treated to chilled management company, which specialises champagne and beautiful canapés, in high quality, professionally run events served on flower strewn platters then primarily in East Anglia. We have ABOVE: VIP guests enjoy a sumptuous three- dined in our black and white themed course dinner, prior to watching the concerts organised many events in both the marquee on the stunning terrace of from the terraces in front of the Hall. corporate and private sectors over the Holkham Hall. They enjoyed a years, including weddings, balls and sumptuous three-course dinner, which included Shropham Beef, parties and corporate hospitality. Every two years, we also host Norfolk samphire and locally caught fish. Having enjoyed the our own event, the extremely popular and successful Think Pink concert and superb fireworks from their prime position, they Ball held in Norwich. This has raised in excess of £34,000 for returned to the now candlelit marquee to enjoy Mrs Temple’s breast cancer charities and is set to return in October 2008. cheeses, champagne and port whilst being entertained by our jazz band. Our aim is simply to surpass our client’s expectations whilst remembering at all times that it is their event. If you would like Some of our lucky guests were even able to meet Status Quo further details please visit: www.softleyevents.co.uk following their live sound check. Our staff attended to their every need and we were overwhelmed by the number of appreciative letters and emails that we received: ‘There was Sarah Softley Softley Events

The audience really responded to Status Quo (left) and (below).

After a welcome encore, the Quo departed and again the evening climaxed in a terrific firework display.

Exit from the car parks was handled brilliantly and the only people who remained were Sarah Softley’s guests in the VIP marquee, who were being entertained with further music and champagne. I am told many of her guests had such a good reception that they are already hoping to return next year, even though they don’t know who will be performing yet! Kerry Cave Events Coordinator

— 15 — River Stiffkey restoration update

Patrick Rangely-Wilson sees the effect of imported chalk on the speed and course of the river.

WHEN the word chalkstream is mentioned, it is usually environment and the flora and fauna dependent upon it, the associated with the clear flowing rivers of the south of England: river work hopes to achieve the same aim. notably the Test, Itchen, Kennet and Avon. Rivers that rise in chalk aquifers generally have clear filtered alkaline spring water As the club’s founders, Charles Rangeley-Wilson and I met that promotes vigorous growth of aquatic plant and invertebrate with the estate and Jonathan Abraham of the Environment life; the bottom rung of a complex food-chain ladder. Agency in Norwich in the autumn of 2006. Consent was given to re-sculpt and “soften” what had previously been a steep bank What few realise is that the same band of chalk that gives from the rivers edge on the Stiffkey river caused by persistent birth to these southern rivers actually extends up through dredging of the river channel. In addition works to create London and into East Anglia before continuing through narrow sections of the river channel at key locations to improve Lincolnshire and finally terminating in southYorkshire. These spawning areas for trout and to deepen the channel directly rivers have a unique diversity of flora and fauna that has recently downstream of these locations was granted. Working closely with become a source of national interest as efforts are made to the estate, the Environment Agency very kindly donated safeguard them. Increased demands on chalkstreams in the south machinery and man-hours to the project and the work is now of England through industry, housing development and complete over much of the estate’s pastures below Warham agriculture have changed, perhaps irreparably in some cases, the village. very nature of the streams themselves. In addition, misguided practices carried out after the war, such as dredging and gravel BELOW: Charles Rangeley-Wilson, the BBC’s “Accidental removal, further damaged these watercourses. Angler” and James Ellis with a trout caught on the Stiffkey.

Norfolk is blessed in having several small chalkstreams and the Holkham estate is custodian of some of the loveliest stretches of three of them; the rivers Nar, Stiffkey and Burn. The estate’s water on the river Nar in Castle Acre has for many years had a successful fishing club, and the club has been very pro-active in terms of enhancing the river for fish and wildlife alike. Following some minor works to the river Stiffkey at Wighton five years ago, and in an effort to increase spawning areas for the trout in the river, the “Holkham Rivers Syndicate” was formed as a club for members who fish on the rivers Burn and Stiffkey.

2006 was the club’s first year fishing on both rivers and following this successful first season, the club, along with the estate, decided to apply for a land drainage consent to carry out a programme of works on both rivers that would enhance not only their ability to produce sustainable wild trout fisheries, but would also increase the bio-diversity of the riparian habitat. In much the same way as the estate’s conservation work to improve habitat for game has a positive impact on the immediate

— 16 — Warham beatkeeper Mark Watson takes a look at the work on the Stiffkey in March.

In August, the Wild Trout Trust As work progresses over the carried out a practical visit in estate’s water on both catchments, conjunction with Five Rivers we hope to be able to report Environmental Contracting. Sadly, further successes. the visit was short-lived as the torrential rain in late summer The estate and Holkham effectively rendered the rivers Rivers Syndicate would like to unworkable. Further works are thank John Abraham and all those planned for the spring of next year concerned at the Environment on both the Stiffkey and Burn and Agency for their invaluable fence lines on both rivers will be re- assistance in realising this sited further away from the banks to programme of works. Natural allow riparian vegetation to flourish England and the Norfolk Wildlife ABOVE: Ned Coke assists with the works process in and mature. April 2007. Trust should be thanked too. Simon Johnson from the Wild Overall, we are extremely pleased Trout Trust was also very helpful, with the work’s progress to date and excited at the prospect of along with Jason Lovering of Five Rivers Environmental the continued restoration and enhancement of both rivers. Trout Contracting and Mark Watson, beatkeeper for Warham. in a stream like the Stiffkey or Burn are a vital and very real barometer of river health. Their piscatorial inhabitants have warmly received the works already completed and the club Nick Zoll members’ catches for this season are already up on last year. Holkham Rivers Syndicate

A barn owl by the river Stiffkey, with All Saints church, Wighton, in the background.

— 17 — Game Department

The Earl of Leicester, headkeeper, Simon Lester, and Waterden beatkeeper, Chris Sharp, accept their Purdey award certificates in recognition of the conservation project on the Waterden beat.

IT has definitely been a strange year as far as nature is was started three concerned, with all sorts of upsets and strange goings on. years ago in a bid to boost insect I noticed blossom on one of the apple trees in my numbers and, in garden in November, a partridge sitting on a nest on 12 turn, produce food- September and young wild pheasant poults on our first rich habitats for the shoot days in November. benefit of all arable wildlife, especially As has been mentioned several times in this newsletter the wild grey already, the wet summer weather has had a dreadful effect on partridge. many estate businesses this year, not least the Game Dept and One of David Kirkham’s aerial images of the project. we go into this shooting season with a low stock of birds. As Sadly, we did not Holkham is mainly a wild bird shoot we really depend on win as the judges long, hot summers to help our pheasants and partridges. But felt that our project had yet to reach its full potential. this year, the rain came at all the wrong times and we have However, we did enjoy a lovely night out at the awards cut back our shooting programme in a bid to conserve the ceremony in the Purdey Long Room in London’s Mayfair in hen birds we have got in the hope that they will enjoy a November. I would like to thank everyone who worked so better breeding season next year. However, the show must go hard on our entry. Special mention should go to Chris Sharp, on and despite a difficult year on many fronts, we will do our the keeper on the Waterden beat and Mike Daley for best and look forward to next season. taking a number of lovely images of the conservation strips and wildflowers. Conservation is very important to us, along with the wildlife it supports. With big changes in EU agricultural Our entry was also greatly enhanced by a number of policy this summer and the loss of set aside as well as the rise fantastic aerial shots (see above), which illustrated brilliantly in wheat prices, there is greater pressure on the farms to how the cropping on the farm works. We would not have make money, which doesn’t always go hand in hand with been able to get these amazing images were it not for the helping wild game. However, we have hopefully worked out generosity of the photographer, David Kirkham, who donated a way forward (with the implementation of additional his time for free and Holkham tenant farmer, Barry 3m margins around most fields), whereby farming and Southerland, who very kindly took us up in his aeroplane in conservation at Holkham can deliver maximum productivity order to get the shots. Being able to see this magnificent without too much of a detrimental impact on either venture. estate from the air is an experience I will never forget.

Earlier this year, the estate entered the new farming and conservation project at Waterden into the prestigious Purdey Simon Lester Awards for Game and Conservation. This innovative project Headkeeper

— 18 — CHRIS IS CROWNED KING CONKER

‘CAVE the Conker’ was clearly conquered at this year’s Junior champ Jordan Brown Holkham Conker Championship, held at The Victoria on and mum Vicki, with King Thursday 25 October 2007. Conker, Chris Walsingham in his conker hat. Holkham resident, Chris Walsingham, wrested Darren’s title away with a cool, calm, yet ruthless playing style, which saw him crowned King Conker with some ease.

Jordan Brown took the junior title after some fierce competition with children from Holkham Village.

Thank you to everyone who attended and made the evening such a great success. We raised £170 on the night for the East Anglian Air Ambulance, which Lord Coke generously made up to £250. We hope to see more Holkham people at next year’s championship.

Simon Lester Headkeeper Lucy Wagstaffe en route to victory RIGHT: What’s left of over Monica Dowson. Paula Minchin’s conker after a crushing defeat by Monica Dowson. BELOW: Jordan Brown and Callum Bray battle it out for the kids’ title.

New deer keeper zeroes in on game sales

HOLKHAM’s new deer keeper, fallow deer and Glyn Ingram, started work at the estate preparing and in October. marketing the venison and Born and brought up in game. However, Northamptonshire, Glyn has worked I’m not looking mainly in the south of England and forward to the joins us from an estate in Kent. North sea winds and there may be “I expect most of you may have seen times when I me out and about in the Park by now, wish I was back usually on the quad bike with my dog, in the garden Kara — she’s the better looking one of England,” he adds. with the bigger ears,” he jokes. If you fancy a change from “I have worked with both wild and turkey and would like buy some game park deer for about 15 years on both or venison for Christmas, please private estates and for the National contact Glyn, tel: 07825 972249/ Trust and I am looking forward to twin 01328 730971 or email him at: challenges of managing the fine herd of [email protected]

— 19 — Pinewoods Holiday Park

ABOVE: P inewoods continues to be one of Holkham’s flagship businesses with a loyal customer base.

WHERE do you start when writing an article about how the based on many years of investment in time, money and energy. miserable weather put such a downer on the 2007 season, Despite this, we are not sitting back, but moving forward and particularly when my family and I have also just returned from continuing to improve the Park. We are currently working on a disappointing holiday abroad? a new Reception, to improve customer service and provide our customers with a better environment when they need us. To an extent, I feel I understand what many of our Our challenge now is to have this ready and completed in customers must have felt during the season. Who would have good time for when we open next year, just ahead of the early thought it could have all gone so wrong when this was the Easter break. first year I have known Pinewoods take any tent income at Easter, but we all know what happened with the weather after Our new coffee shop, developed during the winter of that dry spell. 2007, proved to be very successful during the summer. Our customers loved the new look, the Fair Trade products proved However, an exceptional amount of good things happened to be popular and one or two of us might just have had the during this season. And although we have not seen the final set odd almond croissant too many. of management accounts, we know that we’ve had another good year financially. Holidaymakers are still booking for 2008, We all hoping that the summer weather will be much touring caravan owners want prices for seasonal pitches, better next year: our caravan holiday home owners and demand is still high for beach huts to both buy and rent and holidaymakers, many of whom are friends, all deserve better pitch availability is still a pipe dream. It doesn’t matter which next year, so please raise a glass over Christmas to a good 2008. way we look at it, Pinewoods is a seriously good holiday park. Richard Seabrooke This demand has not been achieved in five minutes and is General Manager

OFFENDERS HELP WILDLIFE ON RESERVE

THIS summer, Holkham National Nature sent to the reserve two days a week, have Reserve benefited from work carried out had a significant impact. by a team from the Offenders Working for the Community Project. The workers’ duties include: scrub clearance to maintain sand and dune The workers are involved in a Community grassland, litter-picking and general Payback project supported by Natural maintenance to stock fencing, buildings England, Holkham and the Norfolk and pathways. Probation Service, which has been Unpaid workers get to grips with operating since 2005 on the reserve. clearing some pine trees Last winter, the offenders completed a major project by removing a number of Site manager, Ron Harold, admits to having pine trees that were encroaching on to a initial doubts as to how the project would work, but, two years section of sand dunes. They also helped to keep the beach clean on, can see how it benefits the community and the reserve. by clearing a huge amount of rubbish. While working on the reserve, the men and women are overseen by Derek Jarvis and Teams of offenders sentenced by the courts to unpaid work and offender supervisor, Nathalie Bullock.

— 20 — PLOUGHING MATCH AT HOLKHAM

FAKENHAM Farm Machinery Club held Vintage Mounted its annual ploughing match in Holkham Winner (P Carman) Park on Sunday 16 September 2007, by Runner-up (B Calaby) kind permission of Viscount Coke. Classic There were 24 entrants on the day, Winner (S Framingham) including: reversible, classic and vintage Runner-up (M Frary) mounted and trailed ploughs. Best Lady Viscountess Coke presented the trophies Winner (J Thompson) and a donation on the gate, raffle and Runner-up (A Futter) Overall winner tombola helped to raise £370 for 3 Furrow Reversible (S Framingham) various charities. Winner (C Tait), Runner-up (M Kelly) Overall winner club member 3 Furrow Reversible Club Member (M Frary) Philip Lambert Winner (M Kelly) Gents’ Tractor Drawing Results: Vintage Trailed (P Rawling) 2 Furrow Reversible Winner (B Shutler) Ladies’ Tractor Drawing Winner (D Cletheroe) Runner-up (N Websdale) (K Rawling) Holkham National Nature Reserve

BY the time this Newsletter is published, I will be part of the Ron Harold speaking at his leaving party at The history of the Holkham National Nature Reserve—at least as Victoria on Friday 30 November. far as its management is concerned. My 17 years as site manager have passed quickly and retirement has beckoned, but I will take away many fond memories of my time at Holkham and of the many people within the estate and elsewhere locally who readily provided me with help and advice over the years. It’s been a privilege to work at Holkham and to be able play a part in the successful management of a truly wonderful nature reserve and its wildlife. The beauty now, is that as I live locally, I will be able to enjoy the wildlife without the weight of responsibility!

Michael Rooney will take up the reins as Holkham Site weather hampered our grazing marsh work but thankfully by Manager combining his new role with his current position as the autumn, ground conditions had improved significantly and the Scolt Head National Nature Reserve Site Manager. This is we were able to press on and complete the programme of a big ask, but fortunately,Victoria Francis, a full-time Assistant management in time for the arrival of the pink-footed geese. Site Manager has also been appointed to share the workload. Michael is well known locally and has worked in nature The number of summer visitors was noticeably fewer this conservation in North Norfolk for the past 20 years or so. He year and the season was notable in that it passed quietly. In was a summer warden at Holkham from 1998 to 2006 and fact, it was the most uneventful summer I can remember and possesses an intimate knowledge of the reserve. He specialises we experienced very few problems associated with the general in birds, but this knowledge is complemented by a wider public.Visitor numbers picked up considerably in the autumn interest in other wildlife and habitat management. when the weather improved, with numbers swelled by hundreds, probably low thousands of birdwatchers, attracted by Meanwhile, Assistant Site Manager,Vicky, has moved to a good sprinkling of rare birds in September and October. Holkham from Walberswick National Nature Reserve where she has worked for the past six years.Vicky is also familiar with The fortunes of our breeding wildlife was very mixed with, the North Norfolk coastline and was introduced to bird for example, wading birds such as Redshank, Avocet and watching at a very early age. By the age of 14 she was Lapwing producing few young, whilst Marsh Harrier, Little working with conservation volunteers, then went on to study Egret and Cormorant fledged smaller numbers of young birds for a degree in conservation and recreation management at than usual. On a brighter note, the wet conditions positively university. encouraged Natterjack toads that thrived and had a bumper breeding season. Although probably best forgotten, the summer of 2007 will live in the memory as one of the wettest on record. The wet Ron Harold Site Manager

— 21 — host to everything from a reception meal in The Orangery, The Victoria Hotel through to full wedding ceremonies in The Gallery. May I take this opportunity to extend our congratulations and continued best wishes to each of this summer’s brides and grooms. WET, Wet, Wet! No, this isn’t an announcement for next year’s concerts, but unfortunately the most accurate description of TheVictoria has seen a lot of activity from photo shoots this year’s ‘summer’! this season. We have seen Vogue, Volvo Magazine and S limming World use the hotel for features. Indeed, we have just experienced the worst summer since records began, but despite this, TheVictoria has performed Finally, a few words for Andy Bruce, our excellent Head exceptionally well again, producing some excellent numbers. Chef. As I write, I have just learnt the horrific news of his We have continuously performed better than last year, tragic and untimely death in a car crash. Words cannot convey particularly in occupancy rates, beer, and barbecue sales. As a the shock that we all feel. To Andy’s family, our thoughts and result, TheVictoria is on course for one of the most profitable our deepest and heartfelt sympathy are very much with you at years in its history. this time.

Several couples brushed aside the rotten weather this summer to celebrate their special day with us. We have been Phil Lance General Manager

ANDY BRUCE 1972-2007 THE estate is united in paying tribute to Andy His untimely death is a cruel and tragic loss for Bruce, head chef at the award-winning Victoria his wife Sarah and their children and we will do Hotel, who was killed in a car crash on all we can to help and support them. Friday 9 November. Andy’s funeral, which was held on 21 Andy, 35, died when his car was involved in a November at the Mintlyn Crematorium in collision on his way home to Snettisham after King’s Lynn, was a very moving and sad event. work at about 11pm. More than 300 of his family and friends attended (the most people that the Reverend Andy started work at The Victoria in May 2007 Nally had ever seen there), which itself is a and tragically died just 10 days after the birth ABOVE: The Victoria’s head huge tribute to Andy. The vicar gave a chef, Andy Bruce, who was of his son, Jimmy. He also leaves his wife Sarah tragically killed in November. wonderful address and Andy’s sister read a and their four-year-old daughter, Lily and an moving poem in a service that had been elder son, Daniel, 18. thoughtfully put together by the family.

We have lost a highly valued member of the Holkham team. Afterwards, a reception was held at The Rose and Crown in Andy only came into our lives some six months ago, but in that Snettisham, his home village, to celebrate the life of this most short time he made his mark in professional terms as well as remarkable of men. Andy had previously worked at The Rose with many people. He earned great respect from all the staff and Crown and The Gin Trap Inn at Ringstead. Prior to moving who worked alongside him at The Victoria, The Globe Inn, and at to Norfolk, he enjoyed a successful career at many high-class the Hall. With his colleagues he was kind, fair and a great restaurants in London, including the two-Michelin starred Pied à teacher. By taking time with staff he inspired them and gave Terre in Charlotte Street and the Atlantic Bar and Grill. them confidence in their own ability. We will all miss him greatly. Viscount Coke

— 22 — THE GLOBE INN

THE Globe attracted good trade during the summer months, in spite of the inclement weather.

A lot of people ate in the restaurant and the bar was busy thanks to the cricket 20-20 games and the Rugby World Cup. Wells Carnival night was another great success for everyone concerned and our figures were up on last year, which was a great result.

ABOVE: Televised sports events helped to boost trade at The Globe this summer. Now that it’s winter, we have simplified the menu to offer more family favourites such as fish and chips to us by Holkham tenant farmer, Teddy Maufe. Lord Coke and and homemade pies, which are enhanced by a range of daily Andy Bruce sampled them all and made some recommendations specials. as to which ale goes best with a specific dish.

We have also added a range of bottle-conditioned ales supplied Phil Lance General Manager Brothers reveal The Globe’s history

VISCOUNT and Viscountess Coke are pictured with the Spicer brothers who visited The Globe Inn recently, which was previously owned by their Great Great Grandfather, Robert Spicer, who was born in 1821.

Graham and Roger Spicer visited Wells-next-the-Sea in September. Graham is a resident of Canada and his brother Roger lives near Tewkesbury, Glos. Both are keen genealogists.

Their Great Great Grandfather, Robert Spicer was an auctioneer and valuer in Wells, and at the time of his death in 1897, had acquired considerable wealth and was held in high esteem. The family home, Pinus Villa, in the Buttlands was a short walk across the green to The Globe. Graham and Roger were particularly intrigued to see the name of their ancestor beautifully painted on the main arch leading into the building, which licensed Mr Spicer to sell beer, wine, spirits and tobacco etc. Lord and Lady Coke showed the brothers around the hotel and entertained them to dinner. ABOVE: The Spicer brothers and Viscount and Viscountess Graham and Roger presented Lord Coke with a framed Coke outside The Globe, which their Great Great playbill of a revue in aid of the Wells Life Boat Fund. This Grandfather ran in the late 1800s. revue took place in the Assembly Rooms in 1870, which who lived to be 100 was a fellow student of Sir Alfred were also owned by Robert Spicer located in the courtyard of Munnings in the 1890s also at Norwich Art School. The Globe. The playbill was an appropriate gift to Lord Coke, as until retirement, Graham was active in all aspects of Robert Spicer exemplified the entrepreneurial spirit of his professional theatre, ballet and opera across Canada, eventually times and made a considerable contribution to the town of becoming Executive Director of Canadian Actors’ Equity Wells. Although an extremely astute businessman, his love of Association. the Arts, particularly music and the theatre did not conflict with his commercial interests but complemented all that he Roger Spicer is a painter, potter and sculptor whose work undertook. The establishment of a fine posting inn where is in many private collections and who has also exhibited at theatrical and all other manner of cultural events took place the Royal Academy. He trained at Norwich Art School in the in his adjoining Assembly Rooms showed him to be a man 1950s. Roger and Graham’s Grandmother, Marion Mackley, ahead of his times.

— 23 — ESTATE RECYCLING GATHERS PACE

THE estate’s environmental Business Objective Group has set up recycling area within the Park. The project is in the planning recycling facilities at several Holkham businesses. stage at the moment, but we hope to have an area with bottle banks, cardboard and paper banks, plus an area for mixed general We have worked with Norfolk County Services at The Globe in recycling, such as empty aerosols, aluminium and steel, food and Wells and the Stables Café at the Hall and I am pleased to drink cans and plastic bottles. It is envisaged this area will be report that the system has not only recycled more items, but ready for the beginning of next season. has also reduced refuse disposal costs. We have also been looking into other options for getting rid of For instance, the Stables Café previously used two general 1,100- our garden waste: weeds and pruning material, wood-based litre capacity rubbish bins, but now has one 1,100-litre and one building waste such as pallets that cannot be sent back, doors 660-litre bin for general waste and the same for recycling. Just and windows etc, along with cardboard and shredded paper like recycling at home, there is no need to sort out different from the offices and the wood shavings from the carpenters. We waste. It is all placed loose in the bin and then sorted at the have looked at worm farming, which would get rid of the waste recycling depot. Currently, we are unable to recycle paper and and give us a good compost that we could use around the cardboard as the recycling centre cannot deal with it, but a new estate. We can sell the worms to fishermen and they can be used facility will be open within the next two years. for other projects such as bank stabilisation and soil restoration. We have also looked into traditional composting, but on a much The new system currently saves the Café approximately £350 a larger scale than you would at home. year, as the recycling collections are cheaper than general rubbish collections. However, as you can appreciate, each of these methods involves cost, such as purchasing a shredder which breaks down the We are also planning to install a bottle bank at the Hall at the material before it’s composted. Therefore, we are not rushing beginning of next season, which can be used by café customers, ahead with this yet as we have some more research to do and staff and picnickers in the Park. This, along with the other want to ensure that we get it right first time. At the moment, projects’ recycling, will generate an income that will be donated we take most of the shredded paper and the smaller cardboard to the East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH). boxes to the linseed paint department where it is used to pack paint. Likewise, The Globe used to have three 1,100 litre general waste bins, now they have two 1,100-litre bins for general waste and So, as you can see, the estate is taking its recycling four 1,100-litre recycling waste bins, which means the pub is responsibilities seriously, which is in some cases, saving us money. now recycling a significant amount of waste. Apart from helping These measures are also helping to reduce landfill, conserve raw the environment, recycling more rubbish is saving The Globe materials, create less pollution and save energy. more than £2,000 a year. We aim to develop a similar system at The Victoria in the future. Peter Godwin Head Gardener At Pinewoods, we are going to develop a dedicated central Waging war on fly tipping

HOLKHAM Country Fair in July seems a long time ago now, but part of the Game Dept’s display was a pile of old rubbish — literally.

We collected various bits of rubbish that had been dumped on the estate to show how badly some people are prepared to treat the countryside.

Every year, a staggering amount of rubbish is dumped here. I don’t understand why this continues to happen when there is such a great waste disposal facility in Wells-next-the- Sea. Holkham is a beautiful estate — let’s keep it that way.

Simon Lester Headkeeper

— 24 — CHRISTMAS CHURCH SERVICES

ON Sunday 23 December 2007 there will be a Christingle Service for all the family at St Withburga’s Church in Holkham Park, starting at 12noon.

Then on Tuesday 25 December, everyone is welcome to attend the Christmas Day service in the Holkham Hall Chapel, beginning at 10.30am, by kind invitation of Viscount and Viscountess Coke.

The Reverend Tony Douglas

JAYNE Cooper of the Finance Department gave birth to a mini Cooper of her own, when her son, Morgan Ray, arrived on Tuesday 30 October 2007, weighing in at 8lb 1oz. Mum and baby, who live at Peterstone, are doing well. Finance Department

I am pleased to be able to report that the most recent annual HOLK MUCH H MOR A results for Holkham, show (in Finance Director’s parlance) E THAN M A STATEL Y HOME strong like-for-like growth and that shareholders, partners, DID YOU KNOW T HOLK HAT HAM STA E FF CAN directors and other stakeholders are delighted with the trading ARN MON EY OVER AND ABO VE THEIR performance. It is an especially commendable performance WAGE? HOW? BY MAKING given that our tourist-facing businesses were clearly affected by SUGG NEW BU ESTIONS SINESS THAT CO TO DE ULD HEL VELOP TH P poor summer weather. It is gratifying that the Holkham now E ESTATE IF Y OU HAVE ANY NEW has a turnover approaching £18 million. IDEAS, PL BUSINES EASE APP S ESTAT ROACH T E’S FINAN HE CE DIREC MIK TOR, E WYARD TEL: 013 EM 28 713107 We are budgeting for further improvement in the current AIL: m.wy ard@holk ham.co.uk AND YOU COU year and the early signs are quite promising, particularly with LD EARN A FIN YOURSEL ANCIAL R F increasingly strong performances from our various leisure EWARD! businesses. They now account for more than 50% of our trade www.holk and continue to develop — witness the success of this year’s ham.co.uk open-air concerts.

This autumn, I took the opportunity to present the combined results to business managers, as well as providing a greater insight into some other financial issues that impact on the estate. This appears to have been well received and will become an annual exercise. ABOVE: Coming up with a new business idea for Holkham The Finance team, which has changed over the past few could earn you some cash. months, is also doing very well. We have some interesting challenges ahead in the Building Department with the Finance team to deliver £10,000 of annual savings by next implementation of some new IT solutions and financial August and after a sharp collective intake of breath, and an processes. There has also been good progress in improving occasional mutter, they got together to think of ways of accounting and control in Holkham Enterprises and The achieving this. I am delighted to report that they achieved the Victoria Hotel. target within two weeks and they are now seeking to add to that total! It will make a difference to their pay packet, as it The estate’s staff suggestion scheme has the potential to will to others who use the suggestion scheme to help the reward staff for identifying better and more efficient ways of estate become more efficient. working and allowing them to share in the financial success that arises.You may have previously read articles or seen Mike Wyard publicity on notice boards about this. I recently challenged the Finance Director

— 25 — LORD LEICESTER WINS RASE AWARD

HRH The Countess of Wessex around. Today the farms are presented the Earl of Leicester profitable and complement an with the The Bledisloe Gold excellent and pioneering wild Medal, awarded by the Royal pheasant and partridge shoot. Agricultural Society of England (RASE) at the RASE Royal The estate runs to some 25,000 Show charity auction dinner acres and has 25 farming tenants. in Warwickshire on Some 4,500 acres are farmed in Monday 2 July. hand and 2000 acres of woodland are managed. Around 3,500 acres A former president of the of marshes are leased to English Historic Houses Association, Nature. There are a number of Lord Leicester was presented listed buildings including Holkham the award for his outstanding Hall and 330 houses and cottages. achievement in the successful Only three are let to ‘second- land management and homers’ and the estate has a development of Holkham Estate. policy of providing affordable local housing. Holkham Hall boasts a RASE chairman of the awards ABOVE: Lord Leicester receives The Bledisloe Gold huge range of enterprises: a game committee, Humphrey Salwey, Medal from the Countess of Wessex. department, gardens, holiday park, said: “Holkham is a privately- two hotels, a development owned traditional estate that has not been afraid to encompass company, retail operation and a business importing linseed-based change. Lord Leicester has taken full advantage of opportunities paints from Sweden. to develop this premier estate and the RASE is proud to reward his achievements.” The hall is open five days a week during the season and the Park is freely available to the public to walk in at any time, provided The RASE acknowledged that progress at Holkham had been they do not unduly disturb the herd of 700 fallow deer. driven by Lord Leicester and was being continued by his son, Viscount Coke. When Lord Leicester arrived at the estate in One of the latest initiatives is a nature trail round the park. 1973, only a minority of the houses had bathrooms or lavatories. The estate supports the local school both financially and in He modernised them at the rate of two per month. offering job placements. More than 1,500 schoolchildren visit Holkham each year to learn how the countryside is farmed The farming showed little return but this was soon turned and managed. Anthony marries GAME ON Nadja in Germany WITH Christmas fast approaching, JOHNNY and Carolyn Holkham’s game Coke’s eldest son, recipe book Anthony, married Nadja, makes an ideal daughter of Helmuth present. The and Sigrid Magers, first book explores in a civil ceremony on and explains 15 December 2006, and Holkham’s rich then at Sankt Nicolai shooting history, alongside recipes for mouth- Church in Hagenburg, watering dishes such as wild duck with curly near Hannover, kale, plus Rick Stein’s pot-roasted partridge with Germany, on 16 cabbage and chestnuts. Priced at £10 each (£9 December 2006. They each for Holkham staff), the books are on sale have settled in Port at The Victoria, The Ancient House Gift Shop, Elizabeth, South Africa, The Marsh Larder Tearoom and the Adnams where Anthony works store in Holkham village. It is also possible to as a designer for purchase copies of the book by mail order for Volkswagen and Nadja £10, plus £2 packing and postage. Please tel: is an industrial lawyer. (01328) 710783 to order a copy.

— 26 — Lady Glenconner’s granddaughter christened in Coke family robe

LEFT: May Creasy and her daughter, Honor, who was christened in August, in the same robe as her grandmother. ABOVE: Lady Glenconner at her christening at St Withburga’s church in September 1932, pictured here with her mother and father, the fifth Earl and Countess of Leicester.

HONOR Rose Creasy is pictured with her Countess of Leicester was christened at St Withburga’s in mother May, at her christening at All Saints church in Holkham Park on 10 September 1932. Burnham Thorpe in August 2007 wearing the same christening robe as her grandmother, Lady Glenconner. Lady Glenconner’s daughter May married Anton Creasy at St Withburga’s in April 2005. The couple initially moved to Lady Glenconner, the first daughter of the fifth Earl and the West Indies, but now live near Cambridge.

RICHARD TAMES THE WILDERNESS

LAST year, Johnny and Carolyn Coke’s extreme poverty, and the HIV/AIDS youngest son, Richard, successfully epidemic. The group raised more than completed The Duba – Duma Wilderness 75,000 Botswana Pula (about £6,000). Challenge in Botswana from 25 to 31 October. They trekked at the hottest and most difficult time of the year before the rains Richard and three friends—all guides came with temperatures up to 40 degrees working for Wilderness Safaris—crossed celsius, through swamp, arid woodlands on foot the remote wilderness gap and through an area with possibly the between Duba Plains in the Okavango densest free-roaming elephant populations and Duma Tau in the Linyanti, a distance in Africa. of 127km. Roughing it sleeping under the stars, they The object of the challenge was to create used their trail experience and guiding further awareness of the Children in the abilities to steer clear of predators, Wilderness Programme, which is dedicated scorpions and snakes which were at their to helping and educating children whose most prevalent in October. Emergency childhoods have been disrupted by life- water supplies, dehydrated food and medical threatening conditions such as illness, supplies were carried with the guides.

— 27 — Holkham People

Welcome to: GAME DEPARTMENT: New Deer Keeper, GLYN INGRAM, who joined us in October from an estate in Kent. HOLKHAM ENTERPRISES (Gardens): DANIEL BERESFORD who started in December. HOLKHAM ENTERPRISES (Hall): Lady Coke’s new Polish mother’s help, WIOLETTA SEWERYN-KLIMIUK. THE VICTORIA HOTEL: LUKE WHEELER, ANNA JANEK, MEGAN HENNIG, ROBIN BLOMQVIST, JAMIE ST JOHN, MALWINA PIATYSZEK, NICK BRITTON and LUKASZ NOREK. THE GLOBE INN: SAM JOHNSON as a chef. HOLKHAM ESTATE OFFICE: LEANDER SWIFT, Lord and Lady Coke’s new PA. Leander previously worked for the NHS and has enjoyed a career overseas for the past three years. FINANCE DEPARTMENT: HAYLEY JONES, SALLY CUTTING and ALISON WARREN who is covering Jayne Cooper’s maternity leave.

Welcome back to: THE GLOBE INN: CHAI FAIMA, MATT HAWKINS and VERA GLEADELL. THE VICTORIA HOTEL: INES CRUZ and congratulations on her promotion to Duty Manager.

Farewell to: HOLKHAM ENTERPRISES (Hall): KASIA CZULAK, Lady Coke’s Polish mother’s help. Cashier CHRISTINE CARDWELL who left at the end of the season and will always be remembered for her phrase: “Can you hear me Mr Daley?” on the radio. Room Stewards, STAN and CORAL WHITEHOUSE and BRIAN and TONI WHITEHEAD. “All excellent stewards, who will be hard to replace,” adds Mike. HOLKHAM ENTERPRISES (Gardens): OLLIE FORREST who has left after 4 years. HOLKHAM ENTERPRISES (Gift Shops): Sophie Woodhead who left at the end of October and was a real asset to the shops. HOLKHAM ENTERPRISES (Pottery): DOUGLAS CODMAN, JANE BRAY and NANCY HIPKIN. HOLKHAM FOODS: Seasonal workers, LEANNE PAGE, DOT COOPER, ADRIAN WELLER, SIMON WELLER , TARQUIN BIX, JAMIE HEPHER, VICTORIA SMITH, JOAN EMMS, TAYLOR HAMMOND, BETHANY MAHON, ANDREW FEATHERSTONE, VANESSA DACK, EMILY GOULD and BECKY FOWLE, plus MATT DURRANT, ANITA PARQUAY, ALICE ROWLANDS and MARIE HENNING, who all who left during the late summer. LEENA HARPER is transferring to The Victoria for the winter. GAME DEPT: Deer Park and Game Sales Manager, JULIAN STOYEL, who left after two years to take up a similar post at nearby Houghton Estate. THE VICTORIA: MAREK VLK, STEPHANE GNAHORE, ADELA KAMENIKOVA, DOMINICA WILK, ALEX CURTIS, MANUEL PALMA and Assistant Manager, JOHANNA BUREMO, who has left after a year. Special wishes also go to ALEX THOURY and SIOBHAN COOMBE who have moved to Australia. THE GLOBE INN: AMANDA JENKINS, GOIRGIE LEESE, SANDIE POYSER, GRAEME ALDRIDGE, WILL DAVIES, MATTHEWS DOMS, RICHARD HAYES, SAM MOORE, BARTEK SZCZESNY and RAFAL TOJA. Particular thanks goes to STEVE LOAKES who has left for pastures new, we all wish him well in his new position. HOLKHAM NATIONAL NATURE RESERVE: RON HAROLD, site manager of the reserve, who is retiring after 17 years. HOLKHAM BUILDING MAINTENANCE: Plumber MARK FULLWOOD who has left after six years. PINEWOODS HOLIDAY PARK: Maintenance man SIMON SCOTT who has worked at the Park since August 1997. WOODS DEPT: KENNY ROWE retired on 16 October 2007 after 50 years with the Woods Dept.

Congratulations to: HOLKHAM FARMING COMPANY: Farm Manager MICHAEL TURNER who married SALLY HARVEY, former assistant curator of Bygones, on 28 September 2007. PINEWOODS: BECKY KING who has been promoted to Reception Manager and former seasonal worker, YVONNE JAMES, who is our new Retail Manager. Park Manager, JACKI RAMM, who is engaged to be married to ROSS FULFORD, formerly of Hector’s Housing Ltd. HOLKHAM BUILDING MAINTENANCE: RON and ANGELA TEAGUE have just adopted a 20-month- old little girl, ELLIE MAE. THE VICTORIA HOTEL: RICARDO VAZ on his promotion to Assistant Manager, ALAN CLARKE on his promotion to Duty Manager and FRED MESTRE on his promotion to Duty Manager at The Globe.

Births: JAYNE COOPER from the finance team, who gave birth to a boy, MORGAN RAY, on Tuesday 30 October 2007, weighing in at 8lb 1oz. PAUL MATTHEWS of the Woods Dept and his partner CLAIRE are proud to announce the arrival of their son, REECE DAVID JOHN MATTHEWS, born on 17 June 2007. Fellow Holkham woodsman, FREDDY FUTTER and his wife, CAROLYN, became proud grandparents again when their son RICHARD (now headkeeper at Barsham) and his partner, CATHERINE, welcomed MEGAN FUTTER on 21 August 2007. A son, JIMMY BRUCE, to ANDY and SARAH BRUCE on 29 October 2007.

Deaths: ANDY BRUCE, head chef at The Victoria Hotel and The Globe Inn, who died in a car accident on Friday 9 November 2007 (see tribute on page 22).

Please note all contributions for the next Newsletter need to be submitted to the Editor, Paula Minchin, by 1 May 2008. Email: [email protected]