Forncett St Edmund Things Are Looking Up

April / May 2021

Bi-monthly magazine Donation

Ashwellthorpe David Turner 01508 489458 Woodman’s Lodge, The Street, Ashwellthorpe NR16 1HD Forncett Margaret Webster 01953 788114 St Edmunds The Old Trowel & Hammer, Tabernacle Lane, Forncett St Peter NR16 1LE Forncett Graham Prior [email protected] St Mary Toad Hall, Wymondham Road Hethel NR14 8EU Forncett Gillian Barnes 01508 813055 St Peter Southgate Lodge, Station Road, Forncett St Peter NR16 1HZ Fundenhall Dianne Burridge 01603 812312 Hurn Bungalow, Norwich Road,

Hethersett, Norwich

Carol Eastwood 01508 488381 Whipps Farmhouse, Whipps Lane, Fundenhall NR16 1DT Hapton Quinton Spratt 01508 489471 Homestead Farm, Chequers Hill, Forncett St Mary NR16 1JP Tacolneston Beverley Spratt 01508 489746 Lakes Farm, Hall Road, Tacolneston NR16 1DN Wreningham Christine Minns 01508 488123 High Gables, Church Road, Wreningham NR16 1BH 2

April / May 2021

Revd Lydia Avery, Priest-in-Charge The Rectory, 16 The Fields, Tacolneston NR16 1DG

Tel: 01953 788227 Email: [email protected]

Administrator Christine Minns 01508 488123 & Treasurer [email protected]

Reader & John Hooper 01508 489050 Safeguarding [email protected]

Pastoral Care Margaret Styles 01508 489112 Co-ordinator

Cover photo: The East Window of St Mary’s church, Forncett just after sunrise 3

It is a great privilege to be given the task of writing an Easter message. This is a daunting task at the best of times but made more so given the circumstances of the Covid pandemic which in many ways has had a limiting effect on our longer term visions for our lives both as individuals and for our church as we look to the future. Cardinal Basil Hume said “the greatest gift of Easter is hope” and it reminds me of a question by a year 4 pupil at Tacolneston Primary School asking “why do we call Good Friday, good?” I explained that without Good Friday there would be no Easter and the hope that gives us and so for that reason we can call that Friday, Good. As we begin to emerge from the limitations the pandemic has imposed upon us my hope is that we can lift up our heads, begin to think more long-term about the road ahead and rediscover that Resurrection Hope that we celebrate at Easter The scriptures are full of verses about hope. My favourite is Romans 5.5 where it says “hope does not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.” Hope: flowing from the events of that first Easter. If we are lacking in hope perhaps we are underestimating and/or undervaluing the roles that God has given to us. We are all called to abundant life. Through his coming among us and by his dying and rising we have been called into the life of God’s Kingdom. We are all part of the “Royal Priesthood” called to continue Christ’s priestly

work of blessing, mediation and reconciliation on behalf of the whole of humanity, to bear witness to, and participate in the mission of God. What a fantastic task we have been given. Surely acknowledging that is alone sufficient to fill us with the hope that God promises us. Let not murmurings of “we are so few”, “we are getting on a bit”, “we don’t have the resources”, or anything else, dent that hope. We alone are His eyes, His ears, His feet, His hands; so let us march on, carrying on His work, underpinned by the message of Easter and a hope that does not disappoint.

John Hooper

If you are unwell or unable to come to church but would like to receive a phone call, or if COVID restrictions allow, a visit from one of the Benefice Pastoral Care Team, please contact Margaret Styles, Pastoral Care Co-ordinator, on 01508 489112 and she will be very happy to arrange this for you.

Sadly, due to the need to maintain cleaning and social distancing to ensure the churches are COVID Secure, not all of the churches in our group are currently open. To find out what’s open and when, please see elsewhere in this magazine. However, although things are not ‘normal’ right now, we’re still here to listen and to help if we can. Whether it be end of life support, a Home Communion, booking a Christening, Wedding, or Marriage blessing, discussing what you need to do to arrange a Funeral or Memorial Service, in the Upper Tas Valley Benefice please contact Revd Lydia Avery: 01953 788227 or via email: [email protected]

Sylvia Robinson whose funeral was held at All Saints, Tacolneston on the 15th February

Emily Hatch whose funeral was held at All Saints, Tacolneston on the 18th February

Terry Lawn whose funeral was held at All Saints, Wreningham on the 18th February

Doreen Mason whose funeral was held on 23rd February at Breckland Crematorium

Violet Headworth whose funeral was held on 2nd March at All Saints, Tacolneston and Breckland Crematorium

Photo by Yichen Wang on Unsplash 6

Heavenly Father we often pray for things which we wish for and are unable to understand when they are not granted. Teach us to trust that you have a “road map” for our life and you know what we need rather than what we would like. Help us to accept and put our trust in you at all times. Lord as we view the “road map” set by our Government in the hope that we will soon be brought out of this pandemic, we ask that everybody will be mindful of the restrictions in place at each step and for the safety of themselves and others might they keep to them. We thank you for the dedication of all those who have brought us this far along the “road”. The medical and hospital staff and volunteers, the scientists who have discovered the vaccines, the staff at the vaccination centres and all those who have played their part in trying to keep themselves and others safe. The road ahead is going to be hard for many. Give encouragement to those with businesses which have suffered, the people who will be out of work, the stressed and anxious. Might they know your presence and show us how we can be a signpost along the way guiding the lost and the lonely. Lord you have the power to make a difference. Show each and every one of us what YOU would have US do to make a difference in your name. Amen

At the Sunday morning service on Sunday 21st March, there was an unusual sermon, based on 1 Corinthians 12 and John 15:1-12. The sermon illustrated how very blessed the churches of the Upper Tas Valley Benefice have been over possibly the most challenging year in our lives. The Sermon was actually the Annual Benefice Church Meeting for 2019 and 2020 and the reports all illustrated the blessings we have received as churches in that time. Modelling the earliest church, there were elections in order to divide the work of the church to ensure that no one is overloaded. The following people were elected as Churchwardens for specific churches from May nd2 , 2021 when they will be sworn into office (until that date the previously elected wardens remain in office): St Nicholas Fundenhall – Carol Eastwood and Dianne Burridge All Saints, Ashwellthorpe – David Turner All Saints, Wreningham – Christine Minns and Christine Bilham St Margaret’s, Hapton – Michelle Martin and Anthony Bate All Saints, Tacolneston – Beverley Spratt and John Hooper St Mary’s, Forncett St Mary – Graham Prior St Peter’s, Forncett St Peter – Gillian Barnes and Alexandra Barnes St Edmund’s, Forncett End– Margaret Webster The Parochial Church Council (PCC) of St Nicholas, Fundenhall remains unchanged. Two members of the Upper Tas Valley All Saints PCC came to the end of their three-year term of office and so Anthony Bate and John Webster stood down with our grateful thanks for all they have given to the parish through their work as church councillors over the past few years. At the meeting, Quinton Spratt was nominated as a new PCC member on Upper Tas Valley All Saints PCC and enthusiastically endorsed by all present on Zoom and in church.

nd May 2 will see the retirement of Quinton as Churchwarden of Hapton having previously been a PCC member. His service to date adds up to an amazing 35 years! Words cannot convey the thanks owed to Quinton for the commitment and sheer dedication he has shown to Hapton Church over this long period. Proper thanks will be given at the Church Service on 2nd May when newly elected churchwardens will be formally sworn into office and retiring officers officially stand down. The Annual Meeting section covering 2019 also elected Christine Minns and John Hooper as Upper Tas Valley Benefice’s two representatives to Humbleyard Deanery Synod until July 2023.

Please could I ask you to keep our Churchwardens and Church councils in your prayers now and throughout the year. With every blessing, Lydia

FROM THE RECTORY KITCHEN A Quick Fishy Pâté I love smoked fish, in all its guises, and this uses one of the more versatile, Smoked Mackerel. This is modified from a book of Irish pub recipes. It does for 4, but I warn you, it’s very moreish! You’ll need 4 smoked mackerel fillets, 125g or so of fat reduced cream cheese (it makes it less ‘gloopy’), a very generous dollop (or two) of creamed horseradish. The zest and juice of a lemon, fresh parsley (if possible), black pepper and sea salt flakes all add the ‘bite’. Remove the skin and any bones from the fillets and flake the flesh into a bowl. Mix in the lemon juice and the zest, the cream cheese and the horseradish, and mix until it’s spreadable, but still got texture. Then add the parsley and the seasoning. Put it in the fridge until you need it. It goes beautifully with rough oatcakes. Now back to ‘Pointless’ (my guilty pleasure!). Chris Avery

Forncett St Mary’s Church Services are resuming again, and will be at St Mary’s on the 2nd Sunday of the month. Temporarily, there will also be a service on the 5th Sunday of the month, until St Peter’s reopens when the service will be moved there. As many of you will already know, we have moved from Church Cottage to Hethel, so only a few minutes from the church, and I am staying on as Churchwarden. We intend to keep the Friends group running, and hope to organize some events when COVID allows.

We are investigating the possibility of connecting a mains water supply to the church as part of our ongoing programme to facilitate church and community events.

Graham Prior - Churchwarden

Fundenhall St Nicholas

It finally feels like spring has arrived and the church is open again for services. St Nicholas was the venue for the morning service on Mothering Sunday. We learnt about the origins of the service and how this symbolises a return to the “mother church” during lent. This seems very appropriate now the vaccine rollout has enabled “face to face” services to start again. Flowers are also important and I heard how hedgerows were searched for wild primroses to make little posies as gifts for the congregation. Clearly that isn’t appropriate today as wild flowers are protected. We did however follow the traditional with small bunches of spring flowers for everyone. Recent research has shown that access to greenspace is important to our well being and flowers in particular are shown to increase the level of the feel-good hormone, Dopamine. Is it any wonder that one of the most popular hymns is “All things Bright and Beautiful”? This makes me wonder if we could do more to encourage access to greenspaces around church yards.

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We have a lovely wooden bench just inside the gate which often tempts walkers to rest and enjoy a flask or snack part way through their journey.

Bishop Graham has been asked to be the Environmental lead for the church and as a beekeeper he knows how important all flowers are in maintaining biodiversity.

So lets encourage more wildflowers, plant more spring bulbs and perhaps generate welcoming spaces to rest or picnic as a baby step along the way. The full programme of services is on the notice board and we look forward to celebrating Easter across the Benefice, with four churches now being used for services. We will also continue to open St Nicholas for quiet prayer on Sundays when there isn’t a church service planned .

Looking ahead to May 2021, it’s five years since the church re-opened which means that we have our next Quinquennial inspection! Fingers crossed that no new problems are found. We hope that you will join us for our service on the Sunday 23rd in May at 10.30 am to give thanks that we are OPEN again. St Nicholas PCC

Forncett St Edmund Things are looking up.

The daffodils, primroses, hyacinths, shrubs, our winter box and viburnum bodnantensis are all in bloom. The mixed daffodils in the church meadow won’t be long and we are looking forward to seeing the hundred or so bulbs burst into flower that I planted last autumn. Will the orchid appear again amongst the profusion of dog-daisies, rest-harrow and cowslips? Those of you who knit for recreation are asked to look out any leftover unwanted wool, so that they can benefit those of us locally in Bunwell and Forncett to take up their pins again and knit for charity both hereand abroad. Please bring any wool remnants to the Old Trowel and Hammer back-door or we could collect: ring Margaret on 01953 788114. Of course we are all hoping and praying life will be returning to some kind of normality in the not too distant future and our little church will then, almost phoenix-like, awaken from its over-long period of hibernation. Meanwhile we continue to serve the community, especially our conscientious- dog walkers. Margaret Webster - Churchwarden Calling all Knitters! A group of knitters in Forncett has run out of wool. They knit items for charity.

If you have any wool left over from knitting projects it would be gratefully received. Please ring Margaret 01953 788114 or leave at the back door of: The Old Trowel & Hammer in Tabernacle Lane, Forncett

Wreningham All Saints

The builders are back! You can see the scaffolding, complete with roof and polythene sides from miles around and what we were originally advised would be a two week job has now turned into a two month job – and with added costs. At least three times the original quote– “Ouch!” Says the bank balance. By early May we hope to be open for private prayer each day and join the service rota again in July. In the meantime the foodbank will continue to operate from my porch (High Gables, Church Road, Wreningham) and the volunteers will continue to maintain the churchyard.

Christine Minns - Churchwarden

A Very Happy Easter!

Just like last Easter, we’re in Lockdown and limited by restrictions in place to keep every one safe. But it’s different this year – an end is in sight, and, though we have to be patient it won’t be long before we’ll be free to move, to be with friends and loved ones and to be in the same room as those we have missed so much. We’ll also be able to be with people we care about who have lost so much since the Pandemic began – at last able to hug. We are beginning to step into a time of recovery and then we will move into the rest of our lives. Some may be fearless in stepping into the future. Others may want to take things more steadily, and not want to rush into anything - perhaps finding being in a greater number of people daunting. Please don’t worry if this is you, it is very normal! Also please don’t forget that Margaret Styles and I are still available, if you’d find a conversation helpful as we all take these steps – our contact details are at the front of the Magazine. There is much talk of ‘road maps’ at the moment. The Upper Tas Valley Benefice is not to be left out! We have one too! It gives an idea of how the churches will gradually reopen. The first part of the Road Map happened last month, when we returned to church-based services at St Nicholas, Fundenhall and St Mary’s, Forncett St Mary. This month we move onto the second stage, set out below. Until the restrictions are completely removed, which the Prime Minister has said won’t be until at least the 21st June, we are still required to take Covid- 19 precautions, such as physical distancing, wearing face coverings and hand sanitising, and, because the distancing rules cut down the space available, it is absolutely essential that you book a place if you are planning to come to a service. The final stage of the Upper Tas Valley Road Map will be the full reopening of our churches for worship and every day for private prayer, building work permitting. This will happen when national restrictions are fully lifted. Zoom will continue to be offered as a way of joining a church-based service

14 wherever possible, and for Evening and Morning Prayer during the week.

Ashwellthorpe will continue to be the place for the Thursday morning Communion each week. To join a Zoom service online the code is 819 938 4719 – to join by phone the number is 0203 966 3809 followed by 819 938 4719 and the passcode, if requested, is 349043. God bless, Lydia Avery

April Church Service Easter Day -10.30am Tacolneston (prov. Zoom) Holy Communion - 6.00pm Zoom Easter Readings and Music 11th April - 10.30am St Mary’s & Zoom Morning Worship 18th April - 10.30am Ashwellthorpe (prov. Zoom) Holy Communion 25th April - 10.30am Fundenhall & Zoom Morning Worship Thursday Communion and Bible Study (April & May) Ashwellthorpe Church – 9.30am weekly From May: the ongoing Sunday pattern after Easter until restrictions are fully lifted: 1st Sunday - Tacolneston (H/C) 2nd Sunday - Forncett St Mary (M/W) 3rd Sunday - Ashwellthorpe (H/C) 4th Sunday - Fundenhall (M/W) 5th Sunday - Forncett St Peter (or St Mary if St Peter’s still closed) (H/C) Once restrictions are lifted a new pattern will be put in place. Open for Private Prayer from 10am (in daylight hours): Saturdays All Saints, Tacolneston (except first Saturday of the month) and St Margaret’s Church, Hapton Sundays St Nicholas, Fundenhall (except third Saturday of the month)

We are all very excited about the children returning to school after the partial -re opening on Monday 8th March. There is no doubt the last few months have been a challenge for everyone, but we have been warmed by the huge amount of support from parents. Everyone has done their utmost to support children’s learning and well-being and we know how exhausting that can be. I wish to thank all families who were not able to send their children to school for such a long time for their amazing work in supporting their children’s learning at home. I would also like to thank all our staff who worked incredibly hard keeping the school open, providing the teaching to children in school and simultaneously delivering high quality online education for our children at home. My appreciation also goes to our children for attending the school or learning from home and doing their best despite the challenging circumstances. We have planned a science competition to be completed in school in the final week of term which we know the children will enjoy – plan and build a buggy to protect an egg! One thing which we have learned is the incredible resilience of our children; their humour, kindness and ability to adapt to a new situation will help ensure the re-opening of school will be successful. R Jones MA 16 16

Photo courtesy of Yorksel Zak on Unsplash 17 17

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Understanding Stressful Thinking Mental Health and Stress have been a hot topic in recent years and never more so than today. However, it’s good to recognise that not all stress is bad for us, as stress and anxious feelings are there to protect us, to tell us to stay alert. When we feel stressed our bodies react by releasing a flood of stress hormones which put our body into emergency action. These will include our heart pounding faster, our breath quickening, rising blood pressure, muscles tighten and our senses become shaper, all serving the purpose of putting us into a fight or flight response. This response is appropriate, when we are driving on an icy road or feel threatened; It’s when these feelings continue after the event, and over a prolonged period, that can lead to negative mental health If you are having stressed feelings firstly ask yourself why you feel threatened or what is concerning you? And is it still relevant now? It’s not uncommon to continue to worry over something that has passed without even realising it and sometimes just recognising this behaviour can make a difference. Ways to decrease stressful thoughts and feelings Maintaining OR creating a daily routine – routine is essential for mental wellbeing Exercise – walking or a fitness video, all boosts your mood Mindfulness – focus on your breath or spot on wall for just 2 minutes a day, allows your mind to calm. Reading – it’s important to read POSITIVE stories that give you a good feeling, avoid trash magazines as these will feed any negative thoughts Bedtime stories for grown-ups – these are wonderful for getting you off to sleep at night – You can find these via Calm app or free versions on YouTube Wendi Mclean – Mindset Coach & Hypnotherapist see page 31 20

The routes to Walsingham - Virtual pilgrimage

Walsingham

Pilgrims at Forncett St Mary in 2019 We cannot be together in person again this year so we are creating a virtual pilgrimage and taking Student and Pilgrim Cross online. Every day from Saturday 27 March to Holy Saturday we'll be hosting a daily liturgy led by one of our route groups on zoom. We'll also be broadcasting a programme of reflections offered by our pilgrims. Both are available live or to catch up on later. On Easter Sunday there will be an evening liturgy to celebrate Easter followed by our usual party. Essex Branch Although we can't be trekking through the stunning Norfolk countryside this year, we're still providing a mix of prayer, services and, of course, socials! We'll have pre-recorded morning prayer every day and an adapted version of our Map service where we can unite though spread across the country. We'll have plenty of evening social time, with night prayer each evening at 9pm. As a leg we'll be doing the Maundy Thursday service for the whole pilgrimage. We'd love to have people old and new involved, and hope what we do will give you an insight into Essex! Website: https://studentpilgrimcross.org/

Just as we had hoped, on Monday 8th, the children of Forncett St. Peter bounded into school, overjoyed to be back and to see their friends again! It was a wonderful sight to behold. The excited chatter and wide grins all round were very reassuring and soon melted away any ‘coming back or welcoming back’ nerves that many children and staff said they were understandably feeling beforehand. The children who had been attending throughout the latest lockdown had created beautiful ‘welcome back’ posters for their peers and there was an air of celebration in each bubble which percolated through the school building. There was a tangible sense of lightening, as if the building was releasing tension in a long and contented sigh. School just isn’t school without all its children! During this most recent lockdown, staff have worked incredibly hard to ensure that the remote learning provision they offered was the best they could make it. The response and support we have had from families has been fantastic. The governors and I are very appreciative of the great lengths the staff went to, at all hours, to provide all kinds of support to those both in and out of school. We know that members of the benefice have been thinking of us all and remembering us in their prayers and in messages in cards and gifts. Thank you so much for caring for us like this.

We are also very grateful to all the parents, carers and other family members and friends who have supported home learning. We understand it has been really challenging for the majority as they have had to juggle so much to make it work. Their efforts have ensured that the children have engaged as much as possible with all the learning activities. We couldn’t have done it without them. Each day, each class held a ‘Daily Zoom’ so that everyone could see one another and this certainly helped us to maintain a strong sense of class and school family. We also held whole school Zooms for assembly and 22

community events and these too, helped to keep us strong and together. The first week back was themed as ‘Science Week’ and children across the school have settled back in to all manner of exciting, practical,- hands on learning. Topics ranged from learning about the coronavirus and making a detailed cell model, to learning about and conducting experiments about space or volcanoes. Older children were even able to meet up live online with some accomplished scientists who gave fascinating and inspiring talks about their subjects. The feedback from the children has been wonderful. I will never forget the child who punched the air exclaiming, “Mrs Jones! It’s so good to be back! I will never, ever wish that school was closed again!” Let’s hope that the days of lockdown and school closure to all but key worker and vulnerable children have passed and that we can look forward to a period of stability, learning and having fun together. Best wishes to you all, Judith Jones Plant Sale Saturday 8th May 2021 10 am to 12 noon Wreningham All Saints Church Wreningham, NR16 1BH (Subject to Covid-19 restrictions permitting, this event will go ahead. Masks and social distancing need to be observed.) For those wanting to stock up the garden there is likely to be a good selection of annual and perennial plants together with bedding plants. There will also be garden sundries and plant pots In aid of Upper Tas Valley Benefice expenses

St Peter’s Church, Forncett The wonderful sight of daffodils blooming in the churchyard reminds us that it’s spring, and that we are moving towards normal life again. The church will soon be re-opening and preliminary investigative work on the building will begin, thanks to a generous grant from the Government’s Culture Recovery Fund. Specialist surveys will be carried out on the damage caused by water penetration and the cracking of flint and stonework. At the same time the area of fallen plaster in the nave will be examined to assess the possibility of a hidden wall painting underneath, and then made safe. We are very grateful for the grant, as it enables specifications for competitive tenders to be drawn up, and for the essential repair work to be planned. If left much longer, the church would have been beyond repair, but now we dare to hope that this beautiful building will be made safe, secure and watertight in order to become a vibrant community hub. We recently submitted our ‘Expression of Interest’ to the National Lottery Heritage Fund, and are waiting anxiously to hear whether we will be invited to make a full Lottery application. The Friends’ Committee continues to meet on Zoom and we now have 108 Friends. Our most recent and highly successful fund-raiser has been the sale of a generous donation of high-quality compost; two huge piles quickly disappeared as Friends came along with bags, buckets, bins and trailers and helped us raise the magnificent sum of over £1,300. Hopefully it won’t be long before we can plan a programme of summer fund-raising events, starting with our Saturday markets. Roll on July! Stay safe and well Gillian Barnes - Churchwarden [email protected] 01508 813 055 24

You may or may not have seen the report on the success of the 2020 Churches Sponsored Cycle Ride in the media. It is thought that about 400 people took part for the first time. All this exercising and trying to keep fit in lockdown has paid off for NCT. The total raised was £173,000 which is about £78,000 more than in 2019. As some of our churches take advantage of the grants they offer, this is very good news for the future of funding.

Note the 2021 Cycle ride is planned for 11th September. It is not too soon to start getting fit and ready to join in!

Maybe it’s because……….

Just like the proverbial bad penny, it’s turned up again! (For anyone new to our villages, this is a quiz with ex-pat Londoners in mind, but it does attempt to be interesting as well.) Try these: 1. One Underground line achieves 2 ‘lowests’. Which one is it, and what and where are they? 2. What is ‘Big Ben’? Where is ‘Little Ben’? 3. Where is the ‘geographical’ centre of London? In other words, where is the point from which all distances from London are measured? 4. ‘The Monument’ (Full name: The Monument to the Great Fire of London) stands 202 feet high, and is that distance from where the conflagration started. What marks the spot where it was stopped? 5. What connects, The Muppets, The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy, Hercule Poirot, Spooks and Sherlock Holmes? Chris Avery - answers on page 29 25

In the last edition of the magazine I wrote an article under the title of “Laudato Si – a challenge and a resource” and promised to look more deeply into Pope Francis’ Encyclical Letter on the environment. Part of its full title is “On care for our common home”. I discovered that Pope Francis was by no means the first Pope to express these concerns. Saint John Paul II became increasingly concerned about this issue. In his first Encyclical he warned that human beings frequently seem “to see no other meaning in their natural environment than what serves for immediate use and consumption”. Pope Francis also quotes Bartholomew I, the 270th and current archbishop of Constantinople, who spoke of the need “for each of us to repent of the ways we have harmed the planet” and speaks of the way we are destroying the biological diversity of God’s creation and degrading it’s integrity by causing changes in its climate, stripping the earth of its natural forests, destroying wetlands and depleting its natural resources. With hindsight I think we can say the whole world has been walking into an environmental crisis. The process of researching even for these brief articles has taken my understanding of the urgency to act to a newand deeper level. Our last Lent Study “Love for the Future 4: Simplicity” has made me even more aware. I was struck by the revelation that we now use a year’s supply of resources by September and that that timescale is getting shorter. One quote from the literature says “For a UK lifestyle around the world we would need three planets” and “When you come back from a visit anywhere in Africa the culture shock is huge …. It’s the waste and the choice and the selfishness”. It is fair to say that most of us in this respect are not knowingly selfish for there are many influences that impose a lifestyle on us. It is now time to wake up, be educated and take action. Our own bishop Graham has just been appointed the Church of England’s lead on the environment. He has pledged to encourage courageous

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decisions and to listen to young people adding “The job of those in power is to lead by example and to help put decisions within reach of anybody who is changing their car or boiler, or who wants to change their shopping habits.” As a church we now need to take action and embrace ideas for change; ideas that include the setting up of an environmental group, becoming an eco-church and working to help each other to create lifestyles compatible with sustaining our environment. More next time. John Hooper - March 2021 A message from the Magazine Committee What a year we have experienced! We managed to compile all six editions of the magazine, but unfortunately, we were not able to print and deliver a paper copy of all 6 due to covid-19 restrictions. Some received more copies than others, some were able to read them online - which were posted on the Benefice page of the church website. Some people paid their subscription for the magazine last year and some did not. We would like to thank all who contributed articles to the magazine, those who printed and assembled the printed copies and those who delivered when they were allowed. It was a difficult year for us all. We have decided that in future the year will begin with the April/May copy and run for six editions, as usual. We hope to print them all during 2021/22 but if we are prevented from doing so, it will still be available on the website at www.achurchnearyou.com. For this coming year we will not set a subscription price but invite you to pay however much or little you wish, based on the fact that some of you did not get what you paid for last year. We are all still needing to socially distance so we ask you to either drop off your subscription to the delivery person in the coming weeks or put it in an envelope or plastic bag and give it to them when they deliver the June/July edition. Please be careful when handing money and continue to keep each other safe. Christine Minns

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At the time of writing this, we are all very much looking forward to welcoming back all children next week after our rd3 lockdown. The children and parents have worked incredibly hard at home to undertake the teaching that has been set for online learning. We have seen an array of work and had numerous photos sent in to showcase the incredible things that have been achieved at home. The teachers have also adapted quickly and been delivering lessons online and it has been a fantastic way to stay in touch and see the children each day.

The snow provided opportunities for learning in a different way and we loved seeing the children enjoying themselves playing in the snow, making snow angels and building snowmen. We celebrated World Book Day virtually with the children showcasing some lovely clothes they dressed up in and we played different book related games.

We have had an outdoor classroom installed which will provide outside learning opportunities all year round. We have all got through this phase of change because of the level of care and dedication of every member of staff, the support of our families and the resilience of our pupils. We are now very much looking forward to working together with the children and families and planning our next round of activities for the summer term. We have put some information on our website for anyone who is due to start school in September 2021 and at the moment we are unable to offer visits. If you would like more information about our school, please contact Mrs McGarr, on 01508 489395 or by e-mail on [email protected] We would love to hear from you!

Maybe it’s because ……. The answers

1. The Northern Line. It is by far the deepest tube line. As it passes under Hampstead Heath it is 221ft below ground level, and further south between Kennington and Waterloo, on the West End section, it is just over 70ft belowsea level. 2. ‘Big Ben’, as is fairly well known, is the name of the bell that strikes the hour in the Elizabeth Tower on the Palace of Westminster. The origin is a little obscure, but one possibility is it is a tribute to Sir Benjamin Hall who oversaw its installation. Little Ben is a much smaller cast iron clock tower, sited at the other end of Victoria Street at its junction with Vauxhall Bridge Road SW1. 3. The geographical centre of London is the site of the Eleanor Cross which stood at the top of Whitehall on Trafalgar Square, not the replica outside Charing Cross station. It was destroyed during the Civil War in 1647 and was replaced by an equestrian statue of Charles 1 in 1675. That point is regarded in legislation, mapping etc as the centre of London. 4. The point where the Fire of London was stopped is marked by a small gold statue of a boy on a building at the junction of Giltspur Street and Cock Lane (EC1 again! – see last month). Beneath it is the inscription – “This Boy is in MOMMORY (sic) Put up for the late FIRE of LONDON Occasion’d by the Sin of Gluttony.” It bears a resemblance to the Manneken Pis in Brussels. Maybe he could have put the fire out sooner? 5. They, along with many more productions, were all filmed in various parts of Freemasons Hall in Great Queen Street WC2. Built in the 20’s and 30’s as a memorial to those brethren who died in the First World War, it is a major example of the ‘art deco’ style of architecture, and is in constant demand for interiors and exteriors that need that ‘feel’. THAT’LL DO YER! Chris Avery

Hearing Aid Van The mobile clinics are currently on an appointments basis only. The exact address for each mobile clinic will be provided at the time of making the appointment. Tel: 01603 404440

More details at: www.norfolkdeaf.org.uk

Should we be unable to print future magazines due to further lockdowns or restrictions, you can find them by going to the achurchnearyou.com website and visit the “News and notices” page for your local church. Normally the magazine is published on the website several weeks after the paper copy is distributed. When recent printing of the magazine has not been possible, the online version has been made available from the very beginning of the two month period.

The eight churches of the Upper Tas Valley Benefice take the safeguarding of children and vulnerable adults very seriously. The two PCCs have both adopted the Norwich Diocese Safeguarding policy and it is reviewed annually. The Safeguarding Policy can be found displayed in every church. Our Benefice Safeguarding Officer is John Hooper and he can be contacted at [email protected] or by phone on 01508 489050 Sue Brice, the Diocesan Safeguarding Officer can be reached via http://www.dioceseofnorwich.org/training/safeguarding Child Line can be contacted on 0800 1111 National DomesticAbuse Helpline 0808 2000 247

BED & BIRD IN HAND, WRENINGHAM (01508) 489438. Four star luxury BREAKFAST accommodation in the heart of the countryside. All rooms feature king size Hypnos beds with Egyptian cotton bedlinen and The White Company toiletries. Book now either over the phone or on our website http://birdinhandwreningham.com/ for the best rates.

BUILDERS S. V. HARVEY & SON LTD, NHBC Registered, (01603) 437766 Mobile 07795 325216 / 07713709729. Builders, Decorators & Plumbers. 24 Howard Close, Norwich NR7 0LE. No job too small. www.svharvey.co.uk. Email [email protected]

DAVID SKEET (01508) 488310, Mobile 07884 401205. Home Improvements & Property Maintenance. Brickwork, Carpentry, Painting, Decorating, Patios, Fencing, Ceramic Wall & Floor Tiling, Facias and Soffits. No VAT. Over 20 years experience.

CHIROPODIST PAUL HICKEY (01953) 889633. 23 Biggin Hill Way, Carbrooke, Watton, IP25 6NZ Home visits attended.

COMPUTER PC ASSIST (01508) 471459 Maybank, Greenways Close, Flordon, REPAIRS Norwich, NR15 1QP. Whether it be home PC repairs, installation of new computers, upgrades, advice or virus removal, PC ASSIST offer a quality service at competitive prices. Call Darren or visit www.pcassistonline.co.uk for more details.

FUNERAL R. B. COPPING FUNERAL SERVICE, (01508) 494434 DIRECTORS 125 The Street, Poringland, NR14 7RP. Independent, Family owned funeral service. For personal attention with dignity and respect.

FLOORING & HOMESCAPE Flooring & Furniture, Unit 2 Ashwellthorpe Ind Est. FURNITURE Carpets from £6/sqm. Huge Discounts for complete properties. Vinyl's from £9.99/sqm. Lux LVT Design flooring from £21.99/sqm. 1000’s of ranges of beds, Furniture of every description, low prices. We fit all flooring within 7 days of order. Warm & friendly service. Free home measuring service. Wishart beautiful artwork for sale as prints or originals. Jema is a wonderful local artist.

HAIRSTYLIST Jess (01508) 489722 to book. 15 years of experience and works at “Zara White hair and beauty” in Tacolneston every Thursday & Friday. Instagram page: @jesswestley_hair

LORRY & HOLMES TARPAULINS, (01508) 489204. Horsingford Works, AGRICULTURAL Forncett St Mary, Norwich, NR16 1JW. Makers and repairers of Lorry COVERS and Agricultural Covers in P.V.C.

PAINTERS & PETER JONES (01603) 940812, Mobile 07765 497354. DECORATORS Local Painter and Decorator for Exterior and Interior work. Also building maintenance. Call now for a free estimate.

PAINTER & DECORATOR, Robert Fetherston, has recently moved back to the area and is Hethel based. To discuss your requirement and get a quote call: 07557 655682

JUSTIN STANGROOM 07909 338200 - JUST PAINT & DECORATE. Interior & Exterior Painting & Decorating. For more details: www.justpaintanddecorate.co.uk Excellent recommendations on Facebook @justpaintanddec

PIANOS DAVID TURNER “PIANO MAN”, Woodmans Lodge, The Street, Ashwellthorpe, NR16 1HD. (01508) 489458 or Mob 07919 608873 Piano tuning and servicing. Norfolk and Suffolk.

PLUMBING & BERNARD AND SKEET plumbing and heating. 07789 148158 or HEATING (01508) 488310. All work undertaken outside taps, radiators, new taps supplied and fitted, new bathrooms, wet room conversions, heating maintenance, new boiler installation, oil, natural gas & lpg servicing and installation.

TRAVEL ALISON ALLAM - PERSONAL TRAVEL COUNSELLOR, TACOLNESTON AGENT (01508) 448050. Email: [email protected]. With over 40 years of experience in the Travel Industry, why not let me arrange your next dream holiday. I offer a complete range of travel services and products including: Flights, Hotels, Cruises, Coach Tours, Tailor Made Holidays and much, much more. Plus Everything you book through Travel Counsellors is financially Protected.

Priest in Charge: The Reverend Lydia Avery The Rectory 16 The Fields Tacolneston NR16 1DG 01953 788227 - [email protected]

Lay Reader & Safeguarding Lay Reader & Pastoral Officer: Care Co-ordinator: Mr John Hooper Mrs Margaret Styles 01508 489050 01508 489112