The Mallard Issue 347 September 2020 Village Hall & Bar opens up. Below & P4 Memories of Miriam. P7 Peddars Way Charity Walk Please consider supporting Rosemary Jewer’s fundraiser for Little Massingham Church. Rosemary says, “I’m going to walk almost 90 miles to raise money towards restoring Little Massingham’s Church roof, following the theft of the lead. On 22nd September, I’ll be walking from the Roman, Balkerne Gate, Colchester to Holme next the Sea; looking for and, at times, walking on, the ancient Ro- man route known as Peddars Way. I’ve been keen to follow up a story handed down through some four generations of my family that said Peddars Way ran between Colchester and the Norfolk coast. Having been born and raised in Little Massing- ham, this family story really resonated with me. The walk was due to have taken place at the end of April but Covid -19 put it on hold. I’m trying to raise £5,000 plus. If you could help, that would be wonderful. I welcome anyone wishing to join me as I trek along sections of this timeworn road. The research and details of where I will be on certain days can be found on my blog. https://peddarswaycharitywalk.blogspot.com/ Lings Country Goods, Lynn Lane, Gt Massingham have kindly offered to accept donations. Cheques can be made payable to me. I also have a JustGiving page http://bit.ly/2wBvJS5 I do hope you can help and support this fundraising.” Rosemary Jewers née Brereton The Village Hall Bar Re-opens Thursday, September 3rd at 7pm Opening hours Thursdays - 7pm to 11pm Fridays & Saturdays - 5pm to 11 pm The Staff and Directors are complying fully with the latest advice on Covid 19 preven- tion measures to minimise the risk to members but they will be relying on you to show patience and consideration for the safety of others. We need our community to support the Village Bar as you have in the past. September is a trial month to see if the bar is financially viable under the constraints placed on it by the need to guard against Covid 19. Please come along and socialise with friends and family. 1 Mallard News This parish magazine is published every month for the ‘Histry Bits’.... Monks in Massingham residents of Great and Little The priory at Massingham belonged to the Augustinians, one Massingham with the support of the Great Massingham Parish of the most popular monastic orders in the Middle Ages. They Council, the Parochial Church were pledged to poverty, obedience and chastity; and they Council and Massingham Village Hall Trustees. lived and worshipped together; labouring alongside the peo- www.greatmassingham.net ple in the fields and meadows of the village. e-mail: [email protected] They were commonly known as Blackfriars on account of Editorial Committee their dress, which included a black cloak worn over a black Editor: Bev. Randall. cassock. They must have been one of the most striking sights 6 Abbeyfields in the village, crossing and re-crossing the green as they went Great Massingham 01485 520 899 about their daily business, no doubt pausing to exchange the Treasurer: David Baines latest gossip as they did so. 01485 520 966 The Priory was founded by Nicholas of Massingham, in about Website : Contact the 1260, and was described as a hospitium – a cross between a Editor - Details above. hospital to treat the sick and needy and a place where pilgrims Deadline for the and travellers could find rest and refreshment, free of charge, next issue on their way to the Holy Shrine at Walsingham. th 17 September In this issue • Charity Walk • Hall Bar Opens • ‘Histry’ Bits • School News • Macmillan Coffee M. • Many Thanks • Congratulations • Village Hall News • Woodland Trust • Parish Council • Gert & Daisy • Memories of Miriam • Yard Sale A • Grassroots Malawi • Biodiversity Project Blackfriar • Short Mat Bowls • Church News • Church Services • Samaritan’s Child • Quiz Night One of the most important visitors was King Edward I who • Rev’d Judith stayed at the Priory in the spring of 1302. • VJ Day Ceremony In the early days, the Priory was quite large. In 1299, it had a • Film Night • The Cartshed Opens Prior, a Sub-Prior and a Cellarer but, by the time of the Disso- • Dates for your Diary lution of the Monasteries, its population had shrunk to just four, with two monks and two poor brethren, and its buildings The Dabbling were described as wasted and decayed. Duck Pub Over the years much of its masonry was recycled, and was See updated incorporated into the walls of various village houses and advert on page 12 barns. David Miller 2 Mallard News Great Massingham and Harpley C of E Primary Schools Federation Firstly, we want to thank Mrs Beardall and Mrs Stibbon for all their hard work over the past year and also the way they have managed the current situation with COVID 19 to ensure the two schools remained open safely, for Key workers and specific year groups. This has required tremendous work and worry to achieve. Special thanks, also, to all the staff for the total commitment shown. We are so lucky to have you all. Both schools re-open on the 7th September after the summer break and, this time, all chil- dren will be returning. Mrs Stibbon, who has been our Assistant/Co Head Teacher for the past two years, takes up the post of Head Teacher as Mrs Beardall stepped down from the role at the end of August, as part of her phased retirement. Governors are pleased, however, that Mrs Beardall will be continuing for two days each week as our SENCO (Special Needs Coordinator) and will continue to be a member of the Senior Leadership Team. We express a huge thank you to Mrs Beardall whose contribution over the years has been second to none. Continuing the current system of having both a Headteacher & Assistant Head, support- ing Mrs Stibbon will be Mrs Sophie Stephens as Assistant/Co-Headteacher. Both have worked across the Federation, know the schools well, are very experienced and are keen to take the schools forward to the next phase. We want to thank all our volunteers and PFA members for their contribution over the past year with a special mention to our Gardening Club volunteers - Julian, Barbara, Gemma, Kerri, Lucy & Joyce - who have been brilliant. Thank you all very much. Lastly, we have a special plea for people to volunteer as school governors. We have a strong Governing Body but need to ensure it continues in this way. Having a good team is the only way we will continue to maintain the standards we have achieved. Please email Bev Randall - [email protected] to volunteer or find out more. Noticeboard Macmillan Coffee Morning Congratulations on Put on Hold Fifty Years together We are say sad to say that there Liz and Ivor Attew celebrated will be no Macmillan coffee morning their Golden Wedding anniver- this year as it was felt that safe sary on Saturday, 25th July. distancing would be problem. Congratulations and love and best wishes to Maybe next time round! you both from Hayley and all the family. Please read about the Yard Sale, on page 7. SNAP! We celebrated our 50th on the same day! Hope Many Thanks….. you had a good day. Bev and Geoff Randall. On Thursday 20th August, someone kindly found my medic alert and hung Do you have a Property for Rent? it on my gate for me. I am a retired teacher, female, I just wanted to say thank you to that looking to rent a small cottage or annexe in person, whoever you are, for doing that. Great Massingham. Call 07551 689 089 I really do appreciate it. Maria West x Please get in touch. 3 Village Hall and Bar Start to Open Up As you will have seen from the advert on page 1, the Hall and Bar is beginning a trial opening during September, to see if it is viable. Please read the ‘Frequently Asked Ques- tions & Answers’ below to give you an idea of the procedures. Remember to adhere to the one way system and to sign in. Help us to make this work! Frequently Asked Questions about the Re-opening of the Village Hall & Bar Have you put your prices up to No, our prices remain the same for September. cover the cost of the closure? Can we bring our own chairs Yes. and sit outside in our family groups? Will there be table service for No, one member of the group will have to go to the bar ordering drinks? and buy the drinks for the group. Will we have to sign in? Yes, a member of your group, bubble, must sign in and give a contact telephone number at the bar before you can be served. Will hand sanitiser be provided? Yes, as you enter and leave the bar, also in the toilets (along with bacterial/virus preventative spray). Can we bring our own food and Yes, we are happy for you to bring food e.g. a takea- eat outside or inside? way from local pubs or chips from the van, but you must buy your drinks from the bar. How do we pay? Like the village shop, we prefer you to pay contactless. Will there be a one way system Yes, you will enter near the snooker room and exit in the bar? near the tennis courts. Will the toilets be available for Yes, if your group has been signed in at the bar.