MAY/JUNE 2020 Last submission date July 2020 issue: 24th June 2020 [email protected] Tel. 727072 FROM THE EDITOR Available online at www.northwold.net Working from Home and enjoying a stay-at-home ‘staycation’ is still the safest choice in my opinion, despite all the ‘packed like sardines’ beachgoers in the South. Luckily, for the most part, we have continued to be blessed with some gorgeous weather in our idyllic rural environment of West Norfolk. Although, at last, we have had rain to replenish our parched gardens and now also have restored water pressure! Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Village Life is continuing to only be available in digital format instead of a printed publication. This may mean that a number of people without internet access will not be able to read it. Should you be aware of a neighbour in this position, please consider printing it for them, although this may cause hygiene issues and the risk of spreading the virus on the printed paper once handled. Please take all practicable precautions. Thank you. Stay Safe. Jonathan **STAY ALERT** We can all help control the virus if we all stay alert. This means you must: Stay at home as much as possible Work from home if you can Limit contact with other people Keep your distance if you go out, 2 m apart where possible Wash your hands regularly Do not leave home if you or anyone in your household has symptoms. GRIMSHOE BENEFICE St Mary’s, Feltwell St James’, Hockwold Jonathan Clayton St Andrew’s, Northwold St Mary’s, Southery [email protected] Tel. 727072 St Mary’s, Weeting ST.ANDREW’S NORTHWOLD VACANT CHURCH SERVICES Mavis & George Gillett Plus Benefice (Church Group) services in bold italic. Tel. 727465 The Archbishops of Canterbury and York have decided that our churches must remain closed at all times to reduce the spread of Corvid 19. We cannot have any services in church but The Reverend Joan is celebrating Carol Sharp Tel. 07927 087 464 Holy Communion alone in her sitting room at 10am on Sundays and Wednesdays and these services can be seen on Zoom. If you would like to take part please contact Christine Parker the Benefice Administrator, her details are below. You Stephanie Squires Tel. 728317 can be visible or invisible at the service, whichever you prefer. It is an The views expressed in submitted items are not opportunity to join in a service and have a quick chat with people afterwards. necessarily endorsed by Northwold & Whittington Village Life. Whilst we endeavour to ensure that all To arrange discussions about weddings, funerals and pastoral matters and for information contained in the newsletter is correct, we instructions on joining the Zoom services please contact Christine Parker on cannot be held responsible for errors. The Editor reserves the right to refuse or omit items without 01842 827152 or [email protected]. explanation. Our own church website is www.northwoldchurch.org.uk. If you have any questions, comments or concerns about St Andrew’s please contact me on 01366 NORTHWOLD PRAYER 728404. & BIBLE STUDY GROUP Stay safe and well. Christine Collins, Churchwarden ST AANDREW’S CHURCH COFFEE MORNINGS / TEA & CAKE AFTERNOONS at Mike & Irene’s Due to the current coronavirus crisis we have been advised that we cannot have any Coffee mornings/Tea & Cake afternoons until further notice. 55 Methwold Road, Northwold I know that many people look forward to these events and enjoy getting IS ON A COVID-19 RECESS together for a good old Norfolk mardle, however, it is important that we all AND SO UNFORTUNATELY keep safe. ALL MEETINGS ARE SUSPENDED UNTIL Stay well FURTHER NOTICE. Call 01366 728098 for more details. Ann Howarth PR. Bowers & Son ST. ANDREW’S CHURCH CHOIR Funeral Directors Anmer Cottage, Methwold Road, Northwold, Thetford, Norfolk, IP26 5LN. is always looking for new members DESPITE THE RESTRICTIONS OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC. Tel 01366 727432 07796 780270 24 Hour Service, Private Chapel of Rest. If you enjoy singing and would like to join us, please Upholding Traditional Family Values of contact Dignity & Respect. For Your Loved One’s Carol Sharp, Tel. 07927 087464 Funeral Plans . Memorials . Floral Tributes. Page 2 St Mary’s, Barton Bendish St Mary’s, Beachamwell All Saints’, Boughton St. George’s, Methwold St. Andrew’s, West Dereham St. Margaret’s, Wereham Christ Church, Whittington All Saints, Wretton with Stoke Ferry Contact : Rev Carol Nicholas-Letch Honey Tree, Furlong Drove, Stoke Ferry PE33 9SX 01366 500704 JUNE 2020 CHRIST CHURCH WHITTINGTON CHURCH SERVICES Plus other local services within the church group. N.B. Church Group Joint Services in bold italics. We at Christ-Church and All Saints will not be holding any services or Church events until further notice. I'm sure you understand, but no Sunday services. Thanks Elaine FUNERAL NOTICE SAINT ANDREW’S RESTORATION APPEAL (SARA) CINEMA EVENINGS Patricia Joyce Smith (nee Royal) formerly of No 4 Little London, Northwold, passed away on the There will be no more village cinema evenings until nd 22 May 2020. further notice. We hope that the coronavirus crisis Her funeral service will be held at Tunbridge Wells will be under control before too long and that we can Crematorium on the 18th June at 10.45. begin having our cinema nights (and ice creams) once more. June Spraggett Stay safe and stay well Ann Howarth Every Wednesday: Café cre8 - SUSPENDED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE Coffee Morning at West Dereham Village Hall 9.15 – 11am. Open to everyone ages 0 – 99. For information contact Janet on [email protected]. Every Thursday: All Saint’s Lunch Club – SUSPENDED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE The club meets in All Saints Academy for coffee at 10.30 am and for a two-course lunch (£3.50) at 12.00 pm. For more details of this and Flexible Fellowship, contact Carol Nicholas-Letch on 01366-500704. St George’s Church, Methwold - Tea, Coffee & Homemade Cakes - SUSPENDED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE. Meet up with friends, make new friends or just enjoy the drinks & cakes! Enjoy a drink & homemade cake for only £2.00 Page 3 NORTHWOLD WI OUR LAST MEETING WAS IN THE VILLAGE HALL TH ON TUESDAY 10 MARCH AT 7.15PM OUR SPEAKER WAS SHARON BURBRIDGE HELPING US TO UNDERSTAND THE FACTS (AND THE MYTHS) About ORGAN DONATION COME ALONG ONCE COVID-19 RESTRICTIONS ARE LIFTED AS A VISITOR FOR £3.00 AND ENJOY A FRIENDLY MEETING WITH LIGHT REFRESHMENTS AS WELL! MEETINGS USUALLY FINISH AT 9.45PM NORTHWOLD NEW RESIDENTS Would you like to advertise in WELCOME PACK Village Life? St. Andrew's Northwold gives all new residents a pack full of useful Please contact the Editor information about the church and the village. If, by any chance, you have not for available sizes & rates received one and would like to, I will be pleased to visit you with a Pack. [email protected] Please contact: Or Tel 01366 727072 Irene Quinn, 55 Methwold Road, Northwold. 01366 728098 NORTHWOLD NORTHWOLD MOBILE POST OFFICE COMMUNITY SERVICE SUSPENDED TRANSPORT DUE TO COVID-19 Book a local driver for hospital, doctor and dentist visits. (Van usually parks in For more details and assistance, phone Sue Preston 01366 727694. Northwold Village Hall Car Park) Page 4 NORTHWOLD Letters to the Editor happen. They are good at giving reasons why SPIRITUALISTS Dear Jonathan, things aren't happening. CHURCH Be objective, but what will happen 25th Apr — Day 33 and counting. when this virus spreads to the slums Usually meet every other Friday and shanty towns around the world, in Northwold Village Hall,. We are nearly 5 weeks into the where social distancing is impossible lockdown and where are we?? and medical care limited. Doors open at 7pm. To be honest, I don't really So a story for these lockdown 7.30 pm start. know. At one end we have days. Any one old enough may remember a 1980's comedy program (Weather Permitting & politicians and advisors telling us things are improving and going in called "Not the Nine O’Clock News". Guests subject to change) the right direction, whilst at the This was in days when comedy didn't other end we have people working at have to be as politically correct as it I have decided to cancel all our does today. One sketch involved a meetings to safeguard those attending the sharp end saying "No they are not" Who to believe !! police constable played by Mel Smith, until I hear better news about the PC Savage, who kept arresting the Coronavirus. I need to be objective on this as same person on a variety of charges. hindsight is a great tool, and when He was told that "walking on the Hopefully we will be able to resume decisions need to be made hindsight cracks in the pavement" and also meetings soon and the programme is not an option. "coughing without due care and will get back to normal. attention" were not an offence, but Unfortunately, I think that we still One point, we clap the NHS every week, and there cannot be any who would have thought, that 40 years have the worst to come so it will be a later it would be. least a couple of months if not longer underestimation of the tremendous before some normality is back. job they (and lots and lots of other And very well done to all our underpaid people, too many to volunteers, you are doing a truly great Therefore all planned meetings are itemise) are doing, whilst at the job. same time there is an overpaid cancelled until further notice.