Fakenham: Sad demise of public houses
Both The Star and The Crown have closed their doors this year and I'm sorry to see their demise.
When we first came to Fakenham I recall the attraction of sitting in front of a fire in one of the many snugs in the Crown, long before it underwent significant transformation.
Two years ago there was another major refurbishment which, for me, rather spoilt the former intimacy of the place.
Hard to believe that within such a short space of time following great investment, the business has folded.
The Star was altogether different, a small place with a walled garden where the children could play.
It had a pool table, darts, a reputation for raising funds for the RNLI and loyal regulars.
We often adjourned there for barbecues following evening cricket matches at the high school.
When businesses such as these cease trading it clearly has an impact on both the economic and social life of the town.
Pubs are by nature friendly and welcoming and the loss of these two is a sad commentary on the current situation.
I was delighted when the weather relented to allow the running of the tenth annual amateur charity flat race at our course.
A couple of weeks before it had been cancelled after a night of heavy snow. Nine riders went to post, most of them with no experience of race riding.
All of them got round the one-and-a-half mile ordeal without mishap and between them raised huge amounts for various charities.
One lady – Lucia Kendall – collected 5,466 for the Pick's Disease Support Group.
Clerk of the course David Hunter told the crowd of onlookers that the event has now raised more than 175,000 since its inception. Sterling stuff.
When the main National Hunt meeting got under way, the star attraction was undoubtedly Tony McCoy.
Last month he passed a significant milestone by riding his 3000th winner and managed to add a couple more during his afternoon's work with us.
It was a nice touch by the course to recognise his outstanding achievement by presenting him with an English apple tree to plant in his garden – when he gets the time.
For the racing supporters out there, Fakenham has another meeting on Friday when the first race is due off at 2.20pm.
It coincides with the final day of the Cheltenham Festival and if last year is anything to go by, a big screen will keep everyone up to the minute with the action.
I shall shortly be accompanying a group of high school and college students to Valencia on a week's exchange visit.
We leave from Stansted on Monday and will stay in the town of Nules just north of the city.
A few weeks back, the Spanish students were here to enjoy, if that's the right word, a taste of our wintry weather.
For many it was their first experience of snow.
It's now 20 years since the inception of these exchanges, quite some achievement when so many schools have shied away from taking parties abroad.
Many past students have kept contact with the friends made on these trips, often organising their own holiday visits.
Long may they continue.
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Weather for King's Lynn
Monday 28 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 10 C to 24 C
Wind Speed: 10 mph
Wind direction: North
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 9 C to 16 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: North east
