On this week in Dersingham, Fakenham, Heacham, King’s Lynn, Shouldham and Thornham: January 28-February 3, 2014

Published: 06:00, 27 January 2024

In our regular On This Week column, we look back through the pages of the Lynn News from January 28-February 3, 2014...

Thornham residents were “honoured” when The Queen paid an unofficial visit to open their new village hall. Crowds waved flags and cheered as Her Majesty arrived to congratulate villagers on their new £640,000 community facility. The Queen was given a tour of the modern building and spoke with residents who helped turn a five-year development plan into reality. Before she left, The Queen received gifts including a recycled bag from the BagLadies of Thornham, a Photographic History of Thornham and a posy of flowers presented by four-year-old Seth Clarkson. Children from nearby Brancaster Primary School also cheered on The Queen, having spent the previous day making flags to wave.

Council tax looks set to be frozen for the fourth year in a row if West Norfolk Council’s budget plans are backed next week when the council’s Cabinet meets to consider the financial plans for 2013-2017. Car parking charges are already set to be frozen for a further year and an additional £100,000 has been earmarked for car park promotions to encourage shoppers into town centres. In total, around £15m is set to be invested in the borough via projects including the refurbishment of the Tuesday Market Place, resurfacing of council car parks and new “variable messaging signage” which would give people real-time information about parking spaces.

Every one a winner! Pictured here in January 1994 are staff at Lynn’s Queen Elizabeth Hospital who were presented with certificates after successfully completing courses in food hygiene, nursing auxiliary training and secretarial work during the previous twelve months. In total, certificates were awarded to 80 members of staff, but at the presentation ceremony only about 40 were present – due to an outbreak of flu and other problems in attending. Stephanie Low, the hospital director of personnel, said the awards represented improving standards and personal development for the staff.

Lynn’s Springwood High School is among the 100 most improved secondary schools in the country, according to the latest GCSE league tables. The school has seen the number of students passing the exams with top grades soar over the last three years. A total of 68 per cent of students achieved at least five GCSEs at A*-C including English and Maths last summer, up from 50 per cent in 2010.

A team of dedicated volunteers have been awarded the Royal British Legion’s prestigious Coltishall Cup for their hard work in restoring Dersingham War Memorial. The presentation of the award for the Best Kept War Memorial was made during the RBL’s annual Norfolk conference. There was also special praise for 20-year-old Kurtis Ross-Green “who put in so much effort to ensure the memorial is a fitting tribute to The Fallen”.

There will be double centenary celebrations in Heacham this year when First World War commemorations coincide with the 100th birthday of the parish church’s organ. The large organ, which has 1,865 pipes, was commissioned in 1914, and to celebrate the parochial church council is planning a number of special events. The first will be a choral performance of Maunder’s Olivet to Calvary being held at the church in April, with around 90 singers from local churches and groups taking part. Rehearsals are being arranged in the local area for singers who want to join in.

Lynn’s Queen Elizabeth Hospital could be in line for extra funding as it faces being £16million in the red by the end of the financial year. The hospital is holding talks with the Department of Health to agree additional funding to meet its running costs. The trust’s deficit currently stands at just over £9million following a massive amount of investment to improve the quality of care services after it was placed in special measures last year.

Despite playing some of the best bowls of his life, Fakenham’s Mervyn King fell just short in his quest for the World Indoor Singles title when he suffered an agonising tie-break defeat to Scotland’s Darren Burnett. Playing in his fourth final, King took the first set 7-5 at the Potters venue, Hopton-on-Sea. Burnett fought back to take the second at 10-8 before claiming the title in the tie-break when King’s final bowl drifted wide. King won praise from bowls legend David Bryant for his semi-final performance when he beat Paul Foster, the four-time world champion and world number one in straight sets 9-4, 12-4.

Members of Shouldham’s Save Our King’s Arms campaign are celebrating after receiving news it has been awarded nearly £190,000 from the Department of Communities and Local Government community assets fund. The money will go towards the repairs and refurbishment of the pub. Following the closure of the pub, the campaign was launched and £150,000 was raised by selling shares. The committee hopes to be serving meals and drinks to villagers and visitors in April.

Nostalgia Chris Hornby