On this week in Downham Market, East Winch, Fakenham, Gayton, King’s Lynn and Swaffham: October 29-November 4, 2002
In our weekly On This Week feature we look back through the Lynn News pages from October 29-November 4, 2002...
Up to 125 jobs will be axed at Lynn’s award-winning Snap-On Equipment by February. The 180-strong workforce received the shock news in stunned silence when told that nearly three-quarters of jobs would go. The firm’s Oldmedow Road site, on the Hardwick Industrial Estate is expected to close with the remaining workers relocating to the company’s Denney Road premises – an extension to the main plant – by the middle of next year. The firm, which makes automotive testing equipment and heavy-duty garage equipment, such as wheel alignment machines and car lifts, has been at Oldmedow Road since 1967 and was formerly called Sun Electric.
Elderly and disabled residents in Coronation Grove, Swaffham, were without electricity for nearly three days after recent storms. Among them was Town Mayor Ben Emmerson, who said one of the most annoying aspects of the situation was that the fault was eventually rectified in just three minutes. The fault turned out to be a trip-switch which had blown in a box in nearby Station Gardens. Other areas of the town affected by power cuts included Filby Road and Tumbler Hill.
Major work on the £5.2million Hardwick Roundabout flyover will begin in earnest on Monday, November 11. It will start with the building of a temporary road for the A47 eastbound traffic to Swaffham to use while the existing road is closed for work. The whole project is expected to be finished by next autumn.
West Norfolk Maritime Festival’s final day went with a bigger bang than expected, as high winds forced performers and spectators into Lynn’s Duke’s Head Hotel. Musician Lynn Waites joined seafaring ropemakers and Dutch Shantymen to entertain the masses in the safety of the hotel while nature left a trail of destruction outside. But despite the disappointing finish, organisers were pleased with the festival as a whole.
Gayton First School desperately needs more space so head teacher Anne Milnes can have her own office. The school governors have written to Norfolk County Council asking for action to get the school’s cramped accommodation improved. They have been told the school more than meets the necessary requirements for funding for a project to increase school accommodation – but there have been no moves to provide funding.
The Linnets’ community football programme dream was turned into reality when it was officially launched at Lynnsport. The event followed the culmination of many intermediary stages, linking football development for both boys and girls from under 7s, through to an academy at U19 and then into the senior sides. A formal connection has also been established with Cambridge United FC.
A spectacular carpet of brightly-coloured mushrooms has sprung up on the wood chip area of Downham’s Tesco car park, but customers have been advised not to try to eat them. Commonly known as Orange Slime Head, the unusual show was spotted by fungi expert Jonathan Revett, of Welney. He told the Lynn News: “I have travelled to many areas in the county to record species, but I haven’t come across something as spectacular as this for a very long time.”
Dare-devil John Cassar managed to nail £500 for charity when he put on his latest stunt show at Fakenham. Mr Cassar, boss of Adtrailer Promotions, was in town as part of the celebration to mark a £1million revamp at the Aldiss store. The holder of a bed of nails world record, he fascinated shoppers by lying on a bed of 600 six-inch steel screws and inviting people to walk over him. The charity cash raised will go to Cancer Research UK. Another highlight of the Aldiss celebration was a guest appearance by Blue Peter presenter Simon Thomas, who spent three hours chatting with children and signing autographs.
RSPCA staff caring for the area’s seals stricken with the deadly Phocine Distemper Virus (PDV) have been praised for their dedication and hard work by Animal Welfare Minister Elliott Morley. He saw for himself the work being carried out during a visit to the RSPCA’s Norfolk Wildlife Hospital eat East Winch.
