West Norfolk Council to celebrate 50 years of service at special meeting this week

Councillors will be celebrating 50 years of service to the people of West Norfolk at a special meeting on Thursday.

Created by the reorganisation of local government in the Local Government Act of 1972, the borough of West Norfolk officially came into being on April 1, 1974.

This week’s meeting, on April 25, is the next to fall after that anniversary - and a series of exciting plans have been made to mark the occasion.

Cllr Margaret Wilkinson, the current mayor of the borough, said: “West Norfolk, with its wonderful blend of coast and countryside, is a fantastic borough. It is a place where many choose to make their home or to visit.

“It has changed enormously in the past 50 years and as a long-time resident of West Norfolk, and the borough’s longest-serving current councillor, I have witnessed many of these changes myself.

“The council has often been at the heart of these changes and I am looking forward to reflecting on some of its achievements with my fellow councillors and former mayors.”

When created, West Norfolk was a district formed from seven smaller rural councils: King's Lynn Municipal Borough Council, and Docking Rural, Downham Market Urban, Downham Rural, Freebridge Lynn Rural, Hunstanton Urban, and Marshland Rural District Councils.

It was awarded borough status in January 1981 and renamed the Borough of King’s Lynn and West Norfolk later that year.

Former mayors have been invited to a small civic event before the main council meeting on Thursday, where they will be able to view some memorabilia - including minute books, a copy of the original charter awarding borough status, and the council’s unusual ‘sealing’ machine.

As a public meeting, members of the public can also attend.

Attendees will also hear from Cllr Wilkinson, who will give a speech reflecting on some of the achievements and notable events of the past 50 years.

This event forms part of a joint celebration for West Norfolk, which in June will be celebrating 500 years since Henry VIII awarded an important charter to Lynn, giving it the right to appoint a council, aldermen and other officials.

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