On this week: Queues in King’s Lynn for the new Harry Potter book, a ‘big cat’ sighting in Watlington and Roydon-based music charity receives funding back in 2005
In our regular On This Week column, we look back at the headlines from May 29 - June 4, 2005, as well as a picture from 1981…
Pottermania is building up again and Lynn bookstores are preparing for the rush for JK Rowling’s new title. The High Street branch of Ottakers in Lynn held a special event to mark the 50 days before Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince goes on sale with a balloon launch and other activities. Store manager Ben Richardson said: “We always take loads of orders for the books and we sell hundreds within the first few days when a new Harry Potter book comes out.” Pupils from Greyfriars School in Lynn also got in on the action and took part in the day’s activities including a colouring-in competition.
A big cat on the loose may be the reason for missing farm animals in West Norfolk. Richard Porter, of South Wootton, said he spotted a creature that looked like a black panther in the undergrowth at Watlington – and on the same night three lambs disappeared from his estate. Bob Engledow, who used to run Operation Big Cat which tracked the animals in the county until two years ago, said: “There’s no doubt about it, these animals are still roaming around the country.”
North Wootton Women’s Institute celebrated 40 years of its group with members past and present taking part. More than 35 people enjoyed a buffet along with plenty of chat about the WI’s activities and achievements over the years. The birthday cake was made by Mrs Rose Daws, and iced in white and green, the WI colours, by Mrs Brenda Hughes. Also on display was a wall-hanging made by members in 1964, showing the history of Lynn and depicting landmarks including the South Gates. Joining the group’s membership for the party was WI local area representative Mrs Yvonne Sizeland, county chairman Jean Wilson and secretary Cindy Brookes.
Burnham Thorpe, the village where Horatio Nelson was born in 1758, has begun commemorating Nelson’s victory at Trafalgar 200 years ago (on October 21, 1805) by commissioning a new notice board. It has been set up near the village sign and only a hundred yards from the Lord Nelson pub where, after five years ashore on half pay, Nelson entertained his friends to a farewell meal before leaving the village never to return again. At that time the pub was called The Plough. Nelson’s father Edmund was the vicar of Burnham Thorpe and Nelson was christened in the village church.
The future of West Norfolk music charity Norfolk Music Work, which operates from Roydon, has been guaranteed for the next two years thanks to a £20,000 grant from the Arts Council. The charity is also celebrating after receiving its first grant from Norfolk County Council for £2,500. It works to bring music projects to West Norfolkcommunities, offers workshops on everything from vocal, singing and songwriting techniques to samba and African drumming and DJ skills. Last year, NMW made headlines in the Lynn News with its six-month Fen Music project.
A £2.5 million council building is to be sold off just four years after it was opened in a fanfare of publicity. Juniper House has been a thorn in West Norfolk Council’s side ever since its grand unveiling in 2001. At a confidential meeting this month, officials earmarked £100,000 of taxpayers money to prepare the building for sale. When it opened, Juniper House was expected to save the public £20,000 a year in energy bills, but it has been dogged with ventilation duct problems which staff feared could lead to the potentially fatal legionnaire’s disease.
You can always rely on Bank Holiday weekend weather – rely on it to do something completely unexpected that is. In just a couple of daysWest Norfolk residents enjoyed sultry heat with temperatures reaching the high 70s (degrees Fahrenheit) to strong blustery winds just hours later. But taking the biscuit was a tornado spotted over West Winch, and it was not from RAF Marham. The weather phenomenon was captured on camera by one resident, Andy Howard, and it was witnessed by several of his neighbours.
A terrifying hate campaign by teenage yobs has forced a West Norfolk family into hiding. The mother and her children said youths had assaulted them, smashed their car and targeted their home for more than two years. They have now moved to a secure location outside of Norfolk where they hope to rebuild their lives. A police spokesman said officers always worked hard to stamp out thuggish behaviour around Lynn and continued to look for solutions to the problem.
