West Norfolk's July 2023 in review: Festival Too continues in King’s Lynn, with Example praising restaurant, and schools celebrate prom nights
Reporter Lucy Carter takes a look back at some of the biggest news stories in West Norfolk in July 2023...
As Festival Too was in full swing, several acts took to the stage on Tuesday Market Place in July.
After three weekends of live music, the final acts included From the Jam, Feeder, Newton Faulkner and many more.
These came after chart-topping musician Example, who attracted record-breaking amounts of people to the market place.
During his stay in Lynn, Example, whose real name is Elliot Gleave, popped into the Purfleet Brasserie for a bite to eat.
The star later shared pictures of his food with his 500,000 Instagram followers, saying: “Thank you to the lovely people at @purfleetbrasserie King’s Lynn.
“Perfect hosts pre-show. Highly recommend.”
Also in July, West Norfolk Council held its first meeting since its political shift after May elections – which saw a fiery clash between opposing parties.
The borough council met for its full meeting with Independent and Conservative members making frequent references to their newly reversed roles.
Heated debate was ignited on issues such as the start time for future sessions, appointments to outside bodies, and who to thank for the successful bid to have a new hospital constructed in Lynn.
Union representatives and concerned rail passengers gathered outside Lynn’s station to protest over threats that ticket offices were facing closure.
A public consultation was launched on the plans, which would see both Lynn and Downham rail stations lose their ticket offices and instead have employees move onto concourses in a bid to make them “more visible and accessible”.
John Hunt, an RMT member and union representative, who works in London but lives in the area, said: “Vulnerable, disabled and elderly people with difficult needs won’t have that support.”
And schools across the borough celebrated their prom nights, which saw an array of different vehicles from tanks to tractors transport well-dressed students to their school for a night of celebrations.
