Yet another Old Buckenham village newsletter

August issue is available

If you are not amongst those people who get one delivered, you can pick up a copy now at the usual places such as the church, the pubs and the village shop.

More on the Tour in Old Buckenham

Celebrate on Saturday 12 September
If you live in the village then you should have all the details on the flyer that has arrived through your letterbox. But you may be one of those people tempted to come here to Old Buckenham to see the Tour riders come through on the road through the Green and to enjoy the other events being put on to entertain you.
Car parking sites have been organised on the main ways into the village and there will also be a secure bike park for those cycling here. Some local cycling clubs will be coming over to watch the world's top cycling teams race through Old Buckenham and then enjoy a fun-filled day for all the family. There will be amateur road races on a circuit around the Green during the afternoon as well as a beer festival, children's fun fair, and food and craft stalls.
The local bike rides will start from outside the Ox and Plough pub at 9.30am, the Tour of Britain will rush through sometime between noon and 1pm and the racing around the Green will start at 1.45pm. From 3pm onwards there will be the chance for food, beer and fun...
To keep up-to-date with arrangements check out facebook.com/oldbuckenham.tour 

Busy time for Old Buckenham WI

Talk, walks and events
Members at the July Meeting of Old Buckenham WI enjoyed an inspiring talk from Edward Bates on the work of the Norfolk and Norwich Association for the Blind (NNAB). Edward has been blind from birth but with the help of a Braille tablet delivered a lively and entertaining account of the charity which is self-funded and has bases in Great Yarmouth, Cromer and Kings’ Lynn as well as Norwich. Apparently there are 20,000 people with some sort of sight loss in the Norfolk area. The NNAB has twenty self-contained flats and a nursing home in Norwich. They also help with the provision of aids to sight as well as classes in art and craft, basketry, dancing and photography to provide companionship and help for blind and partially sighted people. There are between 270 and 300 people who work for the NNAB on a voluntary basis

The busy summer continues with Old Buckenham WI having their annual Norwich Walk, a stall at the Village Hall Fete, a fund-raising Garden Party and a Progressive Supper. Over a dozen members attended an evening at the Gressenhall Museum to mark the WI Centenary Year. Despite it being the wettest night of the year there was the opportunity to enjoy music, floral displays, hand sewn quilts, the Centenary Salver competition (where Old Buckenham gained a very creditable fourth place), and memorabilia from the past years of the WI in Norfolk.
Hopefully there will be a quiet August and then it will be the Produce Show at the Village Hall on Sunday 13 September where they are looking forward to lots and lots of entries.

Fun and games in Old Buckenham

Sun comes out for Family Fun Day
After a night of pouring rain, yesterday afternoon brightened up for the Family Fun Day and Craft Fair on the Green outside the Ox and Plough. The stallholders found it rather chilly in the brisk wind but things warmed up once the games started. Ben Devlin was in a mischievous mood setting up various challenges that involved getting wet, scoring at basketball, balancing on planks, feeding a ball down drainage pipes and throwing beer kegs.

Cycling through Old Buckenham

The Tour of Britain
The Tour of Britain is British Cycling’s premier road cycling event and the country’s largest annual free-to-spectate sporting event. Once again the Tour of Britain is expected to attract some of the world's top teams - last year’s Tour of Britain included the UCI World Tour teams of Team Sky, Etixx-Quick Step and Cannondale. Previous winners of the Tour of Britain also include Sir Bradley Wiggins.
On Saturday 12 September, stage seven of the Tour is in Norfolk - starting in Fakenham and finishing in Ipswich. The 225km route will come right through Old Buckenham so giving cycling fans the chance to see the world’s best riders racing on their doorstep.

Old Buckenham will be a great place to watch the Tour as it races through the village green. To support the Tour, the residents of Old Buckenham are organising a fun-filled day of entertainment for cyclists and families alike. There will be a mass village bike ride in the morning, amateur cycling races, funfair, beer festival, and food and craft stalls. There will also be ample parking for cars and a secure bike park for cyclists wanting to cycle over and watch the Tour. 

You can do your bit for the Tour of Britain Cycling Festival in Old Buckenham by getting out the bunting and decorating your bikes, old bikes that is, with flowers in baskets or by painting them yellow just like at the Tour de France. If you are not able to display a bike but have an old one that you no longer want please pass it through to the team of organisers and they will ensure it is decorated and placed on display.
Please let the organisers know if you are placing a bike or have one you are prepared to donate (the bike will be returned but there is no guarantee the condition it will be in). Contact 01953 860866 or email stevemilner1@gmail.com
Help make this a great day to remember for the village by getting behind the Tour of Britain and come along and join in all the fun.

Fundraising in Old Buckenham

Enjoying the garden party
On the evening of Saturday 18 July there was the chance to go to the annual evening garden party at the home of John and Barbara Frost. The weather was perfect for looking round the garden, talking, drinking wine, eating lots of homemade goodies as well as spending money on the tombola stall and the well-stocked raffle.
The aim was to raise funds for All Saints Church and this was a very pleasant way to do it. The evening was enlivened by a low flyover by a red kite at the same time as a brief appearance of a circumzenithal arc (just google up-side-down rainbow for more details) in the sky above the garden.
People arrived by many means of transport and eventually moved off home clutching their prizes under their arms.

Visit Old Buckenham Cricket Ground

Charity match today
If you have never ventured through the woods to the grounds of Old Buckenham Cricket Club then today maybe the opportunity you have been waiting for. Proceedings start at 1pm.

Old Buckenham jumpers

Aiming high
Three neighbours from Old Buckenham, Steve Miller, Richard Dunseith and Will Dunseith finally did their skydive on Saturday 11 July after it had been postponed due to bad weather on 14 June.

The sun shone and a big crowd turned out to cheer them on as they bravely parachuted for charity at Beccles Heliport. The three have successfully raised in excess of £2,300 between them in the fight against cancer. Steve jumped for the Big C and Richard and Will for Cancer Research UK. They have been overwhelmed by everyone's generosity and in particular would like to thank Banham Butchers, Mill House Garage of New Buckenham and Taylors Pet Store of Attleborough.
Steve, Richard and Will's JustGiving pages will be open until 11 August for any further donations. To sponsor Steve go to www.justgiving.com/Stephen-Colin-Miller. To sponsor Richard and Will go to www.justgiving.com/Deborah-Dunseith

Dining out in Old Buckenham

Two opportunities to eat and drink
Hugh's cafe will pop up for a short time today. Just pop along to the Church Rooms between 2pm and 4pm to enjoy some homemade cakes, individual teapots and a chance to talk to other villagers of all ages.

On Saturday evening you can enjoy an Evening Garden Party in aid of All Saints Church from 6pm in the garden of Barbara and John Frost in Mill Road. Tickets £5. More homemade food, first glass of wine free and wonderful raffle prizes.

Current concerns in Old Buckenham

Public Recess at July Parish Council meeting

This report has been written by the blog editor from notes supplied by the parish clerk.
A resident asked about grass cutting along the footpath in Fen Street and Raggs Lane. A resident said minutes of previous meeting are put out at each meeting and asked for planning applications to be put out also for members of public to look at. A resident said he was not able to carry out maintenance of play area but would be willing to carry out monthly inspections. A resident asked if Tim Bornett was going to be part of the Neighbourhood Plan Working Party, Steve Milner said the matter would be considered. A resident asked why a public recess towards end of meeting was not put on the agenda and asked if public recess was officially part of the meeting. Steve Milner said the meeting is always suspended to allow public recess and therefore is not officially part of the meeting. The resident asked if the recess should form part of the minutes, Steve Milner said this would be considered. A resident said, as a former Norfolk County Councillor, he had met a lot of Parish Councils and said they included recess notes as part of the minutes. 

A resident said the Green is in a terrible condition and it used to be lovely. Steve Milner said that the management of the Green is the responsibility of Green Right Proprietors and he will raise the matter with them. The Green Right Proprietors are currently looking at new ways of managing the Green in the future. Tom Johnson said the height of the grass on the Green is an obstacle to clear vision of the roads and could even be considered dangerous. A resident said the Green should have a wildlife section but also be maintained and he would be a volunteer to help out maintaining the Green. 

A resident asked that a time scale should be introduced to deal with any points or questions raised during the recess. A resident said he had received an email dated 18 June 2015 from Norfolk County Council concerning Town and Parish Partnerships and asked if parish councillors were aware of it. The Clerk said the email was circulated to all councillors on 18 June and also a hard copy was in the councillors’ circulation folder. A resident raised the question of HGVs ignoring the weight restrictions on Hargham Road. Steve Milner said the matter would be raised by the Parish Council at the next police SNAP meeting. A resident raised matter of using our Norfolk County Council councillor to raise matters as he could maybe get things done faster.

Old Buckenham WI on the move

Enjoyable progressive supper
Last Saturday 11 July was time for the annual Progressive Supper organised by Old Buckenham WI. There is something special in meeting up for sherry and nibbles in Hargham Road, then going on to Puddledock for melon or pate starters before coming back to Attleborough Road for a sit-down meal of beautifully cooked salmon washed down with the odd glass of wine. Then it was on to a further house in Hargham Road where there was a wonderful choice of homemade desserts to choose from (and seconds!) before carrying on with conversations over coffee well into the evening.

Old Buckenham Parish Council in July

Discussions at July meeting

These notes have been written by the blog editor from the draft minutes and so may contain information that is amended at a later date.
Three councillors (Ben Devlin, Mike Farrington and Rona Boggia) were unable to attend and had sent their apologies. Eleven members of the public also attended.
Minutes of June Parish Council meeting. Terry Cracknell said he had expressed an interest in being included on the Personnel sub-committee and Sarah Hornbrook said that her name had been spelt incorrectly. With these amendments it was agreed that they be signed as a true and accurate record of the meeting.
Adoption of new standing order. Steve Milner said that at the last meeting it was voted to review the quorum of the Parish Council to a majority of the current serving parish councillors but he had not invoked suspension of a standing order. He then proposed that standing order 25b be suspended. This was seconded by Jonathan Kemp and agreed with 5 for and 2 against. He then proposed that the quorum of the parish council will be a majority of the current serving parish councillors, this was seconded by Jonathan Kemp. Adrian Joel said we would be the only parish council that had more than three as a quorum and we could carry on a meeting with four. Terry Cracknell said what would be the practical difference between four and six? Steve Milner replied that at a recent meeting a vote was taken and agreed with only two people and at a subsequent meeting a number of councillors said that it was not right that a small number of people could make a decision. The vote on Steve Milner’s proposal was taken with five for and two against. Steve Milner then proposed suspending standing order 9b so he could put an item on agenda without the necessary seven days notice. This was agreed unanimously. Steve Milner said that the Tour of Britain was coming through Old Buckenham in September and that grants were available for people to organise events around the tour. He proposed that the Parish Council be an umbrella organisation to Tours of Britain Organising Committee, this was seconded by Jonathan Kemp and agreed unanimously.
Neighbourhood Plan. The item was deferred to the September meeting.
Car Parking outside play area and pub. Ben Devlin had removed the plastic matting from the area and it now needed to be taken to the rubbish tip. Terry Cracknell said that Paul Boggia had put a lot of hard work into it and he had spoken to the Green Right Proprietors who said they would like the surface to be grass. He suggested making a grant application to the Old Buckenham 2000 Trust and that some individuals would be willing to make a contribution to the work and cost. Terry Cracknell to make a personal application for a grant.
Co-option of a new parish councillor. This was deferred to the September meeting and the Parish Clerk is to advertise the vacancy.
Planning applications. Corner of Crown Road and Grove Road. There were no objections from the parish council to the discharge of conditions 3, 4 and 5 of the previous application.
Keele Cottage, The Green. Erection of two semi-detached houses, partial demolition of existing. Following discussion with various councillors, it was proposed by Steve Milner that there were no objections. No seconder was found so it was proposed by Sarah Hornbrook and seconded by Jonathan Kemp to object to this application, this was agreed with four for, one against and two abstentions.
Redroof, Cake Street. Single-storey extension to front of bungalow, changes to internal layout and provision of first-floor attic bedrooms. There were no objections from the parish council.
Planning decisions received from Breckland. None.
Chairman’s report. Steve Milner said there is no update available on Chapel Road School as they are still sorting out the estate of John Alston. The Tour of Britain cycle race will pass through Old Buckenham at around 1pm on Saturday 12 September, coming in on the B1077 from Attleborough and then turning on to Crown Road. Lots of events are being organised including two morning bike rides. After the main race some roads around the Green will be partially closed and four cycle races will take place. The ‘365 project’ has now reached the halfway stage and the participants will be holding exhibitions of the photos taken to date. On Saturday 22 August the Village Hall will have a music evening sponsored by Jenny and David Sallnow featuring Chicory Tip who have had ‘top ten’ hits in the past. Terry Cracknell volunteered to take over the welcome pack scheme and he was asked to contact the previous job holder Derek Smalley who can inform him how the system works. Steve Milner said Stacksford Garden Services no longer exists. He would continue to do the maintenance at the play area but he needed volunteers to help weed the area either Saturday or Sunday mornings, preferably early before children and mums start using it.
District Councillor’s report. Adrian Joel said up to April 2015 all houses built were required to make a payment to Breckland Council for children’s play and outdoor sport. Under new regulations this is now only payable on developments of more than ten properties. Money from the scheme was pooled and Old Buckenham, Banham, New Buckenham and Kenninghall were put together for any of the villages to draw money for either play or outdoor sport. The amounts available are £3,200 for children’s play and £8,480 for outdoor sport. Breckland Council are giving residents the chance to find out more about what can go into their black recycle bins and encourage them to use brown waste garden bins when a Breckland Environmental Waste Officer will be at the village fete to try to sign people up. Breckland had also joined up with a national environmental charity to launch a new campaign aimed at reducing dog fouling in the district. The “We’re watching you campaign” was successfully piloted by Keep Britain Tidy last year at sites across the country. It is aimed at dog walkers who do not pick up after their dogs. Breckland Council will soon roll out a small number of signs at carefully selected sites in each of the district’s five market towns and surrounding areas. Dog owners should pick up after their dogs and dispose of the bags properly. Residents can report instances of litter and dog mess to the council by using the “report it” button on Breckland’s website.
Parish Councillors reports. Sarah Hornbrook said she had found someone who will advise the Village Hall on best energy efficiency methods and hopes to have some information for the September meeting. Carol Marshall raised the matter of the litter bin on Recreation Area which was completely fouled and needed to be disposed of and Terry Cracknell said he would arrange something. Jonathan Kemp said the OB 2000 Trust had organised a party at the Village Hall which was a great event enjoyed by many. Adrian Joel asked if councillors had thought anymore about his four year ideas plan, the item will be put on the September agenda. He then said the noticeboard on the village shop is in terrible condition and needs to be replaced. The Parish Clerk said cost would be anything between £600 and £1,000 .It was suggested that someone in village could work on and improve the existing notice board. Adrian Joel also raised question of plant thefts from the allotments and asked Tom Johnson to raise the matter at the next SNAP meeting. Tall grass at Puddledock Corner is causing blocked views and needs to be cut back, the Clerk will write to the owner on the matter. Tom Johnson said the Village Fete would take place on Saturday 4 July and the next film show at the Village Hall will be on Friday 7 August. It was pointed out that someone was living in a caravan down by Old Buckenham Hall Lake Grounds, the Clerk will look into the matter. The question of potholes in St Andrews Close with white paint around them was raised. The Clerk explained they are part of a programme for repair and hopefully the repairs will be carried out in the next six to eight weeks. The Parish Clerk is to write to Cotman Housing on the proposed road widening scheme that was promised at the new housing development in St Andrews Close.
Parish Clerk’s report. None.
Highways. On their last visit, vehicles for the fair all came down Hargham Road. As they are coming back in September, could they be asked to use proper routes into village? The meeting was informed that weight restriction on vehicles does not apply to fairground traffic. It was suggested that the road leading down to the children’s play area should have some proper children signs, the Clerk to speak to Highways on the matter.
The Green. None.
Public recess. The meeting was suspended to allow member of public to ask questions. Notes on what was discussed will be posted on this blog in the next couple of days.

There is no parish council meeting in August. The next meeting will be on Thursday 3 September at 7.30pm in the Village Hall.

Eating out in Old Buckenham

Social and Wine Circle
When July comes, Old Buckenham Social and Wine Circle leave the confines of the Church Rooms and have their meeting out-of-doors. This get-together in the garden of members John and Barbara Frost is a chance to talk and enjoy the mixture of food and drink that members have brought along. 

During August the Social and Wine Circle takes the month off but will be back in the Church Rooms on Thursday 10 September when Sarah Doig will be the speaker on 'A romp through the life of Henry the Eighth. All are welcome, just come along by 7.30pm.

Old Buckenham success in Village Games

Enthusiasm pays off

Old Buckenham, thanks to the persuasive efforts of Michelle Wilford, took part today in their first ever Norfolk Village Games. The team of over thirty people took part in a wide range of sports from archery, badminton and short mat bowls to football and gymnastics.Taking part in the category for small/medium village (up to 3,250 population) was a big challenge with many more experienced teams sporting their purpose-made team shirts. It was great fun and the team came away with two awards.
The gymnastics team team were delighted to win first prize, the short mat bowlers just missed out in their category and the Old Buckenham team were also given the 'Fair play' award.

When the competition finished there was a general feeling that the experience of taking part will be a great help in doing even better next year.

Team member Steve took this picture of most of the Old Buckenham participants while they awaited the start of the presentation ceremony.

Old Buckenham WI in June

From herrings to cucumber sandwiches

June proved to be one of Old Buckenham WI's busiest months. From the national centenary celebrations to local fund raising.
The June meeting in the Village Hall began with a talk about the 'Herring Girls' by Chris Unsworth who gave a detailed history of the east coast herring industry which ended in the 1950s. The girls would be employed for the season and follow the herring fleets from the Hebridean Islands to Yarmouth. Working on the quayside in all weathers, the girls had a tough life, working conditions were primitive and the long hours gruelling. Working in teams of three the girls would gut and pack the herring into barrels of salt for the export market to eastern Europe. The pay was by the barrel so they worked speedily, two girls gutting and one packing. At the end of the season they returned to remote coastal villages in Scotland after some retail therapy in Yarmouth.
After tea there was a report from our local delegate to the Annual WI Meeting held at the Albert Hall. Pauline Chamberlain, of Attleborough WI, outlined the events including the attendance of the Queen, Princess Anne and Sophie, Countess of Wessex.
Three of the Old Buckenham members had attended the Royal Garden Party at Buckingham Palace and gave a brief report of this most memorable 'once in a lifetime’ event.
Old Buckenham’s own WI Garden Party, held in a member’s garden and with delicate sandwiches and homemade cakes, was also a great success and raised welcome income for funds.

More on Old Buckenham Fete

Having fun and keeping cool
There was plenty of opportunity to enjoy yourself at the Old Buckenham Fete yesterday. The children (and some adults) could sit and watch magic tricks and good old-fashioned Punch and Judy. You could learn about recycling from Breckland Council. You could sit in the cab of a really big truck. There was the opportunity to cool down by going in the stocks and having people throw wet sponges at you. If you got too hot you could find some shade even though that meant sitting along the pavement on the road leading to the hall.

You could, of course, try to win something. It could be on the bottle tombola, it could be the best adult fancy dress, it could be the best-dressed stall or, if you were really lucky, you could become the owner of a knitted cowboy as you had guessed that his name was Pawnee Bill.

Really hot Old Buckenham Fete

Great day out
With temperatures nudging 30 degrees and clear blue skies today, the village fete has been a reasonably laid back occasion. No one was rushing around if they could avoid it.
Being the Fourth of July there was an American flavour with some stall holders and exhibitors(such as the Wednesday Art Group, the Women's Institute, the Buckenham Pre-school and the Pampered Chef) entering into the spirit of this theme more than others.

An hour before opening time the gazebos were popping up around the field. At one o'clock Julia Humphrey, headteacher at the village primary school, officially opened the fete and the visitors started to arrive. Because of the early start, many of the local families obviously had lunch at home first but the crowds continued to grow throughout the afternoon.

(More pictures of the stalls and the competition winners should appear on the blog tomorrow)