Lots going on in Old Buckenham

Diary dates for May

Sunday 1    Wargames Club, Village Hall, 2.30pm to 6pm

Tuesday 3    Coffee and chat, Church Rooms, 10.30am onwards

Wednesday 4    Women's Fellowship, Methodist Chapel, 2.30pm

Thursday 5    Norfolk P and CC election, Village Hall, 7am to 10pm

Thursday 5    Parish Council AGM, Church Rooms, 7.30pm

Friday 6    Textile collection, Village Hall car park, 8.30am to 9am

Saturday 7    Roadside textile collection from 9am

Sunday 8    Windmill open, 2pm to 5pm

Sunday 8    Chanter's Jigge, All Saints Church, 3pm

Monday 9    Whist drive, Church Rooms, 2pm

Monday 9    Pre-school Open Event, 3.30pm to 4.30pm

Wednesday 11    Luncheon Club Village Hall, 10am to 2pm

Thursday 12   Breckland Flower Club, Village Hall, 2pm

Thursday 12    'Run for your Wife', OB Players, Village Hall. 7.30pm

Thursday 12    Social and Wine Circle, Church Rooms, 7.45pm

Friday 13    'Run for your Wife', OB Players, Village Hall. 7.30pm

Saturday 14    Children's Play Area meeting, Church Rooms, 9.30am

Saturday 14    'Run for your Wife', OB Players, Village Hall. 7.30pm

Sunday 15    Village Garage Sale from 10am

Monday 16    Monday Mardle, Church Rooms, 2.15pm to 4.15pm

Thursday 19    Silver Band concert, Methodist Chapel, 7.30pm

Saturday 21    'The Danish Girl' film, Village Hall, 7.30pm

Sunday 22    Christian Aid stall, Church Rooms, 10.30am

Wednesday 25    Luncheon Club, Village Hall, 10am to 2pm

Thursday 26    Women's Institute, Village Hall, 7.30pm

Sunday 29    Summer party on Green outside Ox and Plough

Read latest Old Buckenham news

Village newsletter now available
Copies have been distributed around the village so make sure you pick up a copy and have a good read.

Whizzing through Old Buckenham

Women's Tour of Britain 2016
Around lunchtime on Wednesday 15 June the cyclists on the women's Tour will pass (rather quickly) though Old Buckenham. According to the official website http://www.womenstour.co.uk/files/documents/Stage_1_Southwold_Norwich_ETA.pdf
they will leave Southwold at 10am and 62 miles later they should be coming along Cake Street towards the Green at 12.50pm. The lead cars will come along 15 minutes before that.
The actual time they arrive depends on the weather and how fast the ladies decide to cycle so it could be somewhere between 12.35and 1.10pm.
The route them takes them through Attleborough and on to Norwich where they finish sometime between 1.30pm and 2.15 pm.

Garage sales in Old Buckenham

All sorts of stuff to buy

The Old Buckenham village garage sale will take place on Sunday 15 May. As in previous years, kick off will be 10am and end around 1pm depending on trade, weather and how tired the sellers are. There will always be a few anxious buyers arriving before 10am so it's always good to be ready for them.
So far there are about twenty houses who will be selling you their unwanted goods. More participants are expected (if you are having a clear-out and want to take part, then give Carol a ring to reserve your pitch on 861480). 

If you want an enjoyable morning looking at, and possibly buying, other peoples unwanted goods, then make sure you are out and about in the village on Sunday 15 May.

Birthday card from Old Buckenham

Queen sent card by Old Buckenham Women's Institute
No doubt there were lots and lots of cards arriving for one famous lady who is celebrating her ninetieth birthday today. One special homemade card came from the ladies of Old Buckenham WI.

Old Buckenham farce

Comedy galore in classic farce

In this day and age of reality TV and home-entertainment, groups such as Old Buckenham Players rely even more people getting out and seeing their productions. Putting bums on seats is what it's all about. They had a record attendance at their pantomime earlier this year with audience travelling from all over Norfolk and Suffolk so hopefully the tide is turning.
When someone mentions the word 'farce', the one name that is sure to crop up is Ray Cooney. He's penned many of the most well known and best loved comedy farces and this May, Old Buckenham Players are putting on possibly his most famous offering, 'Run for your Wife'.
It has slapstick galore, classic one-liners and franticly paced comedic scenes. It wouldn't be a farce without door-swinging chases, ever more elaborate and colourful lies and the odd flash of leg so there's something for everyone in this fast-paced, frenetic and funny play.
Performances are being held at Old Buckenham Village Hall on Thursday 12, Friday 13 and Saturday 14 May starting at 7.30pm. With a reasonably priced bar and a raffle, tickets cost just £8 and can be purchased by calling 01953861336 or in person at the village shop in Old Buckenham or the Nuts'n'Bolts store in  Attleborough.
If you would like to find out more about Old Buckenham Players there are several ways to get in touch and to find out what they do.
Website: http://www.oldbuckenhamplayers.co.uk
Twitter: https://twitter.com/OldBuckPlayers
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OldBuckenhamPlayers

Chanter's Jigge in Old Buckenham

They're back by popular demand 

Chanter's Jigge are returning in concert at All Saints' Church, Old Buckenham, on Sunday 8 May at 3pm. The duo play a wide variety of music on ancient, traditional and modern instruments. Tickets are priced at £5 for adults, under 16 at £2.50 or family ticket @ £15 and can be obtained by dialling 01953 860845 or on the door.

Parish clerk needed in Old Buckenham

Vacancy for Parish Clerk/Responsible Finance Officer
A vacancy will arise for a Clerk and Responsible Financial Officer for Old Buckenham Parish Council on Wednesday 1 June 2016.
The position is home-based, working nine hours per week.
Salary to be agreed, depending on qualifications and experience, within national guidelines.
The main duties include:
Arranging and attending all Parish Council Meetings and the Annual Parish Meeting. Parish Council meetings are held normally on the first Thursday in January, February, March, April, May, June, July, September, October, November and December. The Precept meeting is held in November and the Annual Parish meeting is held on the third Wednesday of April.
Other duties include:
Preparation of agendas and minutes.
Dealing with all financial matters including the production of financial statements for audit.
Submitting an annual VAT return.
Preparing records for PAYE.
Dealing with Parish Council insurance policies.
Ensuring planning applications are dealt with and comments submitted to the Local Planning Authority by return deadlines.
Attendance at training events.
Receiving and dealing with correspondence and bringing it to the attention of the Council. Carrying out the instructions of the Council.
Applicants will be expected to have good IT skills and have access to broadband.
Relevant qualifications would be an advantage and/or experience.
If you would like to apply, please send letter of application and CV to James Watling, 29 Maple Road, Watton, Norfolk, 1P25 6GA. Telephone 01953 880110.

Old Buckenham Church Rooms

End of an era
There were special presentations made after the service at All Saints, Old Buckenham on Sunday 10 April. For well over thirty years the management of this village building has been done by Gerry and Jean Norton ably assisted by the main keyholder Olive Shickle. All three were presented with a gift  by Rev Canon Stephen Wright to thank them for all the hard work they have put in to develop what was once the main school in the village into an invaluable meeting place. 
At the same event, a special thank you was also given to John Frost who has decided to retire from the post of church warden which he has also held for over thirty years.

Should you wish to use the Church Rooms for a event in the future then bookings can be made through Lydia on 01953 861360.

Old Buckenham parish council minutes

Parish Council April 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.
The meeting was held on Thursday 7 April in Old Buckenham village hall at 7.30pm.
All parish councillors attended apart from Terry Cracknell, Mike Farrington and Ben Devlin who had sent their apologies. Six members of the public were also present.
Public Recess. A resident raised the matter of the ditch outside the Junior School and she said she went to the school who informed her that they would clear it. It was also suggested that the Community Payback Scheme might do it. A resident thanked the Clerk for putting his five points from previous meeting in the March minutes. He also thanked the Chairman for his responses to the five points raised at a previous meeting in an email that he received on Monday 4 April. The resident asked if this was the response of the whole Parish Council and would they be included in the minutes of the April meeting. He suggested the answers that he was given in the email were not correct. Steve Milner responded on the matter. The resident said he would respond at the May meeting if the opinions were in the April minutes. A resident raised the matter of the grant given to the Village Hall which was subsequently returned to Parish Council. Steve Milner responded on the matter. The resident said that village hall finances are not good and they will regret the decision as the accounts show that the village hall has a low level of reserves. Steve Milner again responded stating that the grant was given for a particular project but costs had escalated and they could not have afforded to do the project. The grant therefore had to be returned to the Parish Council.
Minutes of March Parish Council meeting. With an amendment to include Rona Boggia’s apologies for not being able to attend, the minutes were signed as a true and accurate record of the meeting. There were no matters arising from the minutes.
Planning applications. Old Field Barn, Abbey Road. Erection of steel-framed agricultural storage barn. There were no objections from the parish council, agreed with 7 for and 1 abstention.
Peacehaven, 29 Fen Street. Static caravan. It was proposed and seconded to refuse as outside settlement boundary and therefore contrary to the Local Plan.
Willow Farmhouse, The Green. Demolish lean-to and erect single and two storey rear extension. Demolish garage and erect new, internal alterations. Proposed and seconded to approve but Cart House must be tied to main house. This was agreed with 7 for and 1 abstention.
Whitelands Farm, Stacksford. Change of use of land for horses and timber stable block. There were no objections from the parish council, this was agreed with 6 for and 2 abstentions.
Acer House, The Green. Erection of single and two storey extensions. There were no objections from the parish council. This was agreed with 7 for and 1 abstention.
Planning Decisions received from Breckland. Orchard House, Hargham Road. Conversion of barn to dwelling and erection of two garages. Approved.
25 Oaklands. Single storey front and rear extensions. Enlarge front dormer and replace flat roofs to pitched. Approved.
The Clown’s House, Church Lane. Single storey rear extension. Approved.
Child Protection Policy. Steve Milner read out some modifications under photography to  the policy and with these amendments it was proposed and seconded that the policy be adopted, this was agreed unanimously.
Parish maintenance tasks. The Parish Clerk read out an email from Terry Cracknell on the subject. Graham Hart said he would cut the grass on the play area for no labour costs, just costs for the materials used. The village website will include a maintenance page. Graham Hart suggested a working party for entrances to the village, Jonathan Kemp to chair the working party. (Graham Hart left the meeting).
Accounts payable and budget analysis. Jonathan Kemp raised the matter of the Grant Working Party which will be drafting policies for the allocation of future grants.
Chairman’s report. Steve Milner reported the success of two 50/50 Partnership Grant applications for the Village Hall car park resurfacing and for the crossing at the B1077 and Abbey Road junction. Steve Milner then said that the SAM2 sign had been used both in Hargham Road and Abbey Road and there was still a high level of speeding in the village.
District Councillor’s report. Adrian Joel reported that William Nunn had been appointed the new leader of Breckland Council. A new Breckland website has been launched. The Government has announced the formation of an Eastern Powerhouse in East Anglia with nearly £1 billion of funding over the next ten years. Breckland Council have agreed in principle to join up with Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire. There would be an elected mayor for the region and make financial decisions alongside 23 other councils in the region. Breckland have £310,000 for Sports and Play Area funding. The funding has come from developers over the years and Old Buckenham have already had a grant for maintenance of the play area. The grants will be managed for Breckland Council by Norfolk Community Foundation with applications for grants needed by Friday 13 May. Details are on www.norfolkfoundation.com/funds/breckland-outdoor-sport-and-play-fund.
Parish Councillors’ reports. Tom Johnson had attended a SNAP meeting in March and said that motor cycle police would carry out speed checks in the area if requested. He had attended the Attleborough Neighbourhood Plan meeting and the chairman has resigned for health reasons. He also attended the Village Hall AGM and they are not making much money. The solar panels on the Village Hall roof generated £2,000 income last year. He also asked if some protection could be erected around the two BT telecommunications boxes in Cake Street to prevent them being damaged again by car accidents. Rona Boggia attended a meeting in March of theAttleborough Development Plan. There will be 4,000 extra houses on top of the 1,200 already agreed. She has concerns over construction traffic as the Link Road will only be built in line with house construction phases and therefore some traffic may come through Old Buckenham. Adrian Joel suggested the Link Road should be built first before any housing construction is started. Following the recent breakfast meeting, the Chapel Green School working party held a meeting and discussed traffic levels and agreed to carry out a traffic level survey between 8am and 9am and also in the afternoon when children leave the school. They will also look at other safety measures. Rona Boggia suggested that the Parish Council pay for the hall hire for the breakfast meeting. An item to be put on the May agenda. An email from Norfolk County councillor Steve Askew regarding Chapel Green School was read out. Sarah Hornbrook said the Neighbourhood Plan Working Party had met. The Clerk from Cringleford Parish Council attended the meeting and her experiences in creating a Neighbourhood Plan were very useful. A survey to all Old Buckenham residents over 16 years of age will be sent out in early May. The Working Party needs more volunteers and more assistance from the Clerk will be required to help in the administration required from the working party. Adrian Joel said Breckland had appointed a full time Neighbourhood Plan Officer and she will attend meetings. He will arrange for her to attend an Old Buckenham meeting. Adrian Joel asked if the Parish Council was doing anything to celebrate the Queen’s 90th birthday. Steve Milner asked parish councillors for suggestions and an item will be put on the May agenda. Adrian Joel also raised the matter of a commemoration of the 100 year anniversary of the Battle of The Somme. Adrian Joel suggested replacing the toy bank in village hall car park with a clothing bank. Carol Marshall said take-up of the village garage sale has been slow and an item will be put on the village Facebook page to get more involvement.
Parish Clerk’s Report. The Clerk read out the following statement. “I would just like to clarify a few facts regarding the meeting between myself, Cllr Cracknell and Chairman. This was not a sub-committee meeting as no agenda or summons was issued, nor was it a steering group or working party as these can only be set up by a full Parish Council meeting and therefore no minutes are required from such meeting. It was a private and confidential informal meeting to resolve issues between myself and Cllr Cracknell and a brief set of confidential notes were issued to all parties following the meeting. Both Cllr Joel and Cllr Farrington were there only as observers as they are members of the Personnel Sub Committee. It is my belief that in any working relationship there are two important elements, trust and respect by both parties. Where any of these important elements are compromised or abused then it makes it almost impossible for such a relationship to continue. I found it very disappointing that notes from a meeting that was clearly stated as private and confidential are circulated without the consent of all parties. Without this consent the action taken by Cllr Cracknell in circulating those notes in my opinion breaches Standing Order 11 (b) and I shall be referring the matter to The Standards Board for consideration. It is for these reasons alone that I tendered my resignation as Parish Clerk. I shall continue to carry out my duties until May 31st to allow reasonable time so a suitable replacement may be found and also to compile the end of year accounts for the May Parish Council Meeting.” The Clerk also read out part of an email from a resident regarding the local school becoming an Academy. It was decided by the Parish Council that this was not a matter for Parish Councils as it was a National Government Policy. The Clerk is to write to the resident on the matter.
Highways. The Clerk read out an email from Highways regarding all the work recently carried out by them in the village in response to previous Parish Council notifications. Councillors reported that warning posts with reflectors have gone at the top of Crown Road outside Crown Farmhouse. Also Raggs Lane footpath has a fallen tree blocking the footpath. Sarah Hornbrook suggested getting school children to design road safety posters.
The Green. Steve Milner said that the Parish Council may take over precepting for maintenance on the Green once it becomes a charitable Trust. A resident asked if a tree survey had been carried out on the Green and was informed that one was being carried out.
Public recess. A resident raised the matter of the Neighbourhood Plan survey as to exactly who would get one. Sarah Hornbrook said every resident over the age of 16 would receive one. A resident said he had spoken to BT regarding a refund for the recent event which disconnected broadband and telephone services in the village. A resident raised the matter of legal fees in sorting out the Recreation Area lease and suggested finding a suitably qualified person who would be willing to advise the Parish Council on the Green. A resident raised the matter of the resignation of Parish Clerk and thanked him for his services over the years and was sad to see him go as he had been an excellent clerk for the Council and had kept them on the straight and narrow. He advised against the Council trying to get a replacement on the cheap as the job had become more complex and needed someone with lots of experience.
The AGM and next meeting of Old Buckenham Parish Council will be on Thursday 5 May in the Church Rooms commencing at 7.30pm.

Old Buckenham are the winners

Centenary Salver awarded to Old Buckenham WI
Each year there is a competition open to all Women's Institutes in Norfolk and Old Buckenham has always done well, having come second or third in previous years. But this year they excelled themselves and came first.
The competition involves producing a display to depict a given theme and using various craft skills. This year they included sugar craft, flower arranging, biscuit making, patchwork and card making.
The village WI members who visited the displays in Dereham today were 'over the moon' at their success after many years of trying.

Old Buckenham WI meeting in March

Visiting prisons
Old Buckenham WI welcomed an old friend, Mary Graydon, to speak at their March meeting. After retiring from nursing Mary became a member of the Independent Monitoring Board (IMB) at Wayland Prison. IMB members are unpaid and work an average of two to four days a month. Their role is to monitor the day-to-day life in their local prison and ensure that proper standards of decency and care are maintained. Members have unrestricted access to the prison and can talk to any prisoner they wish to, out of sight and hearing of members of staff if necessary. They play an important role in dealing with problems inside the establishment such as concerns over lost property, visits from family and friends, special religious or cultural requirements or even serious allegations such as bullying. As Mary pointed out little is known by most people about day-to-day life inside prison. It was a most thought provoking talk and there was much admiration of the work of the Independent Monitoring Board.
Four Old Buckenham members had attended the Annual Norfolk Federation Meeting at St Andrews Hall in Norwich during March and Doris Monkhouse gave an interesting report of the day’s events.
A beautiful birthday card made by Jean Wade and Pauline Bartlett was on display for members to see and was greatly admired. This is to be sent to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth for her 90th birthday.

Museum at Old Buckenham Airfield

Weekend opening times
The new museum dedicated to the 453rd  Bombardment Group is now opening up each weekend for you to see lots of memorabilia from the time Old Buckenham was active during the Second World War.
The museum will be open on Saturdays and Sundays from 10am to 4pm. It is also possible to look around at other times by appointment. The person to contact is James Clarey on 07493 562755 or 01366 386119. 

If you come to see round the museum then why not take advantage of Jimmy's Cafe and enjoy some refreshments. 
Also there is now a seat by the entrance to the museum in memory of David Jenkins, the much missed "Wildcat 3".

Busy time ahead in Old Buckenham

Future village events
Here are some of the events planned in the village during the rest of the year.
Why not put these items in your diary (electronic or paper-based) to help avoid clashing with other activities?

Sunday 8 May. Chanter's Jigge concert, All Saints Church.

Thursday 12 to Saturday 14 May. ‘Run for your Life’ performed by Old Buckenham Players, Village Hall.

Sunday 15 May. Village garage sale.

Wednesday 15 June. Women’s Tour of Britain cycle tour expected to speed through.

Thursday 19 May. Spring concert, Methodist Chapel.

Saturday 25 June. Table Top sale, Methodist Chapel.

Saturday 25 June. Garden Party at 1 Mill Cottages.

Saturday 2 July. Eileen Oliver’s cream teas.

Saturday 2 July. OB 2000 Trust Ceilidh, Village Hall.

Saturday 9 July. Village Fete at Village Hall.

Wednesday 13 July. England v Australia Test match, over 70s, at the cricket ground.

Saturday 30 and Sunday 31 July. Old Buckenham Airshow.

Wednesday 31 August. Luncheon Club coffee morning at Village Hall.

Saturday 3 and Sunday 4 September. Cycling weekend with races around the Green on Saturday 3 September.

Sunday 11 September. Open Produce Show, Village Hall.

Saturday 24 September. Balloon Festival at Airfield.

Saturday 12 November. Talk on local villages, Village Hall.

Sunday 13 November. Remembrance service at the Airfield.

Special shelter for Old Buckenham

Helping Openreach in their work
As a special thank you to all the dedicated work that the staff of Openreach have done to get all of Old Buckenham reconnected, it has been proposed to make their life a little easier.
As they spend much of their time, in all sorts of weather, crouched on a little stool  beside the busy B1077 at the end of Cake Street, a scheme is going forward to build a permanent shelter for them. It would protect them from the rain and wind, provide more comfortable seating and possibly have the facility for heating in the winter months.
A suitable site for the structure has been identified (see photo below) and work has started on a feasibility study.

Projects like this don't come cheap. There are plans to draw up, planning permission to be obtained and internal decor to be agreed. Protection against possible collisions with motor vehicles also has to be considered. 
So any contributions to the 'Enclosereach' fund would be much appreciated - just leave your Tesco vouchers, foreign coins, paper clips, etc in the bucket that may appear outside the village shop.
Don't delay. This scheme only remains active until 12 noon today, Friday 1 April.