DECEMBER 2016/JANUARY 2017

Offer your hand for

international
friendship! Welcome
an adult international
student into your
home this Christmas
and make the world a little friendlier.
Adult international students in the UK face a
lonely holiday on a university campus, and
would love to spend a few days with you,
learning about British culture, experiencing
Christmas festivities, and telling you about
their own country.
Hosting is a voluntary position suitable for all
ages and is also available throughout the year
with HOST, a charity set up in 1987. To find out
more please visit www.hostuk.org or call 020 7739 6292.

Celebrating Bowthorpe at Christmas

Bowthorpe comes alive at Christmas. This is a celebration of our community
Bowthorpe. We will explore its historic insight as we journey back into its
history starting from its creation to date. Come join us at this fun-filled
event.
Time: 12:00
Date: Saturday 17th December 2016
Venue: Clover Hill Village Hall
Features:
Face painting (free)
Body and head massage (free)
Cup cake decoration by children (decorate a cake and take it with you free)
Lots of craft activities and games (free)
Free hot meals and finger food (free)
Dont miss out on this funTombola (free)
filled event. For latest
Discussions (free)
news on Society Alive
Music (free)
see page
Lots more.
3

THANKS

Notice board

On 3rd Nov My beloved cat

went missing.

I would like to thank the council for

their prompt and thorough clean up
of the mess left by the travellers on
the fields near to Bowthorpe Hall.

He is 2 years old Black and

White with a moustache
hence his name is Charlie.
He is microchipped. Any
information would be
appreciated. My phone no is
07771 847596

My fellow dog walkers and I can now

enjoy the colours of an autumn countryside walk without the eyesore
of piles of rather unsavoury rubbish.
Good work.

MISSING CAT

He is missing from
Braithwwait Close

Jill Wright

There will be carol singing at Roys on Saturday

17th December from 10.00am. The Bowthorpe
Community Choir will join with Bowthorpe Church
to raise money for charity.

A Walk at
Bowthorpe
Care Village
Wednesday December 14th
2.00pm to 3.30pm
Ladysmock Way, Cloverhill Rd,
NR5 9BF

A Walk in the Park in

Bowthorpe
Mondays Dec. 5th + 19th
1.30pm to 3.30pm
Venue: Community Hub
Discover Bowthorpe Heritage and
Nature Trail whilst taking a gentle

Age UK Norwich walking g r o u p for people with dementia &

their carers + anyone w h o loves the great outdoors!
Join us for a gentle stroll in
the company of our friendly
and supportive group,
followed by a relaxing sit
down for a cuppa and a chat
in the Bowthorpe Care
Village Caf.
Refreshments Served Tea
and coffee: 1.50

stroll in the company of our friendly

and supportive group.
Followed by a relaxing sit down for
a cuppa and a chat in the cosy and
atmospheric Yurt based in the
grounds of the Bowthorpe Community Hub, Bowthorpe Hall Rd, NR5
9AA.
Small fee of 2.00 to help cover
the costs for the venue and
refreshments.
5

Bowthorpe Police Station

Norfolk Constabulary Wendene Norwich NR5 9HA
non emergency Tel: 101
The festive period is very close now. Ive seen the John Lewis advert now so
its official, just waiting for the Coca-Cola truck to arrive next!
Please take this into consideration when leaving your properties/vehicles to
ensure that items arent left on show to tempt the light-fingered amongst us!
It doesnt take long for someone to break into your home or vehicle,
especially if items are on show, more of a smash and grab.
Sadly I have seen an increase in drug-taking/dealing within the local area,
and unfortunately this does bring other crime with it such as theft, robberies,
burglaries and prostitution. I would urge anybody with information relating to
ongoing crime, drug-taking or dealing to report it to us on 101 or visit our
website www.norfolk.police.uk and this can be done anonymously or
alternatively you can ring Crime Stoppers anonymously.
I wish you all a happy Christmas and
New Year!
PC 1668 Dan Taylor Bowthorpe Beat Manager

Police and Crime Commissioners police budget consultation for 2017/18.

A message from your Police and Crime Commissioner, Lorne Green
As your PCC, I am responsible for setting our county's policing budget,
and with it, how much you contribute through council tax.
60% of Norfolk's policing budget is funded by the Government; your
council tax contribution makes up the rest. With such a significant
contribution coming from your pocket, I'm reaching out to all Norfolk
residents for their views before I take my budget proposals to the county's
Police and Crime Panel early next year.
Please spare a few minutes to have your say.
Take my online survey by Friday 9 December
by visiting www.norfolk-pcc.gov.uk/budget-consultation
If youd like a hard copy of the consultation information pack and survey
sent to you, or require the information in another format, please get in
touch.
You can also share your views by telephone on 01953 424455, by email
to TellLorne@norfolk.pnn.police.uk or by writing to me at OPCCN,
Building 8, Falconers Chase, Wymondham, NR18 0WW.
6

10

11

12

13

The county flower for

Norfolk is the common
poppy (shared with Essex).
North Norfolk after all is
famous as Poppyland. As
far as I know there isnt a county tree. A
friend suggested the Willow. I wonder if
Scots Pine (shared maybe with Moray in
the Highlands) wouldnt be better. As
you drive up the old A11 from London,
rows of twisted and contorted Scots
Pines along the roadside welcome you
home. One particular group marks a
burial mound and always seems to me
to capture the strange
sense of place of the
Brecks. Then when we
are holidaying on the
coast there are woods of
Scots Pines planted on
and behind the dunes.
Just think of them at
Holkham or Wells. I remember wandering in
those woods and filling
my pocket with fallen
bark scales of lovely
shape,
colour
and
texture, just like one does
with the pebbles found on
the beach. And the
combination
of
pine
fragrance with sea air
might content the heart of
a woodland elf like
Legolas. Or think of the
Scots Pine forest at Holt
Country Park. They seem
to like our dunes and
sandy heathlands. These
Scottish
trees
belong
here in
much
the
same
way
as the

14

ACORN FELLOWSHIP FOR THE

OVER 50s
Mondays 2.30
Bowthorpe
Church
December 12th
Carol Fest. Epilogue
Rev Mark Elvin
January 23rd
Speaker Victoria
Grangerthe work of
The Leprosy Mission.
Scottish
farmers
who
came here in the 1920s,
or the Scottish east coast
fishermen who used to
call in at Yarmouth and
Lowestoft.
You dont have to go far to
enjoy
some
splendid
specimens. The
local
Twenty Acre wood has
Scots Pine giants. They
typically top the surrounding trees so that from a distance you can see their crowns
breaking out above the canopy. They are much taller than the 24 foot tall Christmas
tree outside City Hall. I measured the girth of one: it was a good 8 feet round and the
trunk went straight up, barely tapering, without any side branches maybe 30 feet. It
left its twisting behaviour to the crown at the top where the branches turned as
abruptly and as often as a Norfolk side road. My brother-in-law once remarked that
the old Norfolk road crews kept their back to the cruel Norfolk wind and the random
tight turns were where they happened to be working when the wind veered. They
clearly belong here. And in Twenty Acre wood there are Scots Pine saplings growing
underneath the adults. In the summer you find them by their trunks: a warm orange
brown bark, deeply creviced and flecked with geometrically interesting scales. In the
winter as evergreens they come into their own and you can see their heavy crowns
through the bare branches of the surrounding lesser trees. I wonder what they looked
like, stands of these giants, in the old Caledonian Forest up in Moray?

15

16

17

18

Notices from Neighbours

THE NORWICH ELECTRONIC

ORGAN & KEYBOARD CLUB
We meet at 7.30pm on the last
Tuesday of every month at Drayton
Village Hall, with entertainment from
popular professional organists from
around the country.There is no extra
membership fee, entrance is 6.00
at the door.

Indoor Table Top / Carboot sale

Cadge Rd community
centre
2nd December and the
16th December
9am to 1pm

We dont have a meeting in

December but we will be back on
31st January 2017 with our short
AGM and music by organist David
Last. More news on this next month.

Come grab yourself a

bargain some new /
used items. We have a
lovely mixture of tables
from crafts, clothes, bric
and brac, games, toys
and knitted items.
Please come give us a
look, help keep the
community centre open.

In the meantime very best wishes

for the festive season to all our followers and we hope to see you all in
2017 when we have a line-up of
more 1st class organists and a year
of popular and enjoyable music.
Do come and join us for a good
evenings musical entertainment,
you will be very welcome.
Pam Barnard Secretary
07786 445605

A special occasion. Want a

party! Need to hold a meeting!
Chapel Break Village
Hall Harpsfield, Chapel Break
Large or small room for hire
( Very Competitive rates )
Bar available for extra charge.
For details
email chapelbreakbookings@hotmail.com or call 01603
442059.
19

20

Mow & Grow Top Gardening Tips

The Countdown to Christmas and a New Year! December is the month to
get stuck in to general tasks clean, tidy and repair. Your garden will
thank you for it in the spring with all the lovely new shoots waking up
from their winter sleep and you can enjoy yourself over the festive period
knowing youve finished all the garden jobs.

General garden tasks this month....clear paths, repair fences, clean the greenhouse and
check sheds. Protect outside taps and pots with bubble wrap for insulation use it in the
greenhouse too. Treat yourself or add new tools and gardening gloves to your Christmas list
youll be thankful come the New Year!
Wildlife... remember with all the clearing and tidying to leave even a
small pile of logs and sticks for hibernating hedgehogs. They are
excellent swimmers but to save them drowning from exhaustion in
deep ponds or pools make a slope or ramp for them to climb out
chicken wire works well.

Did you know hedgehogs travel around a mile each night? Help them find both food and a
mate by removing barriers for them to get around. A 13cm x 13cm hole is big enough for
them to get in and out of an enclosed garden. Get the kids involved in the Hedgehog
Highway and help protect our hogs for future generations.
Vegetables, fruit trees and bushes... Were big on growing your own,
saving money and harvesting the fruits of our labours. Talking of which
now is the time to harvest leeks, Brussels sprouts, carrots, parsnips
(only after a frost!) and winter cabbage.
If the soil isnt too wet or frozen plant fruit trees and bushes now, prune
established apple and pear trees by cutting out any crossing or rubbing branches and open
the middle of the tree out allowing air to circulate and avoid disease.
Flowers and containers... bark chips around hellebores protect them from
rain splashes. Bring in tender plants and raise containers/ pots off the
ground to protect from wet and cold. Bulbs should really have been planted
already but if youre running behind pop them in the ground anyway and they
should wake up a little later than usual.

Our staff would like to wish our customers, friends and neighbours a happy
and peaceful festive season!

If you would like a FREE quote for garden clearance and garden maintenance services
please call the office on 01603 740107 or visit our website
www.thegroworganisation.org for more information

21

ASHWELL COURT
At this time of the year the days always seem to race past and
suddenly you find yourself again at Remembrance Day.
As everywhere the 2 minute silence was observed by those at
Ashwell Court who attended a special service of remembrance
organised by Cotman Housing and held in the Community Garden at
Bowthorpe. At the end our own veteran of World War II, Mr Len Fox, said
the usual sad words in remembrance of all those who had given their lives,
not only in World Wars I and II, but also more recently and currently.
A representative from Ashwell Court planted a wooden cross with other
crosses round the War Memorial.
On a lighter note, Christmas arrangements are going ahead and we are
looking forward to our Christmas Dinner at the Dove at Poringland. We
have an evening of entertainment with Hank before then and of course we
are busy with Christmas Card lists and present buying etc.
We at Ashwell Court wish all our friends and neighbours a very happy
Christmas and hope you all enjoy this festive season.
Best wishes.

Margaret

BRADECROFT
Firstly I have the very sad news of a lovely friend and neighbour.
Dear Ivy has passed away. She was so loved for her long friendship with so many people at Bradecroft. God bless, darling.
Don is home from hospital. Corrinna is still in great pain and awaiting an
operation. Alan is dedicated to help her as well as doing many chores for
others.
I hope people and pets were not too traumatised by fireworks being let off
by thoughtless local people. They could go to the Huge Firework Display in
the city.
So hope Jans Christmas Craft Fayre on 3rd December is well attended to
raise funds for charity and and enable the group to continue in the New
Year. It has been so good to socialise and create new crafts.
Congratulations, Jan for your encouragement.
Christmas is around the corner. Wishing you Joy and Happiness. Look out
for each other. Thinking of those who are lonely and unwell.
Hope for a Special New Year.
Annie.
P.S. Welcome to new neighbours we hope to meet during the Winter.
22

Leyham Court News

Hello everyone, with a special welcome to any new readers.
Well the rumours were right - Gordon had his 90th birthday party
on 25th November (again this article was sent for print before the
actual event so cannot let you know what he got up to!), but will
spill the beans next time.
We have held the regular Social events with the Sing-a-Long evenings being
well attended - a big thanks goes to Chris for providing the music and his
encouragement which does get lots of us singing and a couple "dancing" not easy on carpet!
The Sunday afternoon Canasta sessions have gained favour so are now
being held from 2.30 - 5pm. More players welcome whether new to the
game and requiring tuition or already an expert.
Please remember to check the notice boards for forthcoming events
which will include a Christmas Buffet Tea with Quiz and Carols on
Sunday 18th December.
This time I would like make you aware that the Tuesday afternoon Craft Club
are always happy to produce cards to
order should you require one for
a special event. Just pop along and
put in a request or even make it yourself (with assistance
if required). Although paper-craft
seems to be the most popular there is
the opportunity to do other crafts - such
as bead work. Why not come along and
see for yourself.
The next time our article appears all the
seasonal festivities will be over and we
shall be at that time of year when we
are just looking forward to longer days
and warmer weather.
So let me wish you all the very best for
Christmas and the New Year, with
special thoughts for those spending
their first Christmas without
their partners and to those coping
with health issues.
Ann
23

24

25

Society Alive hosts special lunch with the Lord Mayor

On Friday November 18th at Society Alive in Clover Hill Village Hall we were
able to enjoy a three-course meal kindly cooked by Patience and Godwin who
give up their time and energy to support this cause every fortnight.
There is no charge but donations are greatly appreciated. The Lord Mayor of
Norwich, Marion Maxwell, kindly attended and presented certificates to all the
helpers who regularly give up their time to help others.
Bowthorpe Community Choir sang some festive songs to
provide entertainment.
Thanks to everyone who helped to
make this an unforgettable
occasion, particularly Godwin and
Patience.
Jenny Holmwood, writing in The
Evening News under the heading
Busy times at Bowthorpe.

A special Thank You cake for

Godwin and Patience Unazi

WORD CORNER 1: IMPRESS YOUR FRIENDS.

The English language is not only rich and diverse, it can be fun
and entertaining. Do you know, or can you guess, the
meaning of these strange words?
1. PLENITUDE:
Dullness.
Of great sufficiency.
Composure of mind, bearing or appearance.
The quality of being impervious to criticism.
2. AUBADE:
A kind of root vegetable.
An aromatic bath additive.
A song or poem greeting the dawn.
The safety guard of a chainsaw blade.
3. LUGUBRIOUS:
Very disciplined regarding personal hygiene.
Living or growing in an unnatural environment.
Extremely mournful, sad or gloomy.
Painfully slow.
4. CONFABULATE:
To exaggerate the importance of something or someone.
To discuss or have a chat about something.
To perplex or disconcert.
To combine two or more things into a composite whole.
Answers: 1(b) 2(c) 3(c) 4(b)

26

The Lord Mayor

presenting certificates to
Raquel Mbeya,
Anthonio and Hannah

Word Corner 2:
Safety in numbers.
The names we give to
groups of things are
often interesting, entertaining or sometimes just
odd! Here are some
collective nouns we may
or not be familiar with.
For example, we have all
heard of a herd of cows,
but how about a herd of
yaks, seals, walruses, or
domestic rabbits? This is
not to be confused with
a horde of mice, or
hamsters, or gnats. Have
you ever seen an array of
hedgehogs, or an army
of caterpillars? A movement of moles, or a mob
of kangaroos? Can you
imagine a surfeit of
skunks, or a siege of
herons?
LB

27

28

29

News from St Michaels VA Junior School.

Remembrance
Year 6 children visited
The Forum in Norwich
to be part of a project which looks
at Norfolks war memorials which
commemorate the men who fought
and lost their lives in battle and the
women either on active service or
on the Norfolk home-front. Their
names, experiences and sacrifices
will be remembered by our
children.
Dear Lord,
We do not celebrate this day,
but remember. The allies gave their
lives to make ours better. And ,yet
now, they themselves are dead, but
their honour, spirit, courage and
more will live forever.
Amen.

Bill (Y6)

Children in Need
Children
and
staff
dressed
in
bright
clothing on 18th November in support of Children in
Need.
Everyone was asked to
donate whatever they could.
30

Diary Dates
Y3&4 Bowthorpe
Church
Christmas
Service:
5/12/16 at 2pm. Parents
and
grandparents
welcome to join us at the
church.

Y5&6 Bowthorpe Church

Christmas Service:
7/12/16 at 2pm. Parents
and
grandparents
welcome to join us at the
church.
Panto: 14/12/16
The whole federation will
be going to watch the
panto at the Theatre
Royal, Norwich. We are
all very excited.
Christmas Fair: 9/12/16
Any donations for the
raffle, tombola or bric-abrac stalls would be
gratefully received. If
you would like to run a
stall, please contact the
office on (01603)745812.
Sarah Claflin Deputy Head

Well guess what Oz is back, and just in time for Christmas.

This is truly Ozs favourite time of the year. Holidays,
presents, all that pampering and FOOD FOOD FOOD! The
wordsearch Ive set this time is on Christmas type things.
See how you get on with it.

candles,

carols,

christmas,

december,

holiday,

jesus,

manger,

mistletoe,

nativity,

presents,

santa,

winter

Hope you were able to solve the wordsearch. Well thats all from Oz for
this time and this year. Have a really wonderful Christmas break and a
Merry Christmas. Enjoy yourselves and stay safe. Until next year

31

COPY FOR FEBRUARY ISSUE TO BE IN BY 15th JANUARY

Please deliver to
2a Saint Michaels Cottages, Bowthorpe Hall Rd, Bowthorpe, NR5 9AA

or email: bowthorpenews@yahoo.co.uk

Editor: Sally Simpson Tel. 01603 745698

Childrens page: Oz ozziecatus@gmail.com

Printer: Pride Press Ltd.

Treasurer: Barrie Slater

Advertising: keith.wright@laptoprepairsnorwich.co.uk t: 01603

748531

Distribution:
M.Bolton, M.Tailford, R.Sexton, A.Chitty, L.Butt, M.Cubitt, J.Stewart, R.Soong

Website: www.bowthorpenews.co.uk.
February issue published on Feb. 3rd. March issue on March 3rd

Bowthorpe News wishes to thank Pride Press for sponsoring this colour cover.
32