Monday 29 September 2014

October activities in Old Buckenham

Diary dates for October

Wednesday 1    Women's Fellowship, Methodist Chapel, 2.30pm

Thursday 2    Parish Council, Village Hall, 7.30pm

Saturday 4    Military Revival, Old Buckenham Airfield

Saturday 4    Village Quiz (with rice), Village Hall, 7.30pm

Sunday 5    Wargames Club, Village Hall, 2.30pm to 6pm

Sunday 5    Military Revival, Old Buckenham Airfield

Monday 6    Monday Mardle, Church Rooms, 2.15pm to 4.15pm

Tuesday 7    Coffee and chat, Church Rooms, 10.30am to 12 noon

Wednesday 8    Luncheon Club, Village Hall, 10am to 2pm

Thursday 9    Breckland Flower Club, Village Hall, 2pm

Thursday 9    Social and Wine Circle, Church Rooms, 7.45pm

Saturday 11    Art display, All Saints Church 11am to 5pm

Saturday 11    Autumn Fayre, Church Rooms, 2pm to 4pm

(Bingo planned for Saturday 11 at Village Hall postponed until later)

Sunday 12    Art display, All Saints Church 11am to 5pm

Monday 13    Whist drive, Church Rooms, 2pm

Wednesday 15    Songs of Praise, Methodist Chapel, 7.30pm

Sunday 19    Harvest Lunch, All Saints Church, 12 noon

Monday 20    Monday Mardle, Church Rooms, 2.15pm to 4.15pm

Wednesday 22    Luncheon Club, Village Hall, 10am to 2pm

Thursday 23    Women's Institute, Village Hall, 7.30pm

Saturday 27 September 2014

Old Buckenham newsletter for October

Time to pick up your copy
Reports on events in September and news of events to come - it's all in the October issue of the Old Buckenham village newsletter.

Friday 26 September 2014

Flash flooding in Old Buckenham

Didn't it rain!
Just one week ago today, about 5.30pm, Old Buckenham experienced one of those sudden downpours that we keep being told are going to become more common. In the Cake Street area rainfall of 25mm was recorded after just a half hour of pelting rain. On the other side of the village, halfway down Fen Street, a resident ventured out to take some photographs...

Wednesday 24 September 2014

A weekend garage sale in Old Buckenham

More bargains to be had
Come along to Karmel (NR17 1RR for satnav users), a house on the edge of Old Buckenham Green, this coming weekend. Lots and lots of bargains with the money raised going to the East Anglian Air Ambulance.

(just click on the image to enlarge it)

Monday 22 September 2014

Sunday recycling in Old Buckenham

Garage sales galore
If you wanted to find some bargains on the morning of Sunday 21 September then you should have come to Old Buckenham and followed the red balloons around the village. There were 35 different garage sales with all sorts of stuff on sale. According to the list of addresses you could have picked up a wedding dress, a sewing machine, a doll's house, children's bikes, a sand pit, a hen house, a boat with outboard, lots of children's clothes and books as well as loads of general household goods.
The aim was twofold: to raise some funds for the recreation area behind the Village Hall and to make sure that lots of things were recycled rather than just going off to landfill. The weather just managed to stay dry and plenty of people were seen to be walking around and enjoying the sights of Old Buckenham.






Sunday 21 September 2014

Dog show in Old Buckenham

All sorts and sizes
This afternoon there was a one-off dog show on Old Buckenham Green. It had been organised by Rosedale Funeral Home as part of a challenge they had set themselves to raise £10,000 through various charity events in 2014. This time the money raised would go to help with the upkeep of All Saints Church in Old Buckenham.
A village of small tented structures started going up during the morning and entries for the many classes were being taken from noon onwards.


There were over a hundred entries and some classes took rather a long while to judge. There were dogs of all shapes and sizes parading around the ring and being scrutinised by the judges before rosettes were awarded.



Finally all the class winners were summoned to the ring so that the 'best in show' could be decided and the final awards handed out.

Saturday 20 September 2014

Old Buckenham's Produce Show

Plenty of competition in the Village Hall
There was plenty to compete for when Old Buckenham WI held their annual Produce and Handicraft Show on Sunday 14 September.

The judges were kept busy most of the morning sorting through all the many exhibits.






There was fruit, flowers, cooking, eggs, preserves, handicraft, art, photography and of course the children's classes.
 

Then it was time to present all the cups and other prizes.



 
The afternoon ended with the legendary auction where bargains could be had by all.

The list of winners this year was
Flower arrangements - Alison Walker
Preserves - Jane Burrows
Cookery - Annette Ellis
Eggs - Margaret Bevis and John Frost
Flowers - John Frost
Pot plants - John Frost
Children, 7 and under - Arlo Greenwood
Children, 8 to 11 - Martha Richardson
Children, 12 to 15 - Toby Richardson
Handicrafts - Alison Walker
Art - Ron Brewer
Vegetables and fruit - Roy Dickinson
Overall winner, most points in all classes - Roy Dickinson

Friday 19 September 2014

Spend Sunday in Old Buckenham

Come, buy and bring your dog
On Sunday 21 September, Old Buckenham will be putting on an event with a difference, incorporating a large garage sale, with over 30 venues within the village, together with a Dog Show with a difference sponsored by Rosedale Funeral Homes. The Dog Show profits are going towards the considerable restoration work on All Saint’s Church (at a cost of approximately £140,000 which includes extensive internal and external work on the tower, together with restoration of two stained medieval glass windows). Money raised from the garage sales, which commence at 10 am, is towards the Recreation Area at the rear of the village hall. Maps showing the location of the individual garage sales will available on the day from 10am outside the Church Rooms on Old Buckenham Green.
The Companion Dog Show will be held under Kennel Club rules, with registration commencing at 12 noon for judging at 2 pm. However, in the two hours between registration and competition, extensive entertainment will be available, including hot food produced by local butcher Tony Perkins and several trade stalls. There will be both adult and children’s tombola, special facilities to keep youngsters occupied, teas with cakes in the Church Rooms and of course a well stocked Ox and Plough. Many local businesses are supporting the event, which will be located on the Green outside the Ox and Plough public house.
The Dog Show will incorporate both pedigree and novelty fun classes (including the dog you would most like to take home but you can't). Prizes, sponsored by local business, and rosettes will be awarded to the top three dogs in each category with a special prize awarded to the Best in Show. Schedules are available from 01953 452538 or 01953 860692, email
attleborough@rosedalefuneralhome.co.uk
It is intended to make this a fun-packed day of events with a difference. No doubt you have been to a Dog Show and a Village Fete, perhaps even a Garage Sale. Now why not come and try something different.

Thursday 18 September 2014

Old Buckenham raises money for Star Throwers

Rosemary's productive bike ride
Tuesday evening is 'Two Wheel Tuesday' at the Ox and Plough in Old Buckenham. Bikers galore turn up to chat, admire the other machines and perhaps have the odd half pint.
But this Tuesday was a little different. Three weeks ago Rosemary West, who lives next door to the pub, agreed to go for a ride on one of the large machines. As Rosemary will admit to being over eighty, this was a big challenge so she decided to ask for sponsorship to raise money for the local Star Throwers charity.
Everyone was generous in their pledges and the sum raised by Tuesday evening was £800. Dr Henry Manning, who founded the Star Throwers charity, was there to receive the money from Rosemary who had managed to get onto the driving seat of the Goldwing that had provided her with the ride of a lifetime. The event was recorded on video and by a photographer from the Eastern Daily Press. 
Dusk was falling and some bikers were wending their way home by the time the presentation came to an end.



Wednesday 17 September 2014

Old Buckenham residents comments to Parish Council

Subjects raised during public recess
A period at the start of each parish council meetings allows the public to raise points that they would like to be considered. Notes of the points raised is given below and is based on the draft notes produced by the parish clerk.
A resident wanted parking in the Village Hall to involve both the Junior School and the Pre-school group. A letter has been sent to parents giving two options regarding parking in the Village Hall car park. The first option was for parents to buy a permit costing £7 for 34 days to enable them to seek a parking space. Option 2 was to allocate up to 40 spaces which will be available only to selected parents at a small cost in the village hall car park. A plan to extend car parking at the village hall has been submitted to the Parish Council which would use part of the recreation area. The recreation area currently is 1.2 acres and they would use 0.4 of an acre for parking. They would be seeking approval from the Parish Council for this option. Steve Milner asked for councillors and other groups within the village to set up a working party to look at the suggestions. Adrian Joel, Carol Marshall and John Frost expressed views on the matter. Steve Milner said the school would not accept responsibility over the parking issues. It was suggested that two councillors join the working party along with representatives from the Village Hall. A resident raised matter of a planning application due to be discussed later in meeting. Another resident raised the matter of the new school and involving the local MP. Steve Milner referred to a letter from NCC which indicated they would extend the current 30mph speed limit and also supply part-time 20mph flashing signs following intervention by the local MP. A resident asked why no money was coming from NCC and also raised the matter of a roundabout outside the school entrance. He was informed that a roundabout would not be put in place. Resident raised matter of new proposed Disciplinary and Grievance policy and said he had been in contact with both NALC and ACAS.

Tuesday 16 September 2014

Old Buckenham Parish Council in September

September parish council meeting
These notes have been written by the blog editor from the draft minutes and so may contain information that is changed at a later date.

At the September meeting of Old Buckenham Parish Council all councillors were there apart from Tim Ing, Sarah Dye and Derek Smalley who had sent their apologies. Fourteen members of the public attended and also Stephen Askew, the Norfolk County Councillor for this area.
There was a public recess at the beginning of the meeting to allow members of the public to give their views (a list of subjects raised will be published as a separate blog post tomorrow).
Minutes of previous Parish Council meeting. These were signed as a true and accurate record of the meeting.
Matters arising from the minutes. Tom Johnson raised matter of potholes around the village. The Parish Clerk responded by saying that Norfolk County Council have a large programme ongoing regarding potholes and there were thousands throughout the county which were being dealt with. The Parish Clerk to speak to Highways on the matter.
Minutes of Special Council Meeting on Thursday 14 August 2014. These were signed as a true and accurate record of the meeting.
Matters arising from these minutes. Adrian Joel asked that the approval given to the planning application for Chapel Road school be revoked and a new discussion and vote take place. The Parish Clerk informed the meeting that he had received the required number of written notices to overturn the previous vote. The item is to be put on the October agenda. Tom Johnson raised the matter of councillors having to have a computer to be able to access documents as this could preclude some people becoming councillors if they did not have a computer or were not computer literate.
Adoption of New Grievance and Disciplinary Procedure. Paul Boggia asked if the matter could be deferred. Adrian Joel said that he felt that with 15 pages it is too complicated. The Parish Clerk said the code presented was the one recommended by NALC and both Akis Chrisovelides and Jonathan Kemp said it was good practice to have a code. Paul Boggia proposed deferring the adoption of the policy until the October meeting and this was agreed with 5 for and 3 against.
Adoption of Financial Regulations. It was agreed that the new policy document be adopted.
Allocation of Parish Council Funds. This matter was deferred until a later date.
Planning applications. 6 Oaklands. Two-storey front extension. It was proposed by Akis Chrisovelides and seconded by John Frost that the parish council should object to this as it extended too far forward and was out of character. This was agreed with 7 for and 1 abstention.
Vine Cottage, 64 Fen Street. Single-storey rear extension to dwelling and erection of two-storey side extension. There were no objections, this was agreed with 7 for and 1 abstention.
Planning decisions received from Breckland. 5 Fen Street. Two-storey residential extension. Permission granted.
Mill Farm, Fen Street. Removal of concrete render and replace with lime-based render. Permission granted.
Almshouses, The Green. Replacement of corrugated asbestos cement bathroom roofing and steel windows to 10 Almshouses. Permission granted.
Stonehouse Farm, Stacksford. Conversion of former pump room and store to form self-contained holiday rental. Permission granted.
Chairman’s report. Steve Milner had recently attended a meeting in Attleborough regarding the Tuesday motor cycle meetings at the Ox and Plough. Some actions have been put into place to regulate the meets and these seem to have had some good effect. Another meeting with the police will be arranged soon and parking at pub is still a problem. He is seeking a meeting with NCC regarding Chapel Road School and is liaising with Stephen Askew and trying to arrange a meeting with George Freeman MP. He has received a suggestion of the Parish Council setting up a working party, if the planning application for the school is successful, to monitor the situation as the building progresses. Jonathan Kemp agreed to be the representative on such a working party. The Village Hall are arranging a three-night international film festival at the end of November.
District Councillor’s report. Adrian Joel reported that the Boundary Commission have completed their review of ward boundaries in Breckland. The total number of wards has been reduced from 54 to 49, with Old Buckenham and New Buckenham combining with Banham to form The Buckenham and Banham ward. These changes will take place from the 2015 District Council elections. The new affordable dwellings in St Andrews Close are finally near to completion. All 14 dwellings will shortly be allocated to those with connections to the village and they could be moving in late September. Breckland have put up to £950,000 to improve high speed broadband in Breckland. They gained match funding from central government which gives a total of £1.9 million towards the project. High speed broadband should now be available to all residents in Old Buckenham and if anyone requires the service they should contact their broadband supplier. With effect from Wednesday 1 October, residents can place both glass and plastic in their black recycling bins. Adrian Joel has asked VERG to place a notice in village newsletter to ask residents to continue to use the glass recycling bins in the village hall car park as this provides income for the village hall.
Parish Councillors’ reports. Tom Johnson reported that the Village Hall Committee have asked the Parish Council for a rent increase on the Recreation Area as per lease conditions allow. The Village Hall will also be asking the Parish Council for a grant of up to £3,000 to improve the insulation of the village hall. Akis Chrisovelides asked that if the parish had prepared a Neighbourhood Plan, would it have stopped the Chapel Road School? This item to be put on the October agenda. Adrian Joel asked for the allotments to also be put on October agenda. Tim Ing is to speak to the farmer regarding any possible increase in the rental. John Frost has been going around and cutting the grass under the benches and it should be noted that he does this on a voluntary basis and receives no payment for it. Carol Marshall said a whole village garage sale was being held on Sunday 21 September with 30 pitches. It will start at 10am and go on until 1pm.
Parish Clerk’s report. The Clerk said that the Parish Council accounts had been passed by the Government auditors with no comments or alterations. The Standing Order Working Party had finished their work and he would be sending out a copy of the new standing orders for councillors to read as they need to be adopted as soon as possible.
Highways. The Parish Clerk is to follow up with NCC Highways regarding potholes in village.
The Green. The Green Right Proprietors will be holding a meeting on Tuesday 21 October and Steve Milner will be attending on behalf of the Parish Council.

The next meeting of Old Buckenham Parish Council will be on Thursday 2 October in the Village Hall starting at 7.30pm.

Monday 15 September 2014

Flower Club meeting in Old Buckenham

Breckland Flower and Garden Club
 

Demonstrating her title 'Could you just', Crystal Dyball entertained over 60 members and guests at September's meeting. Using some unusual containers, her designs contained a wide variety of foliages and beautifully conditioned flowers. From an 'all white' arrangement to a purple and orange design, all were the result of a 'could you just' moment - enter a competition, decorate the church or make a bridal bouquet.
In the monthly competition the winner in the Old Hand class was Alison Walker with the New Hands class, the monthly cup and the table show going to Alison Vivian.
On Saturday 15 November the Club wil be holding a charity event at Bunwell Village Hall between 2pm and 5pm. It will be for Scotty's Little Soldiers - a Norfolk charity supporting children of men and women killed whilst serving in the British Armed Forces. 'Afternoon Tea' will be served together with stalls and a tombola. Items for sale or cakes would be most welcome. Please contact a committee member for further details.
The next meeting will be held at Old Buckenham Village Hall on Thursday 9 October starting at 2pm. Adele Kent will be demonstrator and the competition will be for an 'Exhibit to include a shoe'.
Visitors will be very welcome. Further details can be obtained from Christine on 01953 454528 or Sally on 01953 788712.

Friday 12 September 2014

Artwork by Old Buckenham High School

Chance to see art produced by pupils
In four weeks time there will be an exhibition of the items produced at Old Buckenham High School for the GCSE examinations. The exhibition will be in All Saints Church on Saturday 11 and Sunday 12 October between 11am and 5pm each day.

There is no charge for admission and cream teas will be available on the Sunday between 2pm and 4pm. Any money raised by donations will go towards the upkeep of All Saints Church.

Sunday 7 September 2014

Equipment grant for Old Buckenham Village Hall

Handing over the cheque
Before last night's screening of the film 'Inside Llewyn Davis' at Old Buckenham Village Hall there was a little ceremony to perform. New equipment has been installed in the hall to improve the quality of the film projection and this has been made possible by a grant from Breckland Council.
There to hand over the cheque in front of the new drop-down screen was Mark Robinson, Breckland ESM for Communities  shown in the picture along with
Lynn Milner, Chairman of Old Buckenham Village Hall Committee and Adrian Joel, Breckland Councillor for Buckenham Ward.


Now that there is a permanently installed large screen and a quality projector fixed to the existing lighting rig, putting on films and other audio visual items should be much, much easier and effective in future.

Friday 5 September 2014

September weekends in Old Buckenham

Plenty to do each weekend
No need to wonder what to do with your time on Saturdays and Sundays in Old Buckenham during this month.
Saturday 6 September. Come to the Village Hall and be part of the 'Village Cinema' audience. The film this time is Inside Llewyn Davis and it starts at 7.30pm. You can contact boxofficeobvh@gmail.com or ring 01953 860866 to buy your tickets (it is cheaper to book in advance).
Sunday 14 September. Again at the Village Hall there will be the annual Produce and Handicraft Show. This is an open show so you can all enter. Over a hundred categories so a very wide range of items you can show - how about a knitted scarf, half a dozen bantam eggs, an orchid plant, a red cabbage or a jar of blackcurrant jam? If you are fifteen or under you might like to make a robot from Lego and children's entries are free. All the details are in the schedule available by ringing 01953 861322.
If you can't manage to enter anything then why not come to the hall at 2.30pm and enjoy looking at all the things on the show benches?
Sunday 21 September. Starting at 10am there will be loads of garage sales throughout the village so you can help with some large scale recycling. There may still be a chance to have a pitch of your own - ring 01953 861480 and leave your contact details.
In the afternoon there will be a Companion Dog Show on the Green outside the Ox and Plough. Registration from 12 noon with judging starting at 2pm. Full details and a schedule by emailing pippa@rosedalefuneralhome.co.uk
Saturday 27 September. This will be the last night of the Old Buckenham Players' Murder Mystery evening. The performance of The Death on the Smug Juggler starts at  7.30pm at the  Village Hall. You need to ring 01953 861336 to buy tickets which cost £8 each.
Also on Saturday it will be the first day of the annual garage sale at Karmel on the Green. Raising money for the East Anglian Air Ambulance, this will take place from 8am to 4pm and there will be bargains galore including homemade cakes.
Sunday 28 September. The annual garage sale at Karmel continues for another day, again starting at 8am and going on until 4pm.
Sunday is also the second day of a Balloon Festival at Old Buckenham Airfield so, weather permitting, there may be some flights around early in the morning.

Monday 1 September 2014

Old Buckenham Women’s Institute

Learning about the Waveney Trust
 

How long does it take to get a charitable trust off the ground? The speaker at August’s Old Buckenham WI meeting, Geoff Doggett, managed to raise enough enthusiasm and cash to make sure that The Waveney Trust became a successful river conservation charity within two years.
From a meeting in a Harleston pub in March 2012 to managing 668 members and a budget of tens of thousands of pounds in grants and donations two years later has been quite an achievement.
The Waveney Trust aims to provide a programme to improve the River Waveney from source to sea. It works with a range of wildlife groups and agencies to protect the whole river environment. Projects so far have included rubbish clearance, eradicating invasive plant species, raising awareness of the problems of phosphates and farm chemicals leaching into the river courses and livestock pollution.
The redundant Otter Trust buildings at Earsham have been revamped to provide an educational base for the general public to raise awareness of the importance of bio-diversity in the local environment. Eels have been encouraged back by provision of special gates to enable them to access the upper reaches of the Waveney. For the first time in fifty years, rush has been harvested for local craftsmen. And of course the otters, at the top of the food chain in the Waveney, still have their place too.
The next meeting is on Thursday 25 September when members will be treated to 'Patchwork – Show and Tell' by Meg Brown. The meeting will be held in Old Buckenham Village Hall and starts at 7.30pm.