Androcles and the Lion - Audio Story

From Prince Bertie the Frog
6mins

by
www.storynory.com

The Buddy Holly Story, Spotlight Musical Theatre Group

Spotlight Musical Theatre Group

are proud to present

Buddy, The Buddy Holly Story
24th to 28th June 2008
at the
Public Hall, Beccles

This show has been successful in both the West End and on tour across the UK and is now available to amateur groups, and this is a first for an amateur group in the region.

Click above image for larger poster

Click image for movie preview in a new window

Visit our website for more information, about our shows past, present and future:

www.spotlightbeccles.org.uk

Companies must check for safe drivers - Driving hints

Driving hints by Mike Daniels
Dip Di Consultant for Driving to the Corporate Industry

Companies and businesses who are not checking their employees drive safely can now face prosecution a police campaign to reduce the 1,000 fatal crashes each year involving work vehicles.

Police can now investigate whether the company has carried out a check on their drivers, and did company managers and directors have made excessive demand on driver to make their drives to more hours behind the wheel and drive tired (this is car and van driven not HGV who would be protected by Tachograph or should be).

Since April 2008 companies can be prosecuted under new Corporate Manslaughter Act, if death caused by negligence.

20 people and 250 are seriously injured each week in crashes while driving for work.
This also includes company drivers driving their own private vehicle on company business. Get your own drivers checked just a one to one assessment could save your company thousands of pounds. 40% of crashes are related to tiredness while driving for work.

In the UK we have over 3 million company cars, a further 1 million private cars used on company business, 33% of company cars are involved in collisions each year.

• MAKE YOUR DRIVERS SAFE
• DONT GET CAUGHT OUT
• RAISE YOUR COMPANY'S PROFILE
• PREVENT THE FINES.

Over 8,000 people are injured in crashes involving parked cars at night.
If your have to park in the road at night you must stop close to the kerb facing the direction of the traffic.
When the speed limit is more than 30mph or within 10 metres of a junction you must leave your lights on.

Highest at risk on our roads:
Pedal Cyclists - Aged 9 to 14
Motocyclists - Aged 17 to 20
Car drivers - Aged 17 to 25
where more accidents occur in these groups.

On a Lighter Note:

Have you ever thought how does the driver of a snow plough get to work in the morning.

Why do speedometers in cars measure speed well beyond the engine performance and well beyond the maximum legal limit.

A driver is feeling secure driving a BMW amongst a cluster of cars all travelling at about the same speed but got stopped for speeding on the M4 motorway. The police officer handed him a ticket but before leaving the car driver asked, "I know I was speeding, but its not fair, there were plenty of other cars speeding around me going just as fast, why did I get a ticket?".

"Ever go fishing?", the officer asked.

The man replied "Yes".

The officer smiled and grinned, "did you catch all the fish?".

Mike Daniels AcciDON'T - Making drivers safer world wide.
Retraining Drivers for Insurance Companies,
please don't let us meet you by Accident . . .

Mike Daniels and AcciDON’T
D.S.A. Registered Instructor, Awarded Highest Grade 6

Tel: Bungay 01986 893025
Mobile: 07860 452421

Click here to read Mike’s Blog Editorial
or visit web sites www.danielsdrivertraining.co.uk
www.accidont.co.uk

Cheese Straws - Susie’s Favourite Recipes

Susie’s Favourite Recipes

Cheese Straws

100 g (4oz) Self-Raising Flour
50 g (2oz) Margarine
75 g (3oz) Grated Cheddar or Red Leicester Cheese
1 Medium Egg, Beaten

* Heat oven to 180 C. 350 F. Gas Mark 4.
Lightly grease a baking tray.

* Rub the margarine into the flour.

* Add the grated cheese and stir well.

* Stir in the beaten egg until you have stiff dough.

* Roll out to the thickness you require and cut into strips.

* Place onto the baking tray and cook for 10 to 15 minutes.

* Enjoy and don’t forget to share!

Pied Wagtail - Waveney Wildlife

Pied Wagtail

Characteristics
The pied wagtail is a long-tailed small bird, unmistakable with its bold black, grey and white plumage. The male's summer plumage has a white forehead, cheeks and belly; jet-black crown, nape, throat, breast, back, flanks, tail and wings, but the tail has white outer feathers and the wings have white wing bars and white edges. The non-breeding male's winter plumage is greyer.

The female is mostly dark grey but the crown, throat, breast, rump and tail are black. Juveniles are brownish-grey and often tinged with yellow.


Habitat
Pied Wagtails can be found across the UK and are usually found near water in most habitats, even town centres. They gather together in large roosts, often assembling in trees or on roofs. They can also be seen in open places including fields, farmyards, parks, and meadows.

Behaviour
Pied Wagtails can be distinguished by their constant tail wagging. When they are not standing and frantically wagging their tails up and down they can be seen flying over lawns or car parks in search of food. When in flight, the Pied Wagtail utters a high-pitched "chissick" sound.

Pied Wagtails generally feed on insects that it finds when searching lawns, fields and verges. They build their nest in holes in walls, buildings, or old nests of larger birds, using grass and mosses to construct the small cup-shaped nest. The eggs are smooth, pale grey with dark grey spots, and about 20 mm by 15 mm. The male and female take turns incubating the eggs, and both adults feed the young.
B.A.B.


www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife

The Royal Norfolk Show 2008

THE ROYAL NORFOLK SHOW

25 June 2008 - 26 June 2008

Opening Times: 8am daily

The Royal Norfolk Show is the largest two-day agricultural show in the country. In 2008 we are celebrating the centenary of the granting of our Royal Charter and therefore plan a bumper Show for our visitors.

This will include spectacular Grand Ring displays by The King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery and breathtaking performances by the Bolddog Lings Freestyle Motocross team.

Contact Details:
Royal Norfolk Agricultural Association (Tel: 01603 748931)

Tickets can be purchased online:

www.royalnorfolkshow.co.uk

spectacular video from last year courtesy YouTube

Mother Shipton Moth in Norfolk - photo

Working in the west of the county this morning, I took my lunch break at Syderstone Common. A short walk across some open grassland kicked out a day flying moth that I've been wanting to see for ages, a Mother Shipton. It eventually settled down where I managed to get a couple of record shots with my old 2 megapixel camera!

This moth gets its name from the witch of the same name who was reputed to have a long crooked nose and chin, check out this moths wing pattern.

Courtesy Andy:

wildlifeaylmerton.blogspot.com

Southwold beaches to be replenished!

photo courtesy Keith Moore

Sand levels are to be topped up at the popular Suffolk beach resort.

Natural conditions have been seen as the cause for the gradual erosion of the beaches either side of Southwold's pier, Waveney District Council said.

Now the council is beginning work to build up levels between groynes by pushing back material that has been lost into the sea.

"We have had problems which have seen the beaches lose their sand," Councillor Ken Sale said.

"These works will ensure that they are ready for the summer season," he added.

By rebuilding the levels the council said it hopefully would encourage extra beach material to be deposited naturally.

Areas of the beach are due to be closed between each pair of groynes at a time.

"The tide cycle must be right to complete this replenishment and we have agreed that action needs to be taken on the first available tides," Mr Sale said.

Source: news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/suffolk

New people onboard at Lowestoft Lifeboat Station

The crew at Lowestoft lifeboat station have gained some new personnel this year.

Paul Gray is the station's new Lifeboat Sea Safety Officer, responsible for local safety and prevention activity including promoting the Sea Check service, giving demonstrations to local sailing clubs and marinas and recruiting other volunteer sea safety advisors.

Meanwhile, Lifeboat Operations Manager Richard Musgrove joined at the start of the year. Richard is the Deputy Harbourmaster in Lowestoft and a pilot in the harbour responsible for escorting large ships into the port.

Richard has a long history with the RNLI, having first joined the Lowestoft crew in 1988. He has also served as Deputy Launching Authority in Lowestoft and Harwich.

Richard says: ‘I am proud to be the Lifeboat Operations Manager at Lowestoft. The town still has an important tie to the sea and the lifeboat station plays a pivotal role in keeping the people of Lowestoft and those that visit safe.'

www.rnli.org.uk

Business Weekly, digital edition 20 June 2008

The latest edition of Business Weekly's epaper has been uploaded.

Click the front page to access

www.businessweekly.co.uk

New Chairman will work to keep Suffolk special

Respecting the past, shaping the future

A retired planner who spent the last 15 years of her professional life at Suffolk County Council has become the new Chairman of Suffolk Preservation Society (SPS).

Alfreda Thistlethwaite, who has been a member of SPS for 20 years, has succeeded Mike Coleman and will be in office for three years.

“One of my ambitions as Chairman is to work hard to help Suffolk retain its distinctive character,” she said.

“The Suffolk environment is special, shaped by man over the centuries yet virtually untouched by the Industrial Revolution. Suffolk is characterised by a multitude of listed buildings, beautiful villages and market towns set amongst well-tended fields, hedgerows and woodland – a living testament to the care and empathy that the people of Suffolk have for their county.

“I know from when I worked and lived elsewhere in the country what a negative impact development can have on the environment, such as the proliferation of superstores around towns and cities.

“However, I don’t want Suffolk Preservation Society to simply be known for seemingly always resisting change. I would like us to become more involved in projects like the housing scheme in Elmswell in which the Society has been a key partner.”

Before becoming Chairman at the annual general meeting, Mrs Thistlethwaite was a vice-chairman and trustee of SPS. Her husband Andrew is a member.

Born and educated on Tyneside, Mrs Thistlethwaite, 65, moved to Suffolk from Leicestershire in 1988 to become Assistant Director for the Environment at Suffolk County Council and remained with the authority until she retired in 2003. She joined SPS soon after moving to East Anglia.

Previously, she had been a regular visitor to Southwold and Walberswick for holidays, but joked that she never ventured further south than Woodbridge or further north than Lowestoft.

In Suffolk, she lived at Wetheringsett, near Eye, until two years ago when she moved over the Suffolk/Norfolk border to Diss. During her 18 years in the village, she witnessed the closure of its post office and pub – and even its paper round! So, like many couples of their age, the Thistlethwaites made the difficult decision to move to a community with more facilities so that in later years they could maintain their independence.

Mrs Thistlethwaite has had a life-long interest in the relationship between man and the environment and studied town and country planning at university in Newcastle before working for local authorities in Tyneside and Leicestershire.

Richard Ward, Director of SPS, said: “There can be no doubt that Mike Coleman’s greatest legacy will be the Elmswell affordable and environmentally friendly homes project. He was instrumental in driving that development forward and we will always be thankful for that.

“Now we are looking forward to working with Alfreda and building on the successes of previous years and taking the Society and Suffolk forward together.”

www.suffolksociety.org

South Beccles Pre-school Blog

South Beccles Pre-school
now have their own Blog!

click here to view their new blog

South Beccles Pre-school is based at Hungate Hall in central Beccles (opposite Ronie's Café) and runs Monday to Friday in term time between 9.30am and 12 noon.

- Children are now accepted from 2 years old to 4 years 11 months -
- FREE places available from the term after your child's 3rd birthday -
- Special Educational Needs catered for -
- Nappy friendly -
- FREE Taster Sessions Available -

Some spaces available for immediate start!

www.SouthBecclesPreSchool.co.uk

‘CRY FREEDOM!’ charity concert, Colchester, 21 June 2008

On Saturday 21 June at 7.30pm

in St Leonard’s Church,
Lexden Road, Colchester, Essex

Quire will present a very special concert entitled
‘CRY FREEDOM'!

featuring music from Africa and around the world to raise funds a community in Ghana supported by the charity Friends of Tafo. The Africa themed concert is a wonderful way to end the day when St Leonard’s fete held during the afternoon also raises funds for Africa.

‘CRY FREEDOM!’

featuring African freedom songs
sung by Nelson Mandela and friends

QUIRE Colchester’s sensational world music community choir of approx 60 voices is delighted to present an inspirational concert featuring African songs of hope and struggle born out of the oppression of apartheid era, songs sung by freedom seekers like Nelson Mandela and many others who fought for their right to freedom.

Small change can make a big change in Kwahu-Tafo. For example, going to school costs £7 a year, but 300 children come from families who can't afford that, so charity Friends of Tafo run a Needy Pupils Fund. The children's joy at not being excluded is palpable. For bigger sums bigger things are possible :

• £12 buys a bicycle
• £ 300 cleans up a well
• £ 8,000 builds a school library - and there's everything in between!

“The great thing about giving to Kwahu-Tafo is that your donation goes where it's meant to, and you see results” says Humphrey, Tafo’s Development Chief.

“We’re absolutely delighted to present CRY FREEDOM! at St Leonard’s Church where Quire will celebrate the songs of achievement by people fighting for their rights. It is fitting that in this special concert, Quire will be raising funds for the people of Kwahu-Tafo, a community in Ghana, supported by the charity Friends of Tafo. I can promise everyone who comes on Sat 21 June a night to remember!” says Professor Bill Tamblyn, Quire’s Music Director “An evening with Quire is a unique experience where audiences are positively encouraged to join in, clap and even sing and dance in the aisles and enjoy world music!”.

Audiences will experience Quire’s exuberant performance as over 60 singers in four part harmony perform in languages from around the world including African: Zulu, Shona, Khosa; New Zealand : Maori, Hispanic, Jamaican, Dutch and more.

www.friendsoftafo.org

www.quire.org

DISS Sport

Information about sports clubs in and around Diss, Norfolk

If you would like your local sports club entered here,
email your web address to:
email@waveneyvalleyblog.com

Diss Town Football Club

www.disstownfc.co.uk


Diss Rugby Football Club
www.dissrugby.com

Local Mills - Ellingham Watermill

c. 1900

Ellingham Watermill

Ellingham watermill was built of white weatherboard over a brick base with a pantiled roof. As can be seen from the photographs below, it changed dramatically over the years as it was enlarged and developed. Along with Earsham, it was one of the only two Norfolk watermills on the Waveney.

c. 1910

The mill was built on an artificial semicircular cut made to the north of the River Waveney. This allowed the mill to retain its head of water while the nearby lock on the main river controlled the levels for the Bungay Navigation.

c. 1910

At one time the mill had 3 locums, as can be seen on the photographs below. The Waveney was fully navigable for many years using a series of locks, one of which was next to Ellingham mill, thus grain and flour were both transported to and from the mill via wherry as well as road.

c. 1935

The last waterwheel to be fitted was 17h.p. and made of iron. John Munnings (1916-1987), grandson of the artist Alfred Munnings and great grandson John Munnings, miller of Mendham Mill related that the wheel was supplemented by a 8-10h.p. German turbine c.1895 and the wheel was then eventually removed and replaced by a much larger Armfield 90h.p. turbine. (This possibly happened around 1908 after the Walker brothers had taken over).

c. 1954

John Munnings also mentioned that apparently the Armfield turbine proved to be too large for the river and could only be used to full capacity when the river had a good head of water and the tail water in the millpool was low. However, he was complimentary of the mill stating that it was Once one of the most up-to-date mills on the River until flour milling ceased (in 1949) and that it was one of the few country mills using plansifters instead of centrifugals - i.e. flour sieves as opposed to flour dressers.

2004

News from the past . . .

The first known reference to the mill was c.1200 in an agreement between Alexander de Kerkeby and William de Hales that Alexander should pledge to William his part of the mill along with easements in water and fishing rights in return for 80 marks of silver.

On 7th September 1672, an indenture assessing the Lockage on the Bungay Navigation cites the mill in an order from the Commissioners where it appears there is a difference between the Exors. And the Heirs-in-law of Mr. Hammond late of Ellingham in the Co. of Norfolk as to which of them the estate in a Water Mill in Ellingham aforesaid should belong. Dat 1676.

On 1st January 1772, Lincoln Matchett, the miller took out insurance on the mill:
Water Corn Mills under one Roof with the going geers belonging situate as aforesaid, brick timber and tiled not exceeding £1200. Utensils and stock therein £300.

During the American War of Independence 1775-1783 Bungay, Ellingham and Wainford mills produced flour for export to America.

MYSTERIOUS TRAGEDY AT METTINGHAM
HUSBAND AND WIFE FOUND DROWNED
On Saturday morning at ten o'clock one of the millers employed at Ellingham watermlll made a horrible discovery. Observing something in a dyke leading into the river Waveney in the two mile he made investigations and found the bodies of a man and woman in the water. Both were quite dead, and he obtained assistance and conveyed the bodies to Mettingham Tally Ho. Inquiries revealed the identities of the deceased as Mr and Mrs Harlev of Beccles, the man having been lately employed at the Tan Yard. It is said that he had a short time since attempted to commit suicide. During the last few days he and his wife had been staying with his daughter at Shipmeadow. The deceased were ending their visit on Saturday, intending to take the train at Ellingham Station, and it is conjectured that on the way Harley jumped into the dyke. It is thought that his wife went to the rescue and that a struggle ensued ending fatally for both. A cut or bruise is visible on the womans temple. The whole affair must have happened very quickly as some persons went past the spot only a short time previously, and nothing was seen of the deceased who left their daughters home at just before nine.

On Saturday evening Mr Coroner Chaston opened the inquest upon the bodies at Mettingham Tally Ho, Mr E. Brock being foreman of the jury. The first witness called was Mrs Mary Mayes, a labourers wife, residing in Shipmeadow, who identified the bodies as those of Samuel Harley aged 49 late a workman at the Tannery in Beccles, and Jane Harley, his wife aged 48. Harley had been staying with his daughter Mrs Robert Mayes, of Shipmeadow since Monday. Mr. A. Sheldon, locum tenens, to Dr. Betenson of Bungay was the next witness. He said that he had made an examination of the bodies and attributed the death of both to suffocation by drowning. The womans left eye was swollen and black and there was an abrasion on the left eyebrow, probably caused before death. Owing to short notice all the witnesses were not present and the Coroner adjourned the court until Saturday next. An order for burial was given.
Eastern Daily Press - Monday 4th September 1899

For more history about this mill and many others, please visit - www.norfolkmills.co.uk

Suffolk Wildlife Photo Competition

Suffolk Wildlife Trust is inviting people to "get snapping" for its annual photography competition, celebrating East Anglia's and Britain's amazing wildlife and landscapes. Young photographers, for the first time, are being offered free entry to the competition.

"If you enjoy taking photos of wildlife or the countryside and would like to have a go at entering your first competition then get out there and get snapping!" said education officer Cathy Smith.

"You stand a good chance of having your photo displayed alongside some of the best amateur photographers in the region - you could even win a prize. We aim to make this a showcase for talented amateur photographers who best capture the beauty and significance of our wildlife and landscapes, and to bring their work to a wide audience in a superb natural setting at Redgrave and Lopham Fen - itself a favourite subject for the lens."

Last year's junior winner was Patrick Norman from Carlton near Saxmundham with his photo of a grey squirrel, while Ryan Edwards from Badingham - one of last year's highly commended junior entrants - has continued to pursue his passion for wildlife photography and recently appeared on BBC's Springwatch filming barn owl.

The closing date is 18th July 2008 and entries are invited in the following categories:

• - Best East Anglian Bird
• - Best East Anglian Mammal, Amphibian or Reptile
• - Best East Anglian Invertebrate
• - Best East Anglian Plant or Fungi
• - Best East Anglian Landscape
• - Best Young Photographer(16 yrs & under)

All winning photos and the best of the rest will be on public display at the competition exhibition at Redgrave and Lopham Fen reserve centre (near Diss), 23-25 & 30-31 August and 6-7 September (10am-5pm).

All entrants are warmly invited to attend the exhibition preview night at Redgrave and Lopham Fen on Friday 22 August. There will be prizes for the strongest images and the overall winning photo will be published in Suffolk Wildlife magazine.

For more information and an application form please contact Oka Russell, Photo Competition, Suffolk Wildlife Trust, Brooke House, Ashbocking IP6 9JY,

Tel: 01473 890089 or

email info@suffolkwildlifetrust.org

www.suffolkwildlifetrust.org/swt/pn/photocomp08.html

Counting sheep, a good yarn

An old shepherd named Albert was overseeing his herd in a remote pasture in the countryside when suddenly a brand-new BMW advanced out of the drizzle towards him.

The driver, a young man in a Brioni suit, Gucci shoes, RayBan sunglasses and YSL tie, leans out the window and asks the shepherd, 'If I tell you exactly how many sheep you have in your flock, Will you give me a lamb?'

Albert looks at the man, obviously a yuppie, then looks at his peacefully grazing flock and calmly answers, 'Ok, Why not?'

The yuppie parks his car, whips out his Dell notebook computer,connects it to his Cingular RAZR V3 cell phone, and surfs to a NASA page on the Internet, where he calls up a GPS satellite to get an exact fix on his location which he then feeds to another NASA satellite that scans the area in an ultra-high-resolution photo.

The young man then opens the digital photo in Adobe Photoshop and exports it to an image processing facility in Hamburg , Germany .

Within seconds, he receives an email on his Palm Pilot that the image has been processed and the data stored. He then accesses a MS-SQL database through an ODBC connected Excel spreadsheet with email on his Blackberry and, after a few minutes, receives a response.

Finally, he prints out a full-color, 150-page report on his hi-tech, miniaturized HP LaserJet printer and finally turns to the shepherd and says, 'You have exactly 1,586 sheep and lambs.'

'That's right. Well, I guess you can take one of my lambs,' says Albert.

He watches the young man select one of the animals & looks on amused as the young man stuffs it into the trunk of his car.

Then Albert says to the young man, 'Hey, if I can tell you exactly what your business is, will you give me back my animal?'

The young man thinks about it for a second and then says, 'Okay, why not?'

'You're a Management Consultant', says Albert.

'Wow! That's correct,' says the yuppie, 'but how did you guess that?'

'No guessing required.' answered the old shepherd.

'You showed up here even though nobody called you; you want to get paid for an answer I already knew, to a question I never asked. You used god knows how much technology to show me how much smarter than me you are; and you still don't know a thing about sheep.

Now give me back my dog.'

All Hallows Family Garden Party, 21st June

Family Garden Party

Saturday 21st June 2008
at 2.00pm – 4.30pm

In the grounds of
All Hallows Hospital

Jewellery, Cakes, Ice Cream, Toy Stall,
Children’s Activity Corner, Plants, Books,
Grand Draw-Top Prize £100 Wood Turning,
Flower Arranging, Face Painting,
Traditional Fun Stalls and Much More!

Performances by
Bungay Middle School & Liz Lee Dance School

Everyone Welcome

Free Entry

Please note if the weather forecast is bad this event will take place in Ditchingham Village Hall

Organised by the Friends of All Hallows Hospital
Station Road, Ditchingham, Bungay, Suffolk NR35 2QL
map

www.all-hallows.org.uk

A Day in the Hayfields, c1904 - BFI YouTube archive

Charlie and I, Hells Angels and Free Milk

Secret Confessions?

In the 1960s my friend Charlie and I lived and played in Bungay.

One Hot Summer, Bungay was invaded by a sect of Hells Angels, loads of them, great big hairy guys on roaring loud motorbikes. They toured up and down the streets, some set up camp at the castle hills.






















They stayed for a couple of days, but nobody dared to ask them to leave, not even the local police . . . all both of them . . . would not try to persuade them to leave! No, not even an offer to go to Beccles, as Beccles had a Woolworths, would not have enticed these Angels from Hell to leave Bungay Town.

We were very young, and easily influenced, and thought these guys were great, they looked filthy, obviously didn’t need to wash, and seemed to be able to do whatever they liked . . . just like extra big kids really!






















There were all sorts of rumours and stories of what they were up to, and who they upset in the town, and the one we heard was that they helped themselves to all the milk bottles from off the door steps in the town. Quite an outrage!















. . . Only thing was, we knew two other, much smaller Angels, who took advantage of this situation, and who also enjoyed a bottle of FREE MILK that morning!

Rainbow Blitz - games

Click image to play game

Red Tailed Bumblebee in the Waveney Valley

Bob Heath's exhibition 'BLUR' extended, 29 June

Bob Heath's exhibition, 'BLUR', currently showing at Beyond the Image Photographer's Gallery, Thornham Walks, Thornham Magna, has been extended by an extra week and will now run until Sunday 29th June.

Further information on the gallery, exhibitions and courses can be found on our website www.beyondtheimage.