Paul Saunders - Lowestoft Scores Challenge in Brother’s Memory

Norwich resident Paul Saunders is running the Lowestoft Scores Race on Sunday, September 13 in memory of his brother Sean, who took his own life in 2003, while suffering from depression.

Paul and brothers Sean and Dean grew up in Lowestoft. Their parents used to run The Crown Hotel at the top of Crown Score, one of the landmarks on the Lowestoft Scores Race. The 4.75-mile run, organised by Waveney Valley Athletic Club, includes seven steep climbs, six descents and 409 steps.

Paul is doing the run in aid of The Davenport Trust, a new Norfolk charity set up to help people of all ages recognise and deal with the symptoms of depression, an illness from which, unbelievably, one in four of us suffers. He has already secured pledges totalling more than £500, see http://www.charitygiving.co.uk/paulsaunders/

"I have never been a runner," said Paul. "But in January I made a resolution to get fit. I needed a focus to keep me going and thought that the Lowestoft Scores race would be the ideal challenge with all the hill climbs. Doing something positive in Sean’s memory has been an additional inspiration. I have been aware of The Davenport Trust for some time as it was set up following a tragic loss of life not dissimilar to Sean."

"I have great memories of growing up in Lowestoft," added Paul. "We got up to lots of mischief and it was always Sean who ended up getting the blame! It is going to be very emotional running a race in an area that used to be our playground."

James Clarke, Davenport Trust founder said: "I wish Paul the best of luck for the Lowestoft Scores Race and thank him for thinking of The Davenport Trust. We are a small charity that is keen to remove the stigma attached to depression and help old and young combat its symptoms."

The Davenport Trust takes its name from Shaun Davenport, a 17 year-old student at Hewett School, Norwich, who faced a bright future, yet took his own life in January 2003. The trust’s first publication I Feel Sh*t featuring contributions from young people, giving their personal views on how depression can be combated is due to be published in early 2010, http://www.davenporttrust.org.uk/.

Andrew Hall's Visions

Listen to Andrew Hall's music and read his story at http://www.myspace.com/andrewhallvisions. His CD 'Visions' is being sold in his memory in aid of Rethink.

FourSight - Art from Norwich, Novi Sad, Rouen, Koblenz

Norwich Twenty Group’s (N20G) autumn exhibition, 'FourSight', Fourth exhibition of work from four European Cities, showcasing more than 230 works, opens at the old Bally Shoe Factory, Hall Road, Norwich, courtesy of Targetfollow Group, on Monday, September 7. The exhibition runs to Saturday, September 19 and is open daily, 10am to 6pm, with free admission and free parking.

The exhibition features work from many of Norfolk’s top artists, with contributions from N20G’s sister art groups in Norwich’s twin cities of Rouen, Novi Sad and Koblenz. It is the fourth in a sequence of alliances with Norwich’s twins and the first time that Koblenz artists have taken part.

The art on show is wide ranging and features traditional, figurative and abstract painting, sculpture and imaginative site installations responding to the space of the old factory.
As well as the exhibition of large works, there will be an opportunity to pick up many small items in the Art Bazaar. All Art Bazaar items are donated by N20G members to raise money for the group and are sold for £15.

New Members exhibiting with N20G for the first time are Martin Battye, Mike Chapman, Katarzyna Colman, Oliver Creed, Lizzie Harvey, Gill Levin, Rachael Long, Derek Morris and John Rance.

N20G reviews the Final Degree Show at Norwich University College of the Arts each year and invites three young artists of exceptional talent to join the group as 'licentiates'. This means they become members of the group for one year free of charge and are qualified to take part in exhibitions. This year’s artists include Victoria Scott and Kevin Parker.

Image above right: Pebbles from Bossington with Apricots by Joceline Wickham

Families' House Big Lottery Fund Grant

Great news that Norfolk and Norwich Families' House has been awarded a grant of £150,000 from the Big Lottery Fund http://www.biglotteryfund.org.uk to support the supervised contcat service, http://www.familieshouse.org.uk.

Broadlands Rotary Club Art Exhibition

Seventy-one local artists, featuring just under 400 paintings and prints, will display their work at Broadlands Rotary Club’s 33rd annual Art Exhibition, sponsored by Wroxham Barns, at Hoveton Village Hall on Saturday 29 and Sunday 30 August, 10am to 4pm. There is also a preview evening on Friday 28 August from 7.30pm to 10pm.

The event raises money for the Rotary Club’s local charities and Polio Plus, the global polio eradication initiative supported by Rotary International.

Three of North Walsham’s Hippos will be on stage during the exhibition: Horatio from North Walsham Junior School, Bubbles from Mundesley Junior School and Harriet from Wroxham Barns.

The photograph show Eileen Claverley Junior Farm Wroxham Barns Manager with Harriet.

Breakaway Networking

I have just joined Breakaway Networking - Norfolk independent business networking. It meets at Norwich Cathedral Refectory every Thursday morning at 7.30am for breakfast.
http://www.breakaway-networking.co.uk

Fairhaven Garden - the He Hews

I was at Fairhaven Woodland and Water Garden http://www.fairhavengarden.co.uk/ yesterday for the Green Festival and saw the He Hews - what a great band!

Here's a link to the Norwich Evening News report on the Green Festival.

http://www.eveningnews24.co.uk:80/content/news/story.aspx?brand=ENOnline&category=News&tBrand=ENOnline&tCategory=news&itemid=NOED03%20Aug%202009%2016%3A00%3A38%3A903