Acle Student Artist Creates New Fairhaven Family Wildlife Character

Charlotte Ware from Acle High School (pictured) came face to face on 28 June with her creation, ‘Oscar the Otter’; the new character welcoming families with young children to Fairhaven Woodland and Water Garden, South Walsham.

‘Oscar’ is the family guide at Fairhaven and appears on new map boards and in two new children’s nature trail leaflets.

Charlotte won a Year 7 (age 11/12) competition for art students at Acle High School, to create the new Fairhaven character. Charlotte Ware said: “It was great that Fairhaven chose my character. Oscar looks really good in the leaflets and on the map boards.”

Sally Curtis, Art Teacher at Acle High School said: “We are developing a close relationship with Fairhaven. It is on our doorstep and its good to work with the local environment. The children’s character project was an excellent start. We have also had a Year 10 group in the garden, taking photographs to help them create acrylic canvases, which will be exhibited in Fairhaven’s tearoom in September. Next week we are bringing a group to paint watercolours in the garden.”

Louise Rout, Manager of Fairhaven Garden said: “It was very difficult choosing a winner in the competition, but Charlotte Ware’s ‘Oscar the Otter’ came top with his smiling face. I am very pleased with our new leaflets and I hope family groups exploring the garden enjoy completing the nature trails with Oscar’s help.”

Fairhaven Garden won £500 of design work from Ben Jackson of Communicate Marketing Consultancy in a VisitNorwich competition. The prize was used to design the map boards and leaflets and an additional grant from the Broads Authority Sustainable Development Fund paid for the map boards.

Fairhaven Woodland and Water Garden is at South Walsham, nine miles east of Norwich, signposted off A47 at B1140 junction, tel. 01603 270449/270683, www.fairhavengarden.co.uk. The garden is open daily all year, 10am to 5pm (closed Christmas Day), also open Wednesday and Thursday until 9pm from May to the end of August; tearoom, gift shop and plant sales. Admission charges: adult £5, concessions £4.50 and child £2.50, under fives free; dogs welcome on leads (25p charge for pooper-scooper).

Craig's Rest - De Vere Dunston Hall Golf Course

Friends and relatives of the late Craig Waugh and golf club members, attended a reception on the evening of June 22, to officially open a new halfway cabin on De Vere Dunston Hall’s golf course named Craig’s Rest in his memory.

Photograph shows left to right Peter Briggs (Dunston Hall), Cheryl Stevens (Craig's mother), Robert Clawson (Golf Club Secretary), Robert Waugh (Craig's father), Mike Hudson (Club Captain 2009) and Denis McEvoy (Dunston Hall) - at Craig's Rest.

Craig Waugh, a very promising young golfer, died aged 19 in a car accident in July 2006. Craig was Dunston Hall club champion 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2005, Norfolk Boys Champion 2003, winner of the Norfolk Order of Merit 2004 and 2005, Norfolk Amateur Champion 2004 and runner up Norfolk Open 2004. He was a member of the England Under 21 squad and had intended to turn professional in September 2006.

Cheryl Stevens (Craig’s mother) and Robert Waugh (Craig’s father) unveiled two plaques in the cabin commemorating Craig, including an honours board listing his golfing triumphs, which is next to a framed photograph of him driving.

The cabin cost £10,000 to purchase and build. Mike Hudson adopted the cabin as the main project for his Captain’s year (2009). Money was raised through club activities and the annual Craig Waugh Memorial Golf Day.

Cheryl Stevens said: "This is a wonderful tribute to Craig. I am so pleased that this is such a practical memorial and will be well used and enjoyed by local and visiting golfers. It is only anyone who has lost a child who knows how hard it is. It is not something that you get over. Craig loved working at Dunston Hall. If only he had worn a seat belt he would have been here today."

Robert Waugh said: "Craig lived for his golf and was at his happiest on the Dunston Hall golf course. You don’t get over losing a child. You just learn to live with it. I established an annual private invitation golf day to celebrate Craig’s life, and am so pleased that money raised by the event has helped the development of Craig’s Rest."

Mike Hudson said: "We have been wanting a halfway house for a number of years. I decided to make it my Captain’s year project and had incredible support from our members, including help in kind with the installation of the building. We now have a superb facility that is a marvellous tribute to Craig Waugh."

Peter Briggs, Golf & Leisure Operations Manager at De Vere Dunston Hall said: " Craig Waugh was a very special golfer and by now could have been a regular on the European tour. He was very popular with our members and is greatly missed by everyone at the club."

Craig’s Rest is sited at the back of the 7th green and is close to the 8th and 13th tees, and includes toilets, a reception room and veranda. Hot drinks are currently available at weekends and there are plans to install a drinks machine. Catering can also be arranged for special events.

Fifteenth Wymondham Music Festival Fortnight June 26 to July 11

The 15th annual Wymondham Music Festival, centred on Festival Fortnight June 26 to July 11, celebrates professional Norfolk musicians, combined with a selection of national artists and showcases local talent in this historic Norfolk market town.

There’s everything from a Steely Dan tribute band, to Jane Austen’s Musical England, opera, Indian classical music, folk, jazz, classical recitals and concerts and a Teddy Bears’ Picnic, accompanied by Brolly Folk playing jolly tunes for all ages.

More than 50 events, many of them free, take place in a range of venues across the town. The 12th century Wymondham Abbey hosts several concerts and recitals including, The Art of Sound (June 30), Duo Contra (July 1), Wymondham Symphony Orchestra (July 10), Wymondham Youth Orchestra (July 3), a special Wymondham Young Pianists’ concert (July 5) and Tonally Different (July 6), a lunchtime recital featuring traditional British songs.

Open-air venues are well used. There’s the annual Midsummer Jazz Picnic at Becketswell featuring the DixieMix Jazz Band and the Theatre of Adventure (June 28). King’s Head Meadow hosts the Teddy Bears’ Picnic (July 4) and Browick Road Recreation Ground has a selection of local youth bands and up-and-coming DJs in Live ‘N’ Gigging (June 26). Hear popular Norwich musicians, The Rum Brothers (July 3) in The Market Place along with Chameleon a 1940s tribute band (July 8) and Wymondham High School Jazz Band (June 26). Ketts Park is the place for Steely Dan fans – an evening with Steemy Dan (July 10).

Folk concerts are at The Baptist Church – Horse’s Brawl (July 2 - pictured) and Stone Angel (July 3). Wymondham High School has Live Wire Opera Company (June 26) and Wymondham Youth Music Society (July 8). Fairland Church Centre hosts
Sulekh Ruparell, Eastern Music Company, for an evening of classical Indian music (July 9).

The festival heads out of town for an evening at Kimberley Hall with Consort Royal, as they explore Jane Austen’s Musical England (June 27). There’s also music and poetry with singer-songwriter Caomhe at Becket’s Chapel (July 6), plus the opportunity to explore the town with Blue Badge Guide Judy Hawkins (July 11).

Full festival programme details are at http://www.wymfestival.org.uk, or contact the Festival Office tel. 01953 601939. The festival brochure can be picked up at Wymondham Tourist Information Centre. Wymondham Music Festival is supported by Wymondham Town Council, South Norfolk Council and Norfolk County Council.

De Vere Dunston Hall – Capturing the World Cup Spirit of 1966

De Vere Dunston Hall has launched a series of £19.66 World Cup offers. Pictured left top right capturing the 1966 spirit are Denis McEvoy General Manager, David Graham Deputy General Manager, Becky Gedge Receptionist and Laura Price People & Development Manager.

World Cup offers priced at £19.66 are available for the duration of the tournament.
These include 18 holes of golf and a Chef’s Special in Bunkers, two main courses in Bunkers, golf buggy hire on England match days, 12 golf balls and breakfast for two.

There’s also a special World Cup Final BBQ – watching the game on a large screen TV with a pint of beer or glass of wine included at £19.66.

Denis McEvoy, General Manager at Dunston Hall, said: "All the staff and I want to ensure that the spirit of the World Cup comes to life at Dunston Hall. With England's 1966 World Cup win still so prominent in people's minds we thought what better way to celebrate this year's tournament than to offer a range of discounted deals at £19.66 - let's hope it will bring England luck in 2010!"

For further details about promotions and events at Dunston Hall please call 01508 470444 or visit http://www.devere.co.uk/our-locations/dunston-hall.

CNS Students Cook Up New Menu at De Vere Dunston Hall

Year 9 students (aged 13 and 14) at City of Norwich School (CNS) have been challenged to create a new children’s menu, to be launched in time for the summer holidays, by Paul Murfitt, Director of Food & Beverage at De Vere Dunston Hall.

The students visited the hotel just before half term to get an understanding of the food operation and met Paul Murfitt, who briefed them to work on a fun menu of starters, mains and puddings, with plenty of healthy eating options.

The CNS team will embark on a research phase, asking friends and family members for their suggestions. This will be followed by trial cooking of potential dishes at school, before they are presented to Paul Murfitt for his approval.

The project also includes the design of the menu card and the inclusion of word searches and quizzes to help keep youngsters amused in the restaurant.

The menu will be used across all three Dunston Hall restaurants – The Brasserie Bar & Grill, La Fontaine and Bunkers.

Paul Murfitt said: “We are really pleased to be working with the CNS students. I am very impressed with their enthusiasm and the thoroughness of the project, and am looking forward to the development of a very exciting new children’s menu.”

Belinda Campbell, Food Technology teacher at CNS said: “This type of project is invaluable. It brings the students’ work in the classroom alive and helps introduce them to the food and drink industry. They are all really up for it and I am sure that they will present a lot of very good recipes for us to test.”

For more information about De Vere Dunston Hall tel. 01508 470444 or visit
http://www.devere.co.uk/our-locations/dunston-hall.

Wroxham Barns – British Minigolf Championships Results

Tim Davies from Hastings (pictured taking his last putt) won the 2010 British Minigolf Championships on Sunday, June 6 at Wroxham Barns, coming top of a field of 27 golfers, with a total of 231 shots over seven rounds.

Mr Davies won the championships by one shot from Nick Chitty. It is Mr Davies’ third British Championships win and his 8th major in 10 years on the circuit, a record for a British minigolfer. Tim Davies also took home the Seniors title.

Nicky Chitty won last year’s English Open, staged at Wroxham Barns. He equalled his course record of 29 today, set during the English Open. Peter Parr also equalled the course record.

Adam Kelly from Cambridge won the Wroxham Barns trophy for best East Anglian golfer and Helen Heald from Nottingham was best novice.

Tim Davies said: “It is the first time that I have played the Wroxham Barns course. It is very challenging, but most of the holes can be aced (holes in one) by top golfers. I am really pleased to have won the title here in what was a very close competition.”

Sean Homer, Chairman of the British Minigolf Association, who came fourth in the competition, said: “It has been a pleasure to return to Wroxham Barns and stage a major. It is a brilliant course and plays fantastically. I would like to thank everyone here for their wonderful hospitality.”

http://www.minigolf.org.uk, http://www.wroxhambarns.co.uk

First Ever Peated English Whisky Goes On Sale in Norfolk

First Ever Peated English Whisky Goes On Sale in Norfolk

The first batch of what is believed to be the first ever peated English malt whisky goes on sale on Monday 7 June at St George’s Distillery, Roudham, Norfolk, home of the English Whisky Company (EWC).

Some 2,500 bottles of Chapter 9, the EWC’s peated malt whisky will be available at £39.99 a bottle.

Jim Murray, international whisky critic and author of the Whisky Bible speaking to Reuters earlier this year said: "The EWC's peated whisky is way up there and is of an exceptionally high quality. A number of Scottish distilleries just don't achieve that. Partly, that is because EWC is a small company and they ensure what they are producing is of high quality and every cask counts. They are on the path to gold."

St George’s Distillery is open daily 10am to 5.30pm. Distillery tours run on the hour from 10am to 4pm. St. George's Distillery, Harling Road, Roudham, Norfolk, NR16 2QW, tel. 01953 717939, www.englishwhisky.co.uk.

The English Whisky Company has been the lifetime ambition of its founder James Nelstrop, who celebrates his 65th birthday on Monday 7 June. The idea was finally given the green light in November 2005. One year later, the building design had been agreed, planning permission granted and a whole new distillery, conference centre, visitor attraction and warehouse built from scratch on a beautiful 10-acre site. Distilling began in November 2006.

The first distiller at St George’s was the world-renowned Iain Henderson of Laphroaig fame. Iain set up the distillery and trained his successor David Fitt, who has continued the tradition of “quality first – regardless!” The Nelstrop family is the sole owner of the business, with no outside investors. This allows the distillery to make great whisky as it’s first priority and provide a return on capital a distant second.

The EWC’s first release last December, a non-peated whisky, was also well received by whisky critics.

Andrew Nelstrop, Managing Director, The English Whisky Company said: “We are delighted that our peated whisky has received critical acclaim. We are also look forward to getting feedback from our customers.”

Lydia Smith, Team Manager, Norfolk Tourism said: “It is great for Norfolk that we have such a high-quality new food and drink business, which is developing a truly world class reputation.”

Sculpture for Norwich

Sculpture for Norwich
Inauguration of New Charity to Promote Public Art in Norwich

Sculpture for Norwich, a new charity established to promote public art and sculpture in greater Norwich, will be inaugurated at a special event in The Hostry, Norwich Cathedral on June 29. The event will be coupled with the launch of a public appeal for an initial £35,000 from local sources to help fund the charity’s first project: the commission of a sculpture to celebrate The Norwich School of Artists.

The charity, which has been formed out of The Norwich Society and Norfolk Contemporary Art Society (NCAS), has identified a site for its first commission on St-Martin-at-Palace Plain, with the help of Norwich City Council. The site is in front of the house where John Sell Cotman, one of the key members of The Norwich School of Artists, lived and exhibited his paintings.

The aim is to complete this initial commission for the Cultural Olympiad countrywide arts festival in 2012 and thus to form part of Norwich’s contribution. Norwich Castle Museum and Art Gallery is also planning events that year to celebrate the Norwich School of Artists as part of the ‘Great British Art Debate’.

Keith Pollard, Chairman of Sculpture for Norwich said: “Sculpture for Norwich has been founded to promote the commissioning and installation of sculpture of high quality in public places in and around the City of Norwich. It will also aim by a variety of means to encourage a wider appreciation in Norwich of the benefits of public sculpture. The prospect of Norwich becoming the first UK City of Culture in 2013 provides a splendid context for our ambitions and we wholeheartedly support the bid.”

Isabel Vasseur, a major figure in the public art movement since the 1980s will be the key speaker at the launch event, attended by an invited audience, on June 29. She has
co-ordinated visual arts festivals in Glasgow, Edinburgh and Gateshead, and was Senior Visual Arts Officer for the British Council. The topic of her lecture will be “Eyesore or Adornment, Memorials and Landmarks: an assessment of Public Art.”

A website sculpturefornorwich.co.uk will be launched towards the end of June.

For more information about Sculpture for Norwich e-mail sculpturefornorwich@googlemail.com or tel. 01603 743165,