Sew Creative – get hands-on at Wroxham Barns in 2012

Sew Creative, the Aladdin’s Cave for patchwork and quilting fans at Wroxham Barns in the Broads, has arranged a very busy January to July programme of courses and workshops mixing old favourites with new ides. Full details are at www.sewcreativequilts.co.uk/workshops.


The popular patchwork and quilting courses are all on offer, but there is much more: crochet, dressmaking, curtains and roman blinds sessions, plus a residential weekend workshop in July, making a machine sewn heirloom quilt, based at Melbourne House, North Walsham.

Children (aged 10–12) are well catered for, with a series of one-day workshops during February and June half-term holidays, featuring kite making, balsa wood and foam glider making, cross-stitch and plastic canvas creations.

Special one-day courses include rag rugs, machine trapunto, tote bags, felt mini wall hangings, mastering your sewing machine, zips, zips and more zips, Sashiko quilting and an Oliver Twist experimental day.

Sew Creative owners Barbara and Stephen Kessel, who took over the business from Sylvia Graham nearly 12 months ago, were ‘bowled’ over by the response to their first programme of courses, which ran from July to December. “We have expanded our offer for the first half of 2012 introducing a wider range of activities, with more day courses and more children’s workshops and are looking forward to a busy 2012! “

For more information about Sew Creative tel. 01603 781665, http://www.sewcreativequilts.co.uk/.

Wroxham Barns, http://www.wroxhambarns.co.uk/, tel. 01603 783762, is open daily 10am to 5pm (closed Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day), 10 miles from Norwich, take A1151 to Wroxham then follow brown and white tourist signs for 1.5miles on the Tunstead road. Free parking.

The Tagman Press - The Making of a Britflick

New from The Tagman Press, The Making of a Britflick by Robin Squire, available as an e-book from Amazon, here http://amzn.to/trs6D4 - a cautionary tale for screenwriters.


This is a warm, funny, wry and often deeply-moving true-life account of how not to make a feature film. It is also a romantic and touching love story. Assembled from novelist and screenwriter Robin Squire’s genuine private diaries, it describes the heartaches and tragi-comic ups and downs that occurred during the several years it took to complete a UK Indie feature film portraying something spooky and supernatural that also really happened.

And if The Making of a Britflick is itself ever deservedly made into a movie about film-making, perhaps contention for a Hollywood Oscar would provide the epic comic ending this highly original story so richly deserves.

At the heart of the saga is a well-meaning, charming female control freak who somehow manages to take over the hiring and firing of key personnel, and ultimately the script itself, with disastrous results for all concerned.

This tale of filmic woe proceeds side-by-side with the screenwriter’s real-life encounter with a beautiful 1930s/40s-danceband-style singer, whose brilliant move close to the big-time is transformed by the vagaries of misfortune into low-paid yet strangely enriching and sometimes hilarious gigs in Care Homes for the Elderly together with the struggling author, who starts to entertain along with her.

And although it might seem to end in tears for both strands of the story, the indefatigable metaphor-mixing scribe never loses his sense of the absurd and, to his credit, continues to see all the clouds as being lined with dazzling silver.

The Making of a Britflick will be of absorbing interest to anyone who writes, has ever written, wishes to write or is just plain interested in writing films or novels. It involves a diversity of characters from rich moneymen to scheming lawyers, agents, elusive stars, hopeful actors, earnest directors, world-weary producers, cynical editors and other hangers-on who invariably attach themselves to film-making. But above all this is a tale of a creative individual’s survival against the harsh odds of this modern world – and, ultimately, of the transforming and uplifting powers of love and self-belief.

http://www.tagmanpress.co.uk/

Back to the Future – Reepham Church Norfolk Restored for Medieval Use

The £360,000 award-winning restoration of St Michael’s and All Angel Reepham has taken the church ‘back to the future’, so it can be used in the same way as when it was built in the late 14th century.


The church, with its open space in the nave, can host events for all ages: dinners, lunches, breakfast networking events, receptions, concerts, exhibitions, community and business meetings, conferences, community activities and church services that require space and mobility.

The adjacent St Mary’s Church, connected by a corridor to St Michael’s is the parish church where more formal services take place.

The restoration has won the following awards: RIBA East Spirit of Ingenuity Awards 2011 – Community Architecture Award (A Squared Architects); Norfolk Association of Architects Craftsmanship Award (highly commended); CPRE Norfolk Award 2011 and Broadland District Council Enhancement Scheme (highly commended).

Jo Tym St Michael’s Project Manager explained: “We want St Michael’s to be used and enjoyed by the community just as it was in medieval times. Churches were once at the centre of all community activities not just worship. We have a wonderful historic church, which is equipped for 21st century use and we invite everyone locally to help us take the church ‘back to the future’.”

The £360,000 project was half funded by a legacy. Some £70,000 came from Reepham’s low carbon challenge and paid for heating, a further £47,000 came from public donations and fund raising. There were also major grants from the Norwich Diocese, John Jarrold Trust, Garfield Weston Charitable Trust, Geoffrey Watling Foundation, Love Norfolk and The Rank Organisation.

The chancel in St Michael’s which is separated from the nave by a glass screen, is open daily and welcomes visitors who want to enjoy the tranquillity of the church as well as explore its history. It can be accessed from St Mary’s, also open daily. Services are still staged in the chancel and nave. The famous Kerdiston tomb, one of only three box tombs in the UK, is in the chancel of St Mary’s.

The three parish churches for Reepham (St Mary’s), Whitwell (St Michael’s) and Hackford (destroyed by fire in the mid 16th century) unusually shared the same churchyard. St Mary’s and St Michael’s were separate parish churches until the 1930s. St Michael’s has had some community use since the 1970s, but the new project ensures that the church offers an attractive multi purpose space that meets all the standards required for 21st century community life.

For further information contact Jo Tym 01362 688281, email jo@physiotym.co.uk.

Photograph by John Tym

Boxing Day and New Year’s Day Walks – Fairhaven Woodland and Water Garden

Join Ian Guest, Head Gardener at Fairhaven Woodland and Water Garden, South Walsham for a guided walk in the garden on Boxing Day, Monday, December 26 and New Year’s Day, Sunday, January 1, both starting at 11am.

Garden admission, including the guided walks, is adults £5.50, concessions £5 and children £3 (under 5 free). The walks last 1½ hours and a free mince pie and glass of mulled wine will be on offer at the end.

Highlight include the massive 950-year old King Oak and other ancient oak and beech trees, the views across South Walsham Inner Broad and the opportunity to look out for kingfishers.

Fairhaven Woodland and Water Garden is at South Walsham, nine miles east of Norwich, signposted off A47 at B1140 junction, http://www.fairhavengarden.co.uk/.

The garden is open daily all year, 10am to 5pm (closed Christmas Day), tearoom, gift shop and plant sales. There is wheelchair access to the garden, including a Sensory Garden. Visitors requiring special facilities are advised to telephone in advance, mobility scooters available. Dogs are welcome on leads; small charge to cover poop scoop.

Fairhaven Woodland and Water Garden, winner of Best Broads Holiday Experience and Best Visitor attraction under 50,000 visitors) EDP Tourism in Norfolk Awards 2011.

Norfolk 2012 Promoted at VisitEngland Travel Media Event

Ian Russell, Director Wroxham Barns is pictured with Lady Cobham Chair VisitEngland at VisitEngland’s December travel media gathering at The Brunswick Art Gallery, Russell Square, London.


Ian Russell delivered a hamper full of Norfolk produce from Wroxham Barns to Lady Cobham. The hamper was first prize in a special Christmas draw, won by Lauren Taylor from the Press Association.

Melanie Cook, VisitNorwich and Paul Dickson, Norfolk Tourism represented the county at the media gathering, which was attended by more than 70 UK and international travel journalists. They promoted Norfolk as a London 2012 destination, as well as showcased key events taking place next year including the Norfolk & Norwich Festival, the Torch Relay and the Diamond Jubilee.

http://www.visitnorfolk2012.com/

50 Christmas Trees in a Church Dickleburgh - The Winners

The winning trees voted by the visitors to the 8th 50 Christmas Trees in a Church, Dickleburgh, which closed on Sunday, December 11, are:

Adult: Dickleburgh Good Companions
Child: Dickleburgh Primary School
The Nick Arnull Plate for the most innovative tree: Eaton Hall School Specialist College.

 Rev. Norman Steer, event organiser said: “We had a wonderful week with visitors ranging in age from 2 to 102. There were many more children than last year, who came to hear a story and sing carols. People visiting for the first time were amazed by the display of trees and lights and regulars returned because the festival has become an important part of their Christmas. People wanted to talk; there was a wonderful fellowship with visitors sharing their joys and difficulties. Our prayer tree was filled with cards and more than 800 candles were lit in memory of a loved one.”

"I would like to thank all the exhibitors for their hard work in producing such an excellent ‘crop’ of trees this year,” continued Rev. Steer, “ along with our volunteers for their help, including the organists and Raymond Hubbard who played his concertina every day and told Norfolk stories. Our sponsors Cherry Lane Garden Centre, Rosedale Funeral Home and TWP Designs gave us invaluable support. I would also like to thank everyone who visited who made it such a special event. We are already planning for next year with three new trees exhibitors wanting to get involved.”

For more information about 50 Christmas Trees in a Church, tel. 01379 854245 http://www.50christmastrees.com/.

Photograph: Dickleburgh Good Companions tree.

World Mince Pie Eating Record Smashed at Wroxham Barns Norfolk

James Smith from East Somerton near Great Yarmouth smashed the world record for eating two mince pies at the Macmillan Monster Mince Pie Munch, in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support, at Wroxham Barns, Norfolk, on Sunday, December 11. More than £1500 was raised for Macmillan over the weekend.


Mr Smith ate two mince pies in 51.71 seconds, beating the previous record of 60 seconds. The nearest ‘muncher’ came in at 1 minute 22 seconds, in a field of more than 30 challengers. The record breaking time will be submitted to the Guiness Book of World Records.

James Smith said: “I thought it would be good fun to have a go and also help an important cause like Macmillan Cancer Support. I made sure that I drank plenty of water before the start and ate the mince pies in small pieces. I think I will next have a go at the record for eating three mince pies!”

Peter Sheppard, Leathes Prior solicitors tourism and leisure partner, who looked after the stopwatch as independent adjudicator explained: “Once James had eaten his first mince pie in under 30 seconds I knew that the record was going to crumble. I was really pleased to get involved as independent adjudicator for the challenge. As tourism partner at Leathes Prior I am very happy to support the tourism industry in Norfolk, especially during a weekend raising money for such a good cause.”

Ian Russell Director Wroxham Barns added: “We were thrilled with the number of people who came to the barns today to support the Macmillan Monster Mince Pie Munch. The success of our world record challenge was the real icing on the cake.”

Every craft studio and shopping outlet at Wroxham Barns, along with the restaurant café, offered ‘free’ mince pies, on December 11 in return for a donation to Macmillan.

Max Griffiths, Macmillan Fundraising Manager said: “We are delighted that Wroxham Barns has committed to our centenary challenge to get 100 Norfolk businesses to raise £1,000. This is a wonderful way to raise both funds and awareness of the work of Macmillan Cancer Support. Two million people are living with or beyond cancer in the UK, and the money raised by Wroxham Barns will go towards helping local people living with cancer.”

Wroxham Barns, http://www.wroxhambarns.co.uk/ , tel. 01603 783762 is open daily 10am to 5pm (closed Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day), 10 miles from Norwich, take A1151 to Wroxham then follow brown and white tourist signs for 1.5miles on the Tunstead road. Free parking.

Photograph: Peter Sheppard (adjudicator) left with James Smith.

Wroxham Barns Norfolk – World Mince Pie Eating Record Attempt – Sunday, December 11

Head to Wroxham Barns, Hoveton, Norfolk on Sunday, December 11 and have a go at beating or equalling the world record for the most mince pies eaten in a minute. The challenge is part of the Macmillan Monster Mince Pie Munch in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support.


Ian Russell Director Wroxham Barns explains: “Mince pie ‘munchers’ who want to have a go at the world record will need to eat two mince pies in a minute. They are welcome to attempt the record at any time between 11am and 3pm on Sunday, and will be asked to donate £5 to Macmillan Cancer Support for taking part in the challenge. We will give £50 to the best ‘muncher’ and a further £50 to Macmillan.”

Every craft studio and shopping outlet, along with the restaurant café, will also be offering ‘free’ mince pies, on December 11 in return for a donation to Macmillan. There will be seasonal music from the Hellesdon and Sprowston Brass Band and fun activities in Junior Farm to entertain ‘munchers’.

Ian Russell, Director Wroxham Barns explained: “Already two businesses at the Barns, Model Landscape Co. and Tricia Francis, are supporting Macmillan’s Norfolk business centenary challenge to raise £1000. The Monster Mince Pie Munch will give a boost to our Macmillan fundraising. We will have 2000 ‘free’ fresh mince pies on offer, all made in our kitchen. I don’t want any left!”

Max Griffiths, Macmillan Fundraising Manager said: “We are delighted that Wroxham Barns has committed to our centenary challenge to get 100 Norfolk businesses to raise £1,000. This is a wonderful way to raise both funds and awareness of the work of Macmillan Cancer Support. Two million people are living with or beyond cancer in the UK, and the money raised by Wroxham Barns will go towards helping local people living with cancer.”

Wroxham Barns, http://www.wroxhambarns.co.uk/, tel. 01603 783762 is open daily 10am to 5pm (closed Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day), 10 miles from Norwich, take A1151 to Wroxham then follow brown and white tourist signs for 1.5miles on the Tunstead road. Free parking.

Wroxham Barns is one of Norfolk’s most popular visitor attractions offering a range of shopping and crafts, together with activities for younger family members including the award winning Junior Farm. The restaurant-café serves breakfast, morning coffee, lunches and afternoon tea, all freshly made, using local, seasonal produce where possible.