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LITCHAM PARISH COUNCIL

At the June Parish Council meeting, attended by seven Councillors, County and District Councillor M Kiddle Morris and one parishioner the following was considered:

The Green: There had been no further comments regarding the use of the tables and benches on The Green and the members were pleased to see how well used this is becoming. The company that is installing the solar farm to the north of Litcham have agreed to cover the costs, from their community fund, of new posts for the edge of the Green. The Parish Council is to obtain prices for this work before proceding.

Dog Fouling: There has been an increase in the instances of dog fouling throughout the village. Please would all dog owners clear up after their dogs. There are dog bins on the Common and on The Green for the disposal of the dog waste-please use them or take your dog waste home and use your green wheelie bin. The Dog Warden had been contacted and he is to visit the village to look at the problem and to advise on additional signs and possibly extra dog bins.

Speedwatch: A further session is planned in the near future. The Speedwatch team needs additional members to enable more sessions to be undertaken. If any person wishes to join the Speedwatch team please contact the co-ordinator Gwen Page on 701523.

Highways: Whilst the Highways department had filled many potholes recently there are still some on Dereham Road, Mileham Road and at Coronation Corner which will all be reported.

Next Meeting of Litcham Parish Council is due to be held on 1 July 2013 at the Jubilee Hall at 7.30 p.m. All parishioners are cordially invited to attend and the first part of the meeting is set aside for parishioners to raise issues with the Parish Council.

Full minutes can be viewed from the Meetings Page

Objection to Accounts 2011-2012 - Council Cleared

Click here for full Report from Mazars

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MEMORY LANE

Kerry Walpole has kindly sent me this link to an archive film on the East Anglian Film Archive. In it an Anglia TV reporter visits Litcham post office during the busy Christmas period, to see how a sub post office is run. There is an interview with sub-postmaster, Mr Bennett, and postman Mr Warnes, who we follow him on his regular postal round.

Click here to view a fascinating glimpse of Litcham past...

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LITCHAM FOOTBALL CLUB

If anyone is interested in joining one of our teams for next season please contact the clubs welfare officer Richard McCormack 01328701844 who will put you in contact with the relevant coach/manager.

If a local Business or individual would be interested in sponsoring one of our teams to help some of our young players please contact the club.

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FRIENDS OF LITCHAM ALL SAINTS

Thankyou for your support

Thanks to Helene for all her efforts both before and on the day and for generously donating the Canapés, also to Bev and Judy for making a canapé and donating the ingredients, and lastly to Norfolk Stove Installers for donating the wines.

Everyone throughly enjoyed the afternoon and we hope to see you again next year. Thanks for your continued support.

Kerry Walpole, Friend of Litcham All Saints

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BIG C COFFEE MORNING - THANKYOU

The Coffee morning on 18th May at Litcham Jubilee Hall was very generously supported. We raised £570, a big thank you to all who planted and potted up, baked and were creative, donated cash or raffle prizes. All support in whatever way it was displayed, contributed to this brilliant amount.

A cheque has been forwarded to the Big C to help support individuals and their families affected by cancer.

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LITCHAM COMMON

Litcham Common – no cattle after all

The growth of vegetation on the common has been a bit slow to get going this year, so a decision has been taken not to put any cattle on for the time being, so as to avoid overgrazing. In particular, we want to ensure that there is sufficient grazing to sustain our ponies and Molly over the winter months. The position will be kept under review, and we will take advice from the Norfolk Wildlife Trust before adding to the number of animals on the common.

Conservation Group

We would like to thank Rory Hart for leading our nature walk in June. We had a fascinating time, and were truly impressed by Rory’s knowledge about the different plants, insects and other creatures we came across, which included a toad, two adders and a grass snake.

The next conservation task will take place on Saturday 13th July, meeting as usual at 10am in the common car park. Contact Tim Angell on 01328 700045 if you are interested in joining us.

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LITCHAM VILLAGE MUSUEM

The Litcham Village Museum, at ‘Fourways’ on the Mileham Road will be open from 2:00pm  until 5:00 pm at weekends from Saturday 6th April until Sunday 29th September 2013.

The Museum contains displays of rural life bygones, domestic items, children’s toys and local photographs dating from 1860 to the present day.

Free entry but  donations always welcome, free adjacent car parking in the field opposite.

If you would like to volunteer to help in the museum please call Mr Ron Shaw 01328701382 or Mr David Sheppard on 01328 700609; they will be very pleased to hear from you.

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LITCHAM LIME KILN GARDEN

Plans for the Lime Kiln garden for Hampton court Flower Show have progressed beyond all expectation.The garden has been accepted by the Royal Horticultural Society for the Show.We are awaiting allocation of space but we know it will be on the North side of the Longwater near to the entrance gate.trying to grow many plant varieties but still need more so would welcome any offers of additinal plants such as Hollyhock ,Lupins, Foxgloves and any other plants which are grown in Norfolk and flower in July.We would also welcome any wild plants grown in pots such as ivy, brambles ,convolvos valerian [old maid]which would enhance the natural effect of a disused Lime Kiln The theme of the garden is that it is part wild and part cultivated .

We would welcome any additional support such as help with building and transport to the show

This garden is an impression of Norfolk constructed by garden loving people that grow their own plants.Come with us to Hampton Court.

Please do not hesitate and contact us. Call Ralph or Linda Nichols 07968733232 ralphnichols63@yahoo.com

or Claire Lawrence 01328 700145 or Chris Mitchell 07884174101

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LITCHAM SCHOOL

New Headteacher

I will be retiring at the end of the summer term and I’m pleased to be able to report that the governors have appointed a new headteacher to start in September. He is James Adams, currently deputy headteacher at Framingham Earl High School, near Norwich.  I know that Mr Adams is delighted to be taking charge of our very special all-through community school. His appointment will mark the start of a new phase in the school’s development, following the merger of the primary and secondary schools and he will bring fresh ideas to help meet the many challenges facing Litcham and other small, rural schools.

Primary notes

The primary phase had a busy but fun spring term and we are now looking forward to an equal amount of fun, discovery and hard work throughout the summer term.

White Doves (years 1/2) swam for victory in the pool, making waves in all the right ways.  The cross-country was a triumph, with amazing efforts all round and Kingfishers (years 5/6) rose to the challenge in netball.

The boys are loving BERT, their exclusive weekly reading club, every Thursday 12-12.30. More men are always welcome to hear the boys read, so if you have a spare 30 minutes to encourage boys to read, read and read again, please speak to Mrs Watts.

Sadly, years 5/6 had to say goodbye to Mrs Vince, who had been working temporarily in their class. However, this is due to the good news that Mrs Read will be returning after Easter.

As the spring term drew to a close, we finished with a BANG!

Our talent show revealed a wealth of musical talent and more than one or two budding comedians – watch out Michael Macintyre.

As for the Easter bonnet/hat parade, what a triumph: hats, masks, headbands – creations of all shapes and styles.  The hall was full of chicks, eggs, bunnies, flowers and much more. Many parents attended and it was enjoyed by all.

Next term promises even more excitement in the primary phase – more super sport, including extra cricket and tag rugby lessons for years 3 /4, more trips, more special assemblies and simply MORE of everything.

A new business manager

David Allen, our school business manager left at the end of March to take up a more senior position in another school. David has been a key member of the management team, especially in the merger of the two schools and in our constant efforts to keep raising standards, against a back-drop of service cuts and reductions in funding levels. Our new business manager is Sharon Robertson, who brings a wealth of management experience in schools and the NHS.

Sad news

Just before the start of the Easter holiday, we received the very sad news that Sarah Haylett, a student in year 10, had died. She had been seriously ill for several weeks in Addenbrooke’s hospital, Cambridge.  Sarah was a lovely girl.  Intelligent and hard-working, she was a model student who was destined to make a great success of college, university and beyond. Sarah was also the kindest and most thoughtful of young people, who always put others before herself. We will miss her terribly and our heart-felt thoughts are with her parents, Sally and Robert, her brother Jack and her many friends.   

Jeremy Nicholls, Headteacher, with thanks to Nici Clifton, year 3/4 teacher, for the primary notes.