The Mallard

Issue349 November 2020

An Excellent Donation For

Macmillan Cancer Support
As reported previously, we were unable to hold
our Macmillan Coffee Morning in September
because it was just impossible to abide by the
COVID 19 rules, given the large numbers of people who usually attend. However,
nothing stops Chrissie Warnes & Great Massingham when it comes to fund raising
and the ‘Village Yard and Stalls Round the Green’ event was held in August as an
alternative fund raiser for this year. Chrissie’s promised report of the final figures is
included here:-
“This year has seen us having to fund raise in a slightly different way. I am pleased
to report we raised the fantastic sum of £3,100 for Macmillan Cancer Support. This
final figure includes raffles and other donations from the day and
also £580 from Caroline’s woodland chair raffle. Brilliant! Many
thanks to Caroline, to all who bought tickets and to the Village Store
for selling them. Thank you also to everyone who gave items to sell,
made donations or who supported us in any other way.” Chrissie Warnes

Well done, Great Massingham! A good result yet again!

Coronation Club
We met up in February and discussed what to do in the year ahead. We were going
to go out for lunch, afternoon teas and pastries. Well, of course, none of that was
possible so we came up with the idea of taking an afternoon tea to every member.
Thanks to Mark and his team at the Cartshed, we were able to do this. Each member
received a box with sandwiches, sausage roll, sponge, carrot cake and a scone with
jam and cream. Everyone was really pleased and it brightened their day in these
very strange times.
Although we can’t meet up at the moment don’t forget we are only at the end of the
phone if you need us. Best wishes to everyone. Jill and Liz
What a lovely idea and well done to the Cartshed.
Did you know that they have opened their doors further,
from 16th October, to include both inside and out ?
They have worked hard to provide a safe environment for
everyone and, at the same time, offer the comfort and
convenience of a cosy tearoom.
They have expanded their menu and invite you to come and
look. Bookings can be made via Facebook,
telephone (01485 520272) or just drop in.
Why not pop in, see the menu, have lunch or coffee & cake?

1
Mallard News
This parish magazine is published

Village Hall
every month for the residents of
Great and Little Massingham with the
support of the Great Massingham
Parish Council, the Parochial Church
Council and Massingham Village Hall
Trustees.
and Bar
www.greatmassingham.net
e-mail: No membership required
mallard.editor@btinternet.com for the time being. A polite reminder that
Editor: Bev. Randall. Current Opening Times masks should be worn
6 Abbeyfields Thursday 7pm until 10 pm when entering the bar and
Great Massingham taken off when seated. This
01485 520 899 Friday 6pm until 10 pm
Saturday 5pm until 10 pm protects the health of our
Deadline for the Sunday 12 noon until 6pm staff and other customers.
next issue
17th Friday Evenings in the Village Hall Bar
Whilst BINGO is not taking place, it is possible to
November hire a table tennis table and bats on a Friday night,
when the bar is open. Groups of no more than 6
In this issue including at least two adults. Contact Debs Lambert
• Macmillan for hiring details and to book.
• Coronation Club deborahgmvh@gmail.com
• Village Hall
• Can You Help? An Important Message From Reverend Judith
• ‘Histry’ Bits
• Community Cars "On behalf of the PCC of St. Mary's, I would like to share
• Dec/Jan Issue urgent concerns with you. A detailed report is commissioned
• FOSPGM every five years about the condition of our church building and
• Film Night we have just received the latest report.
• Gert & Daisy It reveals a catalogue of urgent repairs prioritised according to
• Grassroots Malawi urgency; a very long list. Rainwater goods such as guttering
• Rosemary Jewers and pipes for example, are in very poor repair. If you could
• School News
• Ducklings Preschool consider making a donation towards the upkeep of our village
• Well done Westacre church I assure you that the money is vitally needed and will
• Parish Council be well spent. With winter approaching the situation is dire as
• Samaritan’s Purse our normal revenues have been severely depleted due to Covid
• Reverend Judith restrictions and the church being closed for so long. Any help
• Church News you can give would be hugely appreciated.” Reverend Judith
• Church Services
• Biodiversity Project Donations may be sent via Steve Hudson, Churchwarden or Alan
• Halloween Pumpkins Frazer, PCC Treasurer. If you are a tax-payer we can claim gift-aid
• Nexus Fostering on your donation - please ask me for further details.
• Dates for your Diary Cheques should be made to 'Great Massingham PCC'

TONY INWOOD
CREATIVE GARDENING
Specialist in pruning and training
Telephone: 07887 780 056
All sizes of work undertaken
9 Crossing Cottage, Little Massingham
King’s Lynn, PE32 2JZ
tonyinwood100@icloud.com

2
Mallard News
‘Histry Bits’.... Next Day Delivery!
As far as I know, Massingham has had five post offices since Her Majes-
ty’s Royal Mail first penetrated our obscure little village at the beginning
of the eighteenth century. The one I remember best was kept by Mr and
Mrs Dick Leverett facing onto the village pit, and which doubled up as a
petrol filling station. While Dick spent his time hand-cranking fuel from
his underground tanks Mrs Dick saw to the Post Office side of things,
organising delivery and despatch of letters, parcels and newspapers, and
selling such vital items as fish hooks, boot laces and Wills Woodbine
cigarettes.
The first national postal service was introduced in 1635 when mounted
post boys delivered letters by hand to the local post master. This was a
painfully slow business, and the post boys were easy targets for robbers.
To counter this, a fleet of
mail coaches, brightly
Mail Coach in
coloured and with heavily
Victorian Times
armed guards, and drawn
by relays of four horses at
a time, was launched.
These mail coaches cut
travel times between ma-
jor towns and cities by up
to a half, and delivered
letters by the next work-
ing day.
So how did the system work in practice? Let’s suppose you wanted to
send a letter to a friend in London. Having sealed your missive with red
wax you’d take it to the Post Office, which was at that time situated in
John West’s grocers shop on the Weasenham Road. There you’d pay for
postage which, in the days before penny blacks and twopenny blues,
could be quite expensive. Every day at 5.35 pm precisely John West’s
servant boy would collect the letters and take them to meet the Rough-
am coach on its way to Brandon where, in turn, it would be met, at full
gallop, by the London Mail, its driver blasting out warnings on his post-
horn as children and animals scattered in all directions. And our
Massingham letter?
Delivered safely shortly before noon the next day. David Miller

Community Car Scheme
We re-opened at the beginning of
September. Please see our website at
massinghamcommunitycars.co.uk
or contact the office: 01485 520 823
for latest news/updates.
Early request for Items for Jan. 2021 Issue
The December & January issues will be
combined this time round. This is an early
warning so, if you have items specifically
for January 2021, please get them to me by
the next closing date, 17th November. Editor
3
 Friends Of Scotsman’s Pit Great Massingham (FOSPGM)
Scotsman’s Pit is one of Great Massingham’s greatest assets. Originally dug for the
Monks in the 1500’s it is an essential resource, providing inspiration, recreation, shelter,
safety and tranquillity to so many people, birds, animals and wildlife. Sometimes too
many Birds!
This year the Pit has been under great stress due to:
• The long dry period, lowering the water and oxygen levels.
• The well-intended but over enthusiastic tendering of the margins, producing the per-
fect environment for Geese to land and enter the water, resulting in an abundance of
undesirable waste product.
• The removal of Aquatic Plants to improve the road drainage has also removed the
shelter & breeding areas for the fish, exposing them to the ever enthusiastic & hungry
Cormorants to enjoy an easy, free meal!
A plan needs to be put in place to repair the current situation and enable it to be sustaina-
ble, going forward. FOSPGM - Friends Of Scotsman’s Pit Great Massingham, has been
formed by Claire Moogan and Bob Bones, both residents of Great Massingham. The
scope of this group is the Pond, its margins and the banks - Not the Green!
Its aim is PAIS (Prevention, Active Intervention and Sustainability) by developing a
planned solution for the Prevention of future incidents that could have a negative impact
on the pit. Active Intervention will be provided when required, working towards long-
term Sustainability by actively encouraging positive outcomes, including the mainte-
nance of the Pit as a communal, recreational asset for people to enjoy.
The group’s first meeting was held on Saturday 17th October and included: Peter James
from the Historical Society, Alan Frazer, a resident with a home on the edge of the Pit
and Paul Smith, the current Fishing Warden. The Actions from that meeting are to : -
1. Investigate further, the water feed sources to the Pit.
2. Design a suggested map of the vegetation to plant around the pit to meet all require-
ments.
3. Obtain a toxicity report of the silt and sludge in the pond for possible future action.
If you want to know more, share your knowledge,
support us or be part of this exciting project,
Please join: Friends Of Scotsman Pit Great Massingham Facebook Group
https://www.facebook.com/groups/3364826473637007
Or email us on FOSPGM@gmail.com or telephone Bob on 01485 520650.

American docudrama film based on

FILM NIGHT
th
life of whistleblower Katharine Gun
Thursday 19 November, Book by email. Wear a mask.
7 - 7.30 pm. Film & popcorn £5 massinghamfilmnight@gmail.com
The film is ‘Official Secrets’ Next film.. 10th December

4
Shop window

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5
Mallard News
Gert & Daisy.... .... Well, hint that bin wet? Nearly every day thas coming down.
Then the sun shines but thas still a bit nippy. Good job the Teashop is proper open so
we ken sit inside now.
Of course, we are writing this in the Cartshed Teashop (agin!). We will definitely be
here every week cos we carnt meet each other in our houses and thas too blumming cold
outside. There’s loads of sanitiser and screens and lots of precautions – we feel very safe
and at the moment very full! This week wus bacon bap and homemade tomato soup but
we hev decided to start at the top of the menu and work down – watch this space.
Very sadly, we hev ter report that the fair ownt be coming this year. Thas nothing ter
dew with the Coronavirus nor people complaining – thas just the weather. The greens are
so saturated that wunt be sensible. Hopefully, they will come next year if it ever stops
raining!
There will be no Trick or Treat this year and no firework parties, sadly, unless yew hev a
little family. Gert and Daisy buth hev big families, as yew probably know, so neither of
us ken hev our parties. Christmas is still on but not sure we will need a turkey – probably
a pigeon will suffice!
Guess we’d better start our Christmas shopping soon. That’ll probably be online or
Cartshed vouchers. Don’t fancy gorn up Lynn really – too many people we don’t know.
Belated buthday greetings ter Shelly (Gert’s dorter), Lucy (Daisy’s dorter) and Lillie
(Daisy’s grandorter). Hope we hint missed eny – there’s so many!
Well, not anything else ter report as not much happening. If yew witness a murder or
see a streaker please don’t hesitate ter contact us!
Wishing yew awl the best – take care and stay safe. Gert and Daisy.
Just a cupple of words and things from the great Keith Skipper:
Taken from his buk ‘Larn Yarself Norfolk’
Clip - slight blow or cuff – ‘Clip o’the lug’ Dickey - a donkey and
Local Logic…...
An old Norfolk woman decided to visit her son in Australia.
A friend sympathised with her over the length of the journey.
The old girl replied: ‘That ‘ont be ser bad…. I’m gorn ter break the janney at Diss.’
This month’s Questions….
If yew found a ‘dodman in your garden, If somewun asked yew ter dew a quick
what wud yew be lukking at? sketch of a ‘bishy-barney-bee’, what
a) A rusty and worthless old coin wud yew draw?
b) A gnome pushing a wheelbarrow a) A ladybird b) A hedgehog
c) A rusty bit of metal c) A small boat d) A flower
d) A snail
Answers to last month’s questions… A barney is an argument
A dwile is a floorcloth
GRASSROOTS MALAWI….Despite the Printed on A4 glossy paper they are ideal
rain, our stall on the 3rd October raised gifts at Christmas. Prices range from £3 for
£210. No more sales this year but thank a pair of children’s plastic shoes up to £30
you for your tremendous support. for a training course for a student. Please
Did you know that every year we have contact Jenny Borley for an up to date list
‘Alternative Gift Vouchers’ for Malawi? on 01485 520 542. Many thanks.

6
Shop window

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Contact Donna on 07793 737 312 Our menu can also be ordered to eat
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7
Mallard News
Well Done Rosemary! An amazing Achievement.
We have been following Rosemary’s huge effort to raise funds for St Andrew’s Church
roof, Little Massingham. Here is her final report. I know many of you have been follow-
ing her progress and have also donated. If you haven’t yet done so, please do, if you can.
Rosemary reports:
“On 22nd September my walking companion, Rina and I left Colchester to walk around
90 miles. I was raising money for the roof of Little Massingham Church. The tempera-
ture that day reached 26C! Within a few days we were battling high winds, driving rain
and negotiating fallen trees. Along the way we met well-wishers who walked sections of
the route with us. When we reached Little Massingham, the Bishop of Lynn gave us a
wonderful blessing in the churchyard.
We finally made it to the end of Peddars Way on
Final Stretch. Tuesday 29th and were greeted by a small (Covid -
19 limited) group.”
Left is a picture of the final approach to Holme,
and the end of Peddars Way.
Below you can see Rosemary and Rina at the
finishing tape, at the Peddars Way sign and
receiving well-deserved bouquets.

Approaching the Finish line.

Receiving bouquets as a
thank you and well done.

At the Peddars Way

sign, Holme.

“To date, I have raised over £8,800 which is truly wonderful - thank you all of you who
have donated. The Church still needs to raise approximately £150,000 so, if you haven’t
donated, even a pound or so would be fantastic. Please help if you can.
My Just Giving page will stay open for a few more months bit.ly/2wBvJS5 and Lings
Country Goods will be taking donations for a little while longer.
Thank you again, Rosemary.”
8
Mallard News
Great Massingham and Harpley C of E Primary Schools Federation
Children from both schools returned to school in September and they have all
been working very hard. Neither school was completely closed during the current
crisis but September was different in that all children returned rather than just specified
age groups attending.
The rules are, of course, very different. We want to say a special
thank you to all parents for their positive support and for follow-
ing all the rules carefully. This is really appreciated.
Harvest Festivals were held in both schools with Harpley children
attending Church at St. Laurence’s and Massingham children
attending at St. Mary’s. A huge thank you to Rev’d Judith for
taking the services and for all the parents for donating items for
the Dereham Food Bank. The displays were amazing.
This year, due to COVD-19 protocols, we were unable to welcome parents along on the
day. Each class (bubble) attended the Church separately and performed their own presen-
tations. The services were, however, videoed on ipad and made available to parents.
A huge thank you to everyone - parents, staff and pupils - for all you have done to allow
the current situation to run so smoothly. Mrs Stibbon, Staff & Governors
The winners of the October Draw Thank you all for your support. This is
1st prize – Nina Darlow the last draw this time round and we
2nd prize – Carol Walker have decided to wait a while, due to the
3rd prize – Becki Aston virus situation, before we start up again.

Ducklings Pre-School….
Pre-School received a generous donation from Phil and Carol of Simply Just Coffee.
Children from our two bubble groups stayed apart for the picture but were able to wave
hello to each other. Par-
ents are not able to come
in to pre-school, so they
enjoyed a socially dis-
tanced chat with a cup of
coffee. Many thanks to
Phil and Carol.
Parents are going to be
invited, one family at a
time, to view the work
the children have done
from September. A big
thankyou to all our pre-
school parents for keep-
ing to the Pre-school
Guidance, to keep us all
safe. Pip.

Good News for Westacre Theatre ! We are thrilled to hear that Westacre Theatre has
been awarded a grant as part of the Government’s Culture Recovery Fund to help face the
challenges of the coronavirus pandemic and to ensure a sustainable future.

9
Mallard News Parish Council
PARISH COUNCIL - SEPTEMBER MEETING
The September Parish Council meeting was again held remotely via Zoom. Seven Parish Council-
lors attended along with Borough Councillor J Moriarty and three parishioners.
The Council discussed several issues relating to the open spaces within the village.
The planned visit to the village by Grays Family Funfair Rides has now been cancelled
and will hopefully be re-scheduled for next Spring, once the weather has much im-
proved.
David Bracey Play Safety Inspections has been asked to undertake the annual inspec-
tions of both the Play Area and Outdoor Gym, over the coming weeks. Playgrounds
should be inspected annually by an independent specialist to ensure the long-term safety
of the site, equipment and ancillary items. This will also meet legal and insurance re-
sponsibilities as well as complying with the requirements of EN1176 (the European Play-
ground Standard).
The Parish Council have also begun planning for the Christmas Lighting in the village
for December/January. Although the Christmas lighting will be installed and displayed
as it is every year, there are no plans for an official ‘switch on’ event, due to Covid-19.
The Parish Council have been approached by the developer, Derek Hales Ltd, who will
be undertaking the new development at the Summerwood Estate, Walcups Lane, to ask
for suggestions for a new street name for those properties that will not be on Walcups
Lane. It has been suggested, by the Council, that consideration be given to ‘Mike Til-
bury Close’, after the former long-standing Borough Councillor for Great Massingham.
Council Tax Support Scheme 2021/2022 Consultation
The Borough Council runs a scheme that provides help to people with the cost of their
Council Tax bill, if they're on a low income. This scheme is called local Council Tax
Support. The Council Tax Support scheme only applies to working age people. There is
a national Council Tax Support scheme for people who are pension age, and the rules
are decided by central government.
Every year the Council Tax Support scheme is reviewed. The consultation for the Bor-
ough Council’s 2020/2021 Council Tax Support scheme is now open and can be found
at www.west-norfolk.gov.uk/ctsconsultation
The Borough Council are keen to hear views on the scheme from as many residents as
possible. Please have a look at the details and complete the questionnaire, and also let
the BCKLWN have any comments you may have.
Full details of the Council Tax Support scheme are available on our website
www.west-norfolk.gov.uk or you can contact the Clerk, Sarah Harvey, directly for any help
or further information. Paper copies of the questionnaire are available on request.
Tel:(01328) 823391 or email gmparishclerk@gmail.com
The Next Parish Council Meeting will be held remotely via Zoom on the 9th November,
at 7.30pm. Members of the public can still join the meetings. If you wish to do so, please
contact the Clerk or obtain the access details from the relevant agenda in order to join the
meeting. You can join either by phone, computer or android/apple device. As always,
there will still be an opportunity during the meeting for parishioners to speak.

REMINDER: Samaritan’s Purse Operation Christmas Child - 2nd to 8th November

Please pack a Shoebox. Pre-printed boxes available UNTIL 8th November.
Leaflets can be collected from Great Massingham village store or St Mary’s Church
Please contact Yvonne - 521706 or email: yvonne1inm@yahoo.co.uk
Drop off point - St Mary’s Church, Great Massingham.
10
Shop window
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11
 Message for Parishioners

THope
OA LL P
springs eternal in the human breast... so wrote poet Alexander Pope
ARISHIONERS
– and I genuinely believe these words. There is something indomitable, un-
quenchable about the human spirit.
Through the dark days of two World Wars, our national mood was one of
resilience & patient fortitude during the many battles, skirmishes, sorties and campaigns
that make up a war; and now, in 2020, make no mistake, we are once again living in a
war zone with this biological enemy, this endlessly mutating Covid 19 virus.
On Remembrance Sunday and Armistice Day we will be remembering people of out-
standing courage in the face of the enemy, together with those who made the ultimate
sacrifice. On All Souls Day, we remember those we have loved and see no longer - this
side of heaven. This year Remembrance-tide takes on added emotional charge. As a na-
tion, we grieve with the bereaved: so many people lost. As we remember those who
have lost their lives in military conflicts past and present, we can add to their number all
those medical professionals, key workers and many others whose selfless devotion to
duty and to their fellow human beings has put them so at risk.
I’d like to give a name to one of the many residents, perhaps dementia sufferers, in care
homes who have been prevented from seeing their families, whose emotional support
they so need to thrive: my mother Muriel, ninety years old. It is heart-breaking to ob-
serve from afar her swift decline. You feel so powerless; and yet, that spark of hope that
our faith gives us spurs us on to the next day, the next week. I think it was Samuel Beck-
et who wrote: ‘Ever tried, ever failed; try again, fail again, fail better…’ The words of
our dear saint, Mother Julian of Norwich, come to me: ‘All will be well, all will be
well’... eventually; it will just take a long time and we will need all our strength to get
through it.
We need similar heroic qualities as they did in the war: resolute, patient, resilient, hope-
ful, in it for the long haul. Hang on in there: Hope springs eternal in the human breast!
You can perhaps hear echoes of that great Anfield anthem: ‘Walk on, walk on with hope
in your heart and you’ll never walk alone…’ This is our abiding Christian faith, that
God will never forsake us, even though our hopes and dreams have never been more
tossed and blown. My closing prayer is for us all: Gracious God, instil hope in our
hearts, inspire love between us; and hold us always in the palm of your hand, Amen.
With my love and every blessing this Remembrance-tide, Reverend Judith.
ST MARY’S CHURCH NEWS…. our prayers and the last post.
We are pleased to be holding our Family Once again we will be strict about
Praise service every third Sunday of the social distancing and sanitisation.
month. Next one, 15th November, 9.30 am. A very reverent service to enable
In accordance with the regulations, we are us to remember those who gave the ultimate
fully compliant with sanitising stations, sacrifice.
seating arrangements to give us social dis- Coming in December……..
tancing and everyone wearing of masks. Our Carol Service will be held on
While we are not allowed to sing or have Sunday 20th December. We will
live music we do have joyous choral hymns have our usual service of Christ-
to give a happy and pleasant service. mas carols, readings and prayers.
Remembrance Sunday The usual conditions apply to ensure our
8th November at 10am. Followed by our act safety. Help us to bring some joy into our
of Remembrance in the churchyard with Christmas celebrations. Stephen Hudson
12
Church Services November
Date Time Service Location
1st November 9.00 am Holy Communion Grimston
9.30 am Lay Led. Little Massingham
11.00 am Holy Communion Zoom
Wed. 4th Nov. 9.00 am Holy Communion Harpley
th
8 November 9.30 am Lay Led Little Massingham
10.00 am Remembrance Service Great Massingham
10.45 am Remembrance Service Grimston
10.45 am Remembrance Service Gayton
10.50 am Remembrance Service Harpley
Wed. 11th Nov. 10.45 am Remembrance Service Ashwicken
3.00 pm Lectio Divina Zoom
15th November 9.00 am Morning Praise Grimston
9.30 am Family Praise Great Massingham
9.30 am Lay Led Little Massingham
11.00 am Holy Communion Zoom
Wed.18th Nov. 9.00 am Holy Communion Grimston
nd
22 November 9.00 am Holy Communion Harpley
9.30 am Lay Led Little Massingham
11.00 am Morning Prayer Zoom
3.00 pm Celtic Service Gayton Thorpe
Wed. 25th Nov. 3.00 pm Celtic Service Zoom
th
29 November 9.00 am Holy Communion Grimston
Advent Sunday 9.30 am Holy Communion Great Massingham
9.30 am Lay Led Little Massingham
11.00 am Prayer & Praise Zoom
Wed. 2nd Dec. 9.00 am Holy Communion Harpley
th
6 December 9.00 am Holy Communion Grimston
9.30 am Lay Led Little Massingham
11.00 am Holy Communion Zoom
At all our church services, it is now compulsory to wear a mask when attending services in church
(unless you have an exemption). We are continuing with our live online services, via Zoom, each
Sunday, 11am, except 8th November this month . Also on two Wednesdays at 3pm.
If you wish to join our Zoom services, either Sundays or Wednesdays, please contact
Steve Williamson on 01553 636 413 or stephenwilliamson001@gmail.com
For more information please visit our benefice website at www.ggmbenefice.uk

Thank You from St Mary’s…… Firstly, would like to thank our church cleaners for
keeping our church in lovely condition. We are desperately short of people to help for
just one hour on Saturday morning, at 10am. Secondly, thanks to our clockwinders who
negotiate the steep steps to keep our village in time. Also, a very big thanks to our dedi-
cated team who work tirelessly to keep our churchyard in good order. Finally, thanks to
Rev’d Julian for everything. Stephen Hudson, Churchwarden
13
Shop window

Landlords Electrical Testing

Electrical Upgrades
All Work Fully Insured
For your free estimate please call Adam Prime on
01485 601141
07765 786709
primenetworkgrp@gmail.com

FIRING Heath Farm Shop

Family run business
selling quality &

SQUAD
bespoke meat and
produce, from our own
farm & local Suppliers
Heath farm Shop, Lynn Lane,
Great Massingham
WOODBURNERS King’s Lynn, Norfolk, PE32 2HJ
01485 520 828
Comprehensive stock to view at our Open 9-5 Monday to Friday
showroom on 9-1 Saturday
The West Raynham Business Park.
01328 854 098
e-mail: firingsquadwoodburners@yahoo.com
www.firingsquadwoodburners.com
APPROVED CLEARVIEW STOCKIST

Great Massingham
Village Hall and Bar
WE ARE OPEN!
Current opening times are: High quality fitted and free-standing
Thursday 7 to 10pm furniture. Individually designed,
Friday 6 to 10 pm
Saturday 5to 10pm personally installed by experts from
Sunday 12 noon to 6pm our Great Massingham workshops.
No membership required www.tenacityinteriors.com
for the time being.
Please come along and support.
Excellent facilities. Good beer, wines and CALL TODAY
spirits at competitive prices. Outdoor 01485 521888
drinking area. Satellite large screen TV

14
 Useful Numbers
Organisation Contact Phone No.
Allotment Association Gill Goold 0750 824 2223
Biodiversity Project Tim Baldwin 520 813
Borough Council James (Jim) Moriarty 07879 492400
Bell Ringing Dale Gagen 520 024
Bowls Club Martin Matthews 520 707
Church Contacts Revd Judith Pollard 01485 601 251
Community Car Scheme Office 520 823
Coronation Club Jill Whitmore 520 609
County Council Stuart Graham Dark 07450 679 355
Dabbling Duck Pub Mark Dobby 520 827
Doctors Massingham Surgery 520 521
The Film Night Arthur Allen 520 628
Fishing Warden Paul Smith and Ken Perry Sue Nash 07802 670 711
Guide Trefoil Guild Shirley Rae 520 259
Massingham Historical Society Peter James 521 706
Tennis and Multi-Sports Club Clare Parker 520 469
Parish Council Sue Nash (Chair) & Sarah Harvey (Clerk) Clerk 01328 823391
Pre-School Pip Armitage 07807 185 746
Police Non-emergency 101
School Kirsten Stibbon 520 362
Village Hall Hall & Bar & Vic Cross 520 588/520 387
Village Stores and Deli Mark and Kerry Eldridge 520 272

OVEN CLEANING
CARPET CLEANING
SOFA CLEANING
Call the local experts now

Installation of Solid, Clean Tech

Engineered & Laminates.
Floor Sanding & Re-Finishing. 01485 609223
Call Chris
Card, cheque and cash
Mobile 07894 791 723
Landline (01485) 521707 payments accepted
www.gibbswoodfloors.co.uk
15
 Biodiversity Project News November 2020
Recent work at the Project site has been focused on tidying up prior to the approaching
winter. The hedgerow behind the meadow has been cut to encourage thickening and
reduce the shade that can be cast on the meadow itself next year. The Great Willowherb
along the wet meadow edge has also been cut back where it was hanging over the green
but most will be left to provide shelter for small mammals and invertebrate life through
the winter.
Fungi continue to be a feature and the Common Ink Cap (see right),
found growing in damp grass around the pond, illustrates one of the
many strategies that fungi use to disperse their spores. Most fungi
with a capped toadstool spread spores on the wind as they fall from
the gill structures beneath the cap. In the case of the Ink Cap the
spores are contained in a gooey black ink that
falls from the cap as it breaks down and stains the
grass below. The spores are then spread by ani-
mals treading them around and by the action of
the rain. The black spore laden liquid was once
used as ink and although the fungus is reputedly
edible it is very poisonous when combined with
alcohol: this earned it the nickname of ‘tippler’s bane!’
Elsewhere, late flowers can still be found and the roadside margin of
the pond at the Weasenham and Rougham Road junction is bright-
ened by wild Michaelmas Daisies. (see left) This plant was intro-
duced from North America and its ancestry of the many garden forms
can clearly be seen. Tim Baldwin

16