On This Week in King’s Lynn, Hunstanton, Sandringham and Downham Market: May 19-25 2013 and a picture from May 1995
This week, we take a look back at what was hitting the headlines from May 19- 25 2013 as well as a picture from 1995…
Lynn’s Queen Elizabeth Hospital has been accused of turning into a “care home” as urgent operations are delayed due to bed blocking. People needing surgery are being forced to wait longer for their procedures as the hospital struggles to cope with the number of elderly patients taking up much-needed resources. One 62-year-old South Wootton woman, who was referred for an urgent operation on her right hip on January 7, has now been told her operation would not take place until at least the end of July. That is because of bed shortages caused by large numbers of frail, elderly patients with long-standing social issues occupying elective orthopaedic beds.
A mid-week market will be returning to Hunstanton after a six-year absence, West Norfolk Council has announced. The Wednesday market will return to the town next week and visitors will be able to browse among the variety of stalls on the Southend Road car park between May 29 and September 25. The market, which was cancelled in 2007 due to lack of interest, will be held for a trial period. As well as the Wednesday market, the Sunday markets will continue to be held throughout the year at the same site.
West Norfolk beekeeper Nick Gallican has become the victim of a rare theft of beehives from a lavender field at Dersingham. The honey producer, who lives at Islington, discovered that four of his hives and bee colonies, worth about £1,000, had been stolen from land off Fern Hill when he visited the field last week. A Norfolk police spokesman said: “This was an unusual crime and it is likely the thieves would have needed some prior knowledge of beekeeping to make the theft.”
Cider drinkers can raise a glass to celebrate the Railway Arms at Downham being crowned East Anglia cider pub of the year. It regularly sells three ciders including some from brewer Pickled Pig, based at Stretham, near Ely. The pub beat off opposition from drinking spots around the region following their recent success in the West Norfolk and Norfolk cider pub of the year competitions, also run by the real ale campaign group Camra. The Railway Arms now goes forward to try its luck at winning the national award.
A rescue dog’s tail has had a happy ending after a Norfolk Green bus was named after him. Sox, a Staffordshire Bull Terrier, is joining the likes of Admiral Lord Nelson, Captain George Vancouver and Hunstanton flood hero Reis Lemming. Sox is owned by Jill Walsh, of Hunstanton, and has become well-known for his regular appearances at the town’s RSPCA shop where he was popular with customers because of his friendly nature.
The sun shone on a bumper turnout for this year’s Samaritan’s Bike Ride around the Sandringham estate. The number of riders totalled 114, one of the best ever entries for the event, and cheering crowds gathered at the start and end of the 14-mile ride. The Samaritans nationally are celebrating their 60th anniversary this year and the fancy dress theme for the bike ride was 60 Years of Movie Stars. A team from Dersingham Post Office won the group section, dressed as Pirates of the Caribbean.
A recreation of the popular former seed merchant’s shop, R&A Taylor, of Norfolk Street, Lynn, now forms a new display at Gressenhall Farm and Workhouse museum of Norfolk life. The Taylor family were seed merchants in Lynn for four generations, selling flower and vegetable seeds to gardeners as well as grass, clover and root seeds to farmers. The business actually started in 1770 at St Germans and moved to Lynn about 1800; the museum display goes back to the 1930s to show what the seed shop would have looked like then.
Lynn Motor Club is still on the road after 60 years. Although fuel prices have rocketed and health and safety rules have escalated, the club is cruising along in top gear and has held a glittering diamond anniversary celebration. Formula One frontman Martin Brundle, who competed in club events in his early days and is now one of the club vice presidents, joined more than 120 past and present members at a reunion to revive their motoring memories.
