Review of the Year: West Norfolk’s biggest stories from December 2024: Festive fun, housing nightmares, body found on side of A47 in King’s Lynn and King’s New Year’s Honours
It certainly wasn’t a quiet end to the year in West Norfolk, with plenty of good and bad things happening across the area.
At the start of the month, a West Dereham mother told the Lynn News about the continuous struggles she was facing getting mould and damp out of her home.
Kimberly James said that she had a number of issues with damp and mould at the Freebridge Housing Association property, which affected her two young girls Kiah and Kadi, 10 and six respectively.
Both children are classed as vulnerable due to having a brain condition.
Freebridge said they were sorry to hear about the children’s health condition, but added that “significant repairs” have been carried out to rectify problems.
Throughout the majority of December, we were providing you updates on police investigations as the body of a man in his 20s was discovered at the roadside on the A47.
The body was first discovered on December 2 on the stretch of road in Lynn between the Pullover and Shoreboat roundabouts.
It was later discovered that his cause of death was a head injury and he was identified by the coroner as 26-year-old Nerijus Vysniauskas.
A man in his 60s was arrested in Reading on suspicion of causing death by careless driving and failing to stop and report a collision.
The suspect was tracked down by police and was transported to Wymondham Police Investigation Centre for questioning.
He was later released on bail until March 10.
Part of the A47 had temporary traffic lights put in place while officers continued their investigations into the circumstances of Mr Vysniauskas’ death.
An inquest into his death opened on December 19, which heard Mr Vysniauskas lived at Hall View Road in Gaywood.
In the same month, an inquest was also held into the death of an 18-year-old baker from Snettisham who died in a “tragic accident”.
Aidan Bailey died last year after a crash on the A149 in which he sustained multiple injuries.
Aidan was described as a “very family-orientated young man” who was close to his brother and sister.
The inquest heard that Aiden was driving his orange Honda motorbike along the A149, accompanied by a friend who was also driving a motorbike.
The friend pulled into a lay-by to allow Aiden to catch up, at which point Aiden made a hand signal for his friend to pull out back onto the road ahead of him.
However, for a reason that coroner Ms Goward said “can’t be established”, the two bikes then collided with each other. Aiden attempted to travel around his friend, who fell from his vehicle, but in doing so crossed the road into oncoming traffic.
Despite the driver of the Range Rover slowing to less than 30mph by the time its airbags were deployed, the crash was catastrophic for Aiden. He was pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics.
Meanwhile, a church leader shared his concerns for his congregation’s safety after one of its signs was ripped down.
Rev Ola Adegoke suspects that the vandalism was a hate crime against The King’s Glory Church in North Lynn.
The incident was reported to Norfolk Police, who started carrying out investigations into the vandalism.
The pastor, whose church is a parish of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, said the only trouble they have encountered in the past was when someone attempted to uproot the sign about six months ago.
On a lighter note, many residents in West Norfolk got in the festive spirit and celebrated Christmas in style.
Our reporters went to watch pantomimes in Lynn, Hunstanton, Fakenham and Norwich and gave them top marks for festive humour - oh yes they did!
We also shared the stories of many successful youngsters, including 12-year-old Aidan Purkins, who designed his very own board game which is now on the shop shelves.
Musically-minded Erin Bond, nine, wrote and sang her very own Christmas song, which was recorded at her school.
School children also travelled to care homes to sing and connect with elderly residents, while other youngsters wore Christmas jumpers to raise money for charity.
And finally, to end 2024 with a bang we had eight West Norfolk residents awarded with a King’s New Years Honour.
Famous faces including well-known racer Martin Brundle, who lives in Gayton, received Officers of the Order of the British Empire award by the King for his services to motor racing and sports broadcasting.
Stephen Fry, who resides in West Bilney, received a Knights honour from King Charles III for his work as president of mental health charity Mind and as vice president of Fauna and Flora International for his services to mental health awareness, the environment and charity.
Other recipients included The Rt. Hon. Patricia Hewitt, who received the Dames Commander of the Order of the British Empire. She is chair of the Norfolk and Waveney Integrated Care Board, for her services towards “healthcare transformation”.
Lynn-based businessman Richard Finney, the mind behind Captain Fawcett, has been awarded a Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE).
Lynn-based foster carer Barbara Howell also received an MBE for her work fostering children for Norfolk County Council.
Vice-chair of the Wells Lifeboat Guild Sheila Warner also received an MBE.
Sophie Ellis and Jessica Lapping, who are both co-organisers of the charity quadrathlon The Norfolk Superhero, both received an MBE.
