NEWS from LITCHAM ALL SAINTS

First, our thanks to all who made the Christmas Lunch and Bazaar such a great success. We raised £500, despite there being a lot of Christmas fairs in other villages – so that was particularly good. Thank you all who helped in any way and for coming. The backroom music was an added bonus and helped with the ambience. Thank you André for that.
Our next fundraiser is the Lexham Hall Snowdrop Walk. We organise the refreshments in aid of Litcham All Saints Church by kind permission of Mr & Mrs Neil Foster. We need lots of soup, cakes and sausage rolls, please. It is on Sunday 10th February from 11 am to 4pm. See post
Although it seems a long time ago, the weekend of the 100 years centenary of the end of the First World War was a very busy one. Following Commemoration at Beeston, on Sunday 11th November there was a very good turnout at Litcham when the Reverend Dennis Ackroyd conducted the Remembrance Service. That evening, Godwick Barn was the venue for “The Battle’s Over Commemoration” successfully organised by Tittleshall Parish Council with guest of honour, General, the Lord Dannatt former head of the army who spoke movingly of his grandfather, whose medals he wore, as well as touching on his extensive experience of the army of today and some of the consequences for soldiers and of the debt we owe. Also present was the Bishop of Lynn and the High Sheriff of Norfolk.
The Remembrance Day Service collection from Litcham All Saints, Beeston St Mary’s and the Fransham Churches together with generous donations for the Appeal from Litcham and Beeston Parish Councils amounted to £708.96. Grateful thanks to John Jones, RBL who forwarded the collection to the Norfolk County Poppy Appeal 2018.
30th December, is a Fifth Sunday – come and join us at Litcham All Saints for the Benefice Service at 10 o’clock. There will be a few nibbles and a glass of wine afterwards. We look forward to welcoming you.
We all wish you a very Happy and Peaceful New Year. Love and God Bless, June Bevan

PS- I have noticed that when I have short-changed Chester his treats – yes, he counts them – and then he lies down and whistles through his nose!

Lexham Hall Snowdrop Walk

Sunday 10th February 2019 ~ 11am to 4pm
Come and enjoy some soup, sandwiches
cake and sausage rolls in a nice warm Barn Café.
Dogs on leads welcome.
Monies raised toward Litcham All Saints
Enquiries to June Bevan 01328 700274

Remembrance

Although it seems a long time ago the weekend of the 100 years of the First World War was a very busy one. Following Commemoration at Beeston, on Sunday 11th November there was a very good turn out at Litcham when The Reverend Dennis Ackroyd conducted the Remembrance Service. That evening, Godwick Barn was the venue for “The Battle’s Over Commemoration” with Guest of Honour, General, the Lord Dannett former head of the Army who spoke movingly of his grandfather, whose medals he wore, as well as touching on his extensive experience of the Army of today and some of the consequences on soldiers and of the debt we owe. Also present was the Bishop of Lynn and the High Sheriff of Norfolk.
The Remembrance Day Service collection from Litcham All Saints, Beeston St Mary’s and the Fransham Churches together with generous donations for the Appeal from Litcham and Beeston Parish Councils amounted to £708.96. Grateful thanks to John Jones, RBL who forwarded the collection to the Norfolk County Poppy Appeal 2018.
June Bevan

Christmas Lunch & Bazaar

First, our thanks to all who made the Christmas Lunch and Bazaar such a great success. We raised £500 despite there being a lot of Christmas Fairs in other villages – so that was particularly good. Thank you all who helped in any way and for coming. The backroom music was an added bonus and helped with the ambiance. Thank you André for that.
Our next fundraiser is the Lexham Hall Snowdrop Walk. We organise the refreshments in aid of Litcham All Saints Church by kind permission of Mr & Mr Neil Foster. We need lots of soup, cakes and sausage rolls, please. It is on Sunday 10th February from 11 am to 4pm.
We all wish you a very Happy and Peaceful New Year.
Love and God Bless, June Bevan

New Year – New Role?

Litcham All Saints are urgently seeking a Treasurer to keep the Church accounts. Some computing and accounting skills would be necessary to fulfil this role of approximately half-a-day a month.
Please call the PCC Secretary, Karen Moore to discuss further. Tel: 01328 700313

Litcham Parish Council – November Digest

At the November Parish Council meeting which was attended by seven Councillors, County Councillor M Kiddle Morris and three members of the public the following was considered:
Planning: Applications. The Parish Council raised no objection to the application for a proposed loft extension at 6 Manor Drive. Decisions: Approval had been granted by Breckland Council for the proposed two storey extension to the side of the property at 20 Wellingham Road.
Highways: Some of the problems reported previously have been repaired or in the case of the footway along Lexham Road cleared. The pothole outside the entrance to the school on Church Street will be reported as will the poor state of the footway outside the Post Office.
County and District Councillor Reports: The County Councillor reported that Norfolk County Council is consulting on its budget. Any parishioner can comment on this and find out the details of the proposals at www.norfolk.gov.uk/budget. The County Council is likely to raise Council Tax by 2.99% but not implement an allowed 3% increase for Adult Social Care.
Children’s Centres:This was discussed as the consultation would finish on 12 November. A representative from Litcham Child Care addressed the meeting and stated that it was in favour of the proposals and that the proposals with the High School would give enhanced services. The Parish Council decided to support the proposals for the Litcham Children’s Centre but would wish there to be a centre in each of the market towns.
The Green: The Parish Council is disappointed that the conditions that have been agreed with the Bull Inn have not been complied with. A further letter is to be sent stating that the Parish Council will seriously consider the withdrawal on the permission for 2019.
The next meeting of Litcham Parish Council is due to be held on 7 January 2019at 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. The full minutes are available for viewing by any parishioner by contacting the Clerk on 01362 861112 or on the Litcham website, www.litcham.org.

Bell ringing for the Armistice Centenary

In common with churches throughout the country, Litcham’s bells were rung on Remembrance Sunday to mark the Armistice centenary. Over the past few months two complete beginners have been learning especially for the event and two people have returned to ringing, in one case after a gap of over 50 years! Starting at 5pm on 11^thNovember we rang a mixture of rounds and a method known as plain hunting.
Those who “rang for peace” were Tim Angell, Alan Buxton, David Couldwell, Diana Don, Karen Moore, Sue Langham-Fitt, Richard Potts, Chris Richmond and Françoise Walker. Special mention should go to Sue and Diana who over the past few months have persevered and learnt to ring from scratch. Remembrance Sunday was the first time they had rung in rounds with other ringers. Diana was inspired by stories of her great aunt who rang the church bells at Cawston on the day of the actual Armistice in 1918 and it is wonderful that she was able to carry on the family tradition 100 years later.

We always welcome new ringers, young or old.
Please contact Tim Angell on 01328 700045 if you want to give bell ringing a try.

JUBILEE HALL

There will be another breakfast after the holiday, date to be arranged.
Do support Canon Heather’s Coffee Mornings which will be held in the Jubilee Hall every Tuesday morning beginning in September.
There is nothing to report on the work we hope to do except to say we are on the case all the time! We will win.
June Bevan (01328) 700 274

Litcham Parish Council – October Digest

At the October Parish Council meeting which was attended by six Councillors, County Councillor M Kiddle Morris and one member of the public the following was considered:
Planning: Applications. The Parish Council raised no objection to the application for a proposed two-storey extension to the side of the property at 20 Wellingham Road. Decisions:Approval had been granted by Breckland Council for proposed replacement of selected windows at Litcham Methodist Church, Front Street.
Highways: All the matters raised in the previous month have been reported and the failure to carry out repairs around the ironwork on Dereham Road near to Devlin Cottage was raised with County Councillor Kiddle again. The Clerk met with the Highways Engineer and stressed that the road markings need refreshing, the Mileham Road still needs flailing and the gulley on Druids Lane has not been repaired. These have still not been attended to and the Highways Engineer will be contacted again. The pothole on Back Lane will be reported. The landowner responsible for the hedge at The Mount which is overhanging Butt Lane will be contacted to cut this back. County Councillor Kiddle will contact the owner of the Old Fire Station to request a tidy up of the area bordering the road.
County and District Councillor Reports: County Councillor Kiddle reported that it is not yet known if the Business Plan put forward by the Police and Crime Commissioner to take over the Fire Service will be submitted to the Secretary of State. Norfolk County Council is against this move and does not believe that there would be the saving proposed by the Police and Crime Commissioner as this would entail reducing the capability of the Fire and Rescue Service. Hertfordshire, which also runs the Fire and Rescue Service, has also undergone a consultation on this matter and when the proposal was forwarded to the Secretary of State he asked for more information at which point the proposal was withdrawn. The budget setting period has begun which will run until February for the financial year beginning in April. Since 2011 £189million of income has been lost and there is still a further loss of income from Central Government of £95million.There is to be a10% reduction in staff by natural wastage and all departments are looking at savings. There is a consultation on Children’s Centres of which there are 53 at present under 12 different contracts. These are proposed not to be re-negotiated but outreach centres would be provided working from 7 hubs and therefore providing support where it is needed. It is probable that the Litcham Centre will remain open as the school would take on part of the building and Norfolk County Council would provide additional service e.g. Healthy Children support. There was concern from the members that this would be a retrograde step but County Councillor Kiddle stated that the officers feel that this is possible, will reach more children and provide a better service.
Bi-monthly meetings. The Parish Council decided to trial meeting only every other month in 2019.

THE REVEREND MICHAEL LONG

Those who have lived in Litcham for a long time will remember Michael Long, appointed Incumbent of the Litcham parishes in 1973. Although he was only in post for under three years before being succeeded by the Revd Donald Munt, his sociable and jovial personality endeared him to many of his parishioners, who remained in contact with him after he moved to another living and then returned to a North Norfolk coastal parish. He was active to the last, championing traditional forms of worship and continuing to administrate at services until only a few weeks ago. We pray for him and for those who mourn his passing.
Richard Vogt, Churchwarden