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November 2006 |
Christmas Lights Festival - Sunday 3rd December. Widely recognised as the best Market Town Christmas Lights display, Attleborough is immensely proud of its reputation which has been built over the past 12 years. Lighting up the town for 6 weeks of the year requires a tremendous team effort and the involvement of many local businesses. Shopkeepers throughout the town offer electricity plug in points, and thanks to the skills of several lighting engineers the vast number of timer switches are all synchronised so the lights burst into full display at precisely 3.45pm every day until 1am every morning. Marrison Electrical have been responsible for the upkeep and erection of the lights for the past 20 years. A work force of 12 people work tirelessly each year turning the town into a winter wonderland inserting some 35,000 bulbs. The event continues to grow in popularity. A mini-carnival with fun fair, band, craft displays & stalls gather around the focal point of Queens Square. Many of the towns shops remain open with a large majority of the towns residents turning out to support the event. To enhance the Christmas festivities this year the trees in St Mary’s Church will be draped in magical lights. The entire displays are self-funded and are reliant solely on the generous support and donations which are raised by the residents and businesses of Attleborough. The cost undoubtedly increases year on year as the display grows to cover a wider area, lights need replacing and there is an ever increasing burden in Health and Safety measures which have to be met. Donations can be made at Geoff Ellis Butchers, Church Street, or pledge an amount by calling 453163, or Averil Howell on 452437- Thank you! |
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September 2006 |
The local village of Caston (just eight miles away) is setting up a photographic society at which residents of Attleborough would be warmly welcomed. If you have a photographic interest you can learn more by visiting: www.parish-council.com/caston/blog.asp
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August 2006 |
ALL SAINTS’ CHURCH BESTHORPE Community Meeting Room, kitchen & toilet facilities in an historic setting Available to hire for all gatherings and activities but FREE OF CHARGE for the first year beginning September 2006-07-31 For more details, and to book, please phone Don & Di Watson 01953 456840 or Pat at the Parish Office 01953 454977 WELCOME TO THE DRURY ROOM |
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August 2006 |
The finale of the Youth fest this year will be an evening event celebrating the interests and activities of people between the ages of 16 and 25. Night on the Concrete will include a car and bike meet, a free stage and a skate jam. Complete Car Solutions are sponsoring the car meet with three prizes and anyone wishing to enter their car can fill in the form online. The Reaction is also looking for young bands and singers who would like to take advantage of the free stage. The Reaction can be contacted through their pages on the website: Click >> HERE. |
Go to Reaction pages | |
August 2006 |
Farmer on a Bike ! Today (31st July) Charlie Askew, an Attleborough farmer with a bike; sets off on a marathon bike ride in aid of the Quidenham hospice, where young children and their parents routinely face much tougher journeys in a daily battle for their health. Charlie is undertaking a 1,000 mile bike ride through Europe, from Attleborough to Benesov in the Czech Republic ! You can see the full story by clicking HERE and also follow Charlies route as he pedals his way to Benesov. It's not to late to sponsor Charlie on his epic bike ride - Click HERE to sponsor him. |
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July 2006 |
SCENES OF OLD ATTLEBOROUGH – CALENDAR FOR 2007 Eleven black & white postcards dating from the early 20th century and a colour photo of St. Mary’s Webb Memorial Window Illustrate the months and are perforated for use as postcards afterwards. This handsome calendar, produced by Brecklandprint, is on sale @ £4.50 from St. Mary’s Church office (mornings), Attleborough Library, Attleborough Tourist Office in the Town Hall and at special events at St. Mary’s Church. All profits go to St. Mary’s Heritage Appeal Organ fund. |
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July 2006 |
GAYMERS AT THE FESTIVAL One of the many attractions at The Attleborough Festival Weekend will be memorabilia relating to Attleborough’s, once famous, Wm. Gaymer and Son Ltd., Cyder Works, which, for nearly 100 years, until 1995, was one of the main employers in the town. The recently formed Attleborough Heritage Group will be at Soma House in Station Road, the home of Cliff and Jackie Amos, where one of the rooms will be been turned into a ‘Gaymer’s Museum’ for the weekend. Items on display will include photographs, newspaper articles, cooperage tools, bottles and various advertising ephemera. The Attleborough Heritage Group will also be setting up photographic displays in the Town Hall, St. Mary’s Memorial Hall and the Methodist Church Hall. As a group we are working, with Barbara Waters, Attleborough’s Archivist, to preserve and document the history of Attleborough. Can you help us with this mammoth task? We are interested in any and everything related to Attleborough, Norfolk, your memories, photographs, documents and artefacts. If you can help, we are able to record your memories, accept donated items or photocopy documents and photographs and photograph other artefacts. If you would like to learn more about the Attleborough Heritage Group, please telephone Alan Sparrow 01953 452302 or Cliff Amos 01953 455553 |
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July 2006 |
At the July meeting of Attleborough Town Council, Jonathan Horswell was co-opted onto the council to fill the vacant seat within the Burgh Haverscroft ward of Attleborough. Jonathan, 40 a web designer runs a company known as "Spider Solutions" who created and manages the Attleborough Online Community Website. Jonathan also owns The Coffee Lounge in Queens Square. Jonathan and Maria have a three year old son called Harvey. When asked why he wanted to join the Town Council, Jonathan replied that over the past few years managing the Attleborough Online website he met many people who work hard for the community, and decided he also would like to get more involved and be apart in improving things in the town. |
Town Council | |
July 2006 |
Local butcher Tony Perkins and Attlebourough based brewer Wolfe Witham of the Wolf Brewery have worked together to create the special recipe for the "Attleborough Festival Banger". Town Mayor Jeremy Burton paid an early morning visit to the butchers and when asked about the sausage recipe was told that it was a well kept secret. The "Festival Banger" will be on sale from Tony's Church St butchers from Wednesday 26th through to Sunday 30th July.
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More Festival Info |
May 2006 |
The organ at St. Mary’s is about to undergo cleaning, overhaul and tonal modification, for the first time in 44 years. This work will cost £40,000. To help us raise this large sum, we invite all who have a connection with St. Mary’s, present or past parishioners, those who give or attend concerts, all friends and well |
More Info | |
April 2006 |
Interim Statement 11.00hrs 28th April 2006 - From Banham Poultry As of 11.00hrs on 28th April 2006, there has been no further information to determine the pathogenicity of the avian influenza. It is still expected to be the H7 strain. DEFRA remain in control of the situation, and further measures are being carried out, with movement restrictions on all of our sites as a precautionary measure. DEFRA officials will visit each site, and licences will be issued to enable movement, the first of which should be at 13.00hrs today, with the rest following as necessary. As stated yesterday (27/04/2006) Poultry supplied by us remains, as always, safe for human consumption. We will take measures to adjust processing requirements to fulfil all customers’ needs in the immediate future. We are grateful for the support from industry and customers alike through this difficult period. |
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April 2006 |
Attleborough For Sale! A meeting is being held on Tuesday 25th April from 6 – 7pm at the Town Hall to discuss how businesses and agencies can work together to promote the town and to find out what the town’s unique selling points are. The meeting will last no longer than an hour and refreshments will be provided. Lindsay Abel from Attleborough Area Partnership commented “we welcome any business or agency working locally to come along and share their views, we are hoping to develop a tourism strategy for the town which will encourage both residents and tourists to use the town more”. To book your place contact Lindsay Abel on 454455 or email at: lindsay@attleboroughareapartnership.org.uk |
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March 2006 |
Attleborough First Responders The Concept of a Community Responder Scheme: A Responder Scheme is made up of groups of volunteers who, within the community in which they live or work, have been trained to attend emergency calls received by the NHS Ambulance Service, providing first aid until an emergency ambulance arrives. |
More Info | |
March 2006 |
Are you interested in Boxing? Kid Gloves is starting on Tuesday 25th April. This six week course for 11 – 16 year olds gives basic knowledge and understanding of amateur boxing fitness practices. These are non-contact sessions to give you an idea of what is involved in the national sport run by fully qualified ABA coaches. We hope they will eventually lead to the start of a boxing club for Attleborough! The sessions are being held at Attleborough Day Services Centre in Station Road from 4.15pm – 5.30pm. Sessions cost £1 each. To book your place on the course please telephone 454455 for a parental consent form. |
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March 2006 |
An exciting new (for Attleborough) youth event is to start in the town on 10th April. SNAP dance is an initiative of the Norfolk Constabulary Community Action Team which aims to provide a regular safe disco every school holiday for young people between the ages of 11-17. The disco has been set up by PCSO Gary Szabo and the Attleborough Youth Action Group with support from Attleborough Area Partnership and Norfolk Youth Service. The disco starts at 8pm at Connaught Hall and costs £3.50 on the door. For further information contact Lindsay on 01953 454455 or Lindsay@attleboroughareapartnership.org.uk |
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February 2006 |
Local entrepreneur sees his car share scheme reach 100,000 UK members and is rewarded for his efforts. Last month, the Attleborough-based entrepreneur Ali Clabburn was at the Great Eastern Hotel in London to be named the winner of the Enterprising Young Brits competition, and picked up his trophy - and a cheque for an unspecified amount - from the Chancellor, Gordon Brown MP. The spark of an idea Ali had as a student in 1997 - helping people save money and the environment by organising lift-shares in cars - has now grown into a booming internet-based business, which Mr Brown jokingly referred to when presenting the award. “He said it was good to see a social enterprise helping society and making good profits so he could tax them! But he was very supportive of young people setting up their own business,” says Ali. After the festivities it was back to work in Norfolk yesterday, where Ali and his nine staff work a strict 9am to 5.30pm day - no more, no less. “When I was at university I realised that stress and me didn't go together very well,” he says. “I'll do anything to avoid getting stressed, and so we run a very efficient company, automating as much as we can and making sure no one works any overtime or weekends, unless it's really vital. We just try to pack as much into the day as possible!” However, he admits that he finds it hard to turn off even if he's not actually in the office. “I do think about it pretty much all the time, it's always in your head and whenever you meet people they are always interested to hear about the business,” he says. “But I like going sailing in the summer, and play hockey, and my wife and I are about to have a baby, so I've got lots of other things in my life.” It took a little time to get liftshare.com off the ground, but the past few years have seen Ali and his team gain plenty of plaudits, including winning the environment category of the EDP Business Awards in 2003. He appears to be following in the footsteps of fellow Norfolk-born entrepreneur James Dyson in seeing the years of hard work and no recognition finally pay off. “I've come from a family of farmers, and my granny was very entrepreneurial, as was my father,” says Ali, 30. “In business, I don't have any real role models, but Dyson went to the same school as me. He struggled for years doing what he was doing. “I've never met him but it's great to see successful Norfolk people. I spent three years without making any money so it's good to see that you can make it in the end.” The idea originated in 1993 when 18-year-old Ali travelled around Germany using the German car- sharing scheme. He saw the benefits of car sharing and was amazed to find that no such scheme existed in the UK. With the UK having the worst congestion and longest commuting time in the EU, he realised there was a gap in the market and spent the next few years working alone to research the possibility of setting up a scheme in Britain. Ali says that if half of all UK motorists received a lift one day a week, congestion and pollution would be reduced by 10pc and traffic jams by 20pc. Members of the public use it for free to make any trip nationwide. The site matches people up with other people making the same journey from their area so that they can share lifts, cutting travel costs and helping the environment. Since October, 2001 liftshare.com has recruited more than 100,000 members, about 2000 of whom are in Norfolk. He estimates that the scheme saves around 21 million car-miles a year and reduces carbon- dioxide emissions by more than 4000 tonnes a year. The idea also proved its use in the aftermath of the July 7 terror attacks, when liftshare.com helped commuters who were stranded by the closure of the public-transport system. Now that he's seeing success, Ali can look back fondly on the time he spent putting in the groundwork. “If you set up a business and it's something that you really believe in, and enjoy doing, then it doesn't matter so much because you are learning all the time. It's like being at university again,” he says. “It was three years but I was in a new industry, and it was going to take time to find out what I was doing. “I'm very happy in Norfolk, I find the quality of life here very good, and I've been lucky to find enough high quality staff who are based here. “The thought of being in London every day, having spent the last three days there, is just appalling. It's easy to get to London by train so you can easily run a successful business from Norfolk.” |
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January 2006 |
January 06 sees the launch of a new monthly family worship service at
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