Beachamwell, Shingham and Drymere News

St Mary’s Church

First of all, on behalf of the Churchwardens and PCC, I would like to wish everyone a Very Happy New Year. Most of you will know by now that the two bells have been restored and re-hung in the Church Tower. There is still quite a lot of work to do to the Tower but we were told the day before our Carols by Candlelight Service that they could now be rung. We therefore surprised everyone by ringing the bells for 10 minutes before the Service which was a wonderful way to start the Christmas celebrations. The church was full for this lovely Service with the Church beautifully decorated and lit with many candles. It was not as bitterly cold as it has been for the last two years but we all appreciated the hot mulled wine and mince pies after the Service. Once again I would like to thank Gill Sanderson for organising this Service and the refreshments.

I would like to thank everyone who decorated the church for Christmas and also like to thank the ladies who regularly make the church look beautiful with their flower arrangements. Thank you as well to Betty Phillpot for making the advent ring again this year.

As you all probably know a lot of churches are having metal and roofing stolen and I would ask you to let the Police, myself or John Sanderson know if you see anything suspicious. I would like to thank the two people who let me know on separate occasions last year when they were concerned about people taking an undue interest in the roof. On each occasion the Police were informed and asked to include Beachamwell, and particularly the road on the south side of the church, when they are patrolling the area.

Our monthly Scrabble Afternoons will continue on the 2nd Wednesday of each month – the next one being Wednesday 8th February at Orchard House. This is not a highly competitive afternoon – just an enjoyable way to stretch the mind a little bit with tea and scones half way - so why not join us?

Our monthly Afternoon Tea will continue on the 3rd Wednesday of each month – the next one being held on Wednesday 15th February in Beachamwell Memorial Hall from 2 – 4 p.m. We hope to see you there.

Two important dates for your diary.
Beachamwell Open Gardens will be held on Sunday 27th May this year (the first weekend of June will be the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Celebrations)
The Flower Festival held jointly with Barton Bendish will be in St Mary’s Church, Beachamwell on Saturday 21st, Sunday 22nd and Monday 23rd July. (The original dates at the end of July clash with the opening of the Olympic Games)

Graham Williams (Church Warden)

Flower Rota

5th Sonia Sandell; 12th Gill Sanderson; 19th Sheila Smith; 26th Sonia Williams

Thank you to everyone who has helped with the Church flowers – it is much appreciated. If anyone would like to join the rota please contact me.

Eileen Powell 01366 328 648

Church Web Site

Do please visit www.stmarysbeachamwell.co.uk for up to date information on your Parish Church.

Ian Phillpot

Church Bells

We would like to say how honoured and privileged we felt when ringing the Church Bells to welcome villagers to the Candlelit Carol Service in December. It has certainly been a long time since the bells rang out, we wonder if anybody knew when?? Thank you to the Church Elders for organising the project and to Barbara our Vicar for blessing the bells at the beginning of the Service.

The Village Half Marathon has helped to pay for some of the project but we will need to raise more at this year’s annual event. Thanks to everybody who got sponsorship and to those who gave donations. The Clock should be ticking by the time you read this.

Carole and Brian Wilson

Help

I belong to the Round Tower Churches Society and I’m very interested in William Esgate's gravestone (the poor man who was killed by a steam threshing machine). I have been to St. Mary’s several times, contacted the Millennium Library in Norwich and a number of other places but cannot find anything pertaining to this. If anyone has any information or can help in anyway. please contact me at johntrhead@hotmail.co.uk
Thank you.

John Rhead

Poppy Collection

The 2011 Poppy Collection in Beachamwell & Shingham raised £224.70. Thank you to everyone who made a donation.

Verena Hartley

Half Marathon

I hope you are getting your trainers out of the cupboard and getting training for the Village Half Marathon. Date to book is Sunday May 6th. More details in future issues.

Brian Wilson

Thank You

I would like to say a ‘big thank you’ to my many friends in Beachamwell for all the cards, flowers, kind thoughts and donations for Cancer Research. My Mum was due to live in Beachamwell in the New Year but sadly that will not happen as she died on Thursday 22nd December. However, thank you all for your support at this extremely sad time.

Vyvien Briscoe

Fundraising Thank You

Thank you to everybody who generously donated money to the Vietnam/Laos carol singers. We enjoyed the singing and hope you did too. We managed to raise £100 which will go a long way to the community project.

Unfortunately we didn't get to Barton Bendish due to the rain that evening. However we plan to come carol singing again this year, we look forward to seeing you then. If we missed you and you wanted to make a donation, please bring it to Deerfields, Malthouse Croft, Beachamwell.

Happy New Year to you all,

Amy Lewins 16

Parish Council

The next Parish Council Meeting will take place on Monday, March 12th at 7.30. As always, everyone is welcome to attend.

Your Parish Councillors

New Mobile Post Office Times

Mon, Wed, Fri — 11:35—12:20
Tue, Thu 11:35 — 12:35