Announcements

Draft Plan Launched for additional facilities at Thurton & Ashby Playing Field

Additional Community and Play Area Facilities - a basis for discussion.

The Ashby St Mary & Thurton Village Hall and Playing Field Management Committee has issued its draft plan showing the proposed new Community and Play Area together with additional improvements to the playing field and car-park areas.

Please download the proposed games area plan. Your views, ideas and suggestions are welcomed so please email us with your comments.

Loddon on Call

Loddon-on-Call in partnership with the East of England Ambulance Service continues to provide a valuable First Response service to Loddon and the surrounding villages.

We wish to express our sincere thanks to all those who have given us support over the past 3 years as this has been vital to the success of the service we provide.

At the moment we are in the process of building a web-site to keep you up to date with our activities. The site will provide information about who we are, what we do and very importantly how you can join us. In addition statistical details and announcements etc.. Please take a moment to have a look at www.respondersuk.org/loddon or www.loddon.respondersuk.org from time to time and of course contact us on 07809 212120 if you have any questions.

Thurton & Ashby Village Hall and Playing Field

The Management Committee works steadily on behalf of residents and all the Village Hall and Playing Field users and hopes to continue providing further facilities into the foreseeable future. We are hopeful that a closer working relationship with our neighbours in Ashby St Mary may result in additional facilities being obtained. If you would like to be involved in bringing about the extra facilities we would all like to see at the Village Hall and Playing Field - or if you have any expertise that might be helpful - then please contact me or give your name and number to any member of the Management Committee. We shall be very glad of your ideas, suggestions and offers of help. Thank you.

John Pidgen, Chairman

Village Fete 2010

A Village fete has been proposed for the Summer and a planning meeting is to be arranged in the New Year. The event could be a major fund-raiser of the year for lots of village organisations so lets make it .... BIG! Please contact Karen on 480993 if you are interested. Ps Does anyone know where we can get hold of a freeby climbing wall for the Fete?

Proposed Hearing Loop at the Village Hall

Please let us know if you would find this additional facility at the Village Hall an advantage. We would like to apply for grant funding to cover at least some of the costs of the installation of a hearing loop system but we have to demonstrate there is a local need for the loop. Individuals and User Groups are asked to write to us confirming they would find a hearing loop a useful addition at the Village Hall and might encourage continued or extra usage. Please contact Janet 480211 or Jan 480899 for further details.

Bupa Great North Run 2009

On Sunday, 20th September 2009, Karen and Jason Rix raced a half marathon and raised money for Heart Research UK. Karen beat her previous personal best by 6 mins and finished in 2 hours 6 seconds; and Jason finished in 1 hour 19 mins 44 seconds, in 106th place out of approx 53,000 - an incredible achievement. You can still sponsor them through their website.

It's not too late to sponsor their cycling efforts and the easiest way to contribute is through Tricia's web page or you can contact the plucky twosome on 01508 480695 for sponsor forms.

"1st day: Leaving London and cycling in Kent was unbelievable: Hills like I did not know existed, we had thought we had practised hills in Norfolk and Suffolk but they were only undulations. We, plus 50 others, also managed to get lost and added 2 more enormous hills to our route. We made it to Dover in time for the ferry and only had another 8 miles to cycle when we had crossed the channel. A good nights sleep, up at 6am and off into the mist in our hi-viz jackets after a good breakfast. Little did we realise the mist was the precursor to a very very hot day.

The hills of Kent were beautifully matched on day 2 by the ones in Northern France. Which seemed all the harder because we were not quite expecting them! The countryside was beautiful and the roads often had lovely rivers near by. We counted the miles to the water stops as the day grew hotter. (photo in the bus shelter to keep out of the sun) Still it was a cycling challenge and so we rose to those hills the longest I measured was 5.5 miles. We cycled 70+ miles from Calais to Abbeville - a lovely city but only time for supper and a sleep.

We had good hotels to recover in each night, but up at 6.30 each morning to be on the road by 7.30 - they were hard task masters. The trip had its own catering van and these two lads produced hot and cold food for 120 people+ every day of a quality you would get at any really good restaurant. It is hard to cut down on the food now we are home as we could eat whatever we liked. The beautiful countryside flew by, we did see it at water stops and lunch and occasionally had a photo stop but mostly enjoyed the views you took in all along the way. On the flat us Norfolk girls could hold our own and recorded over 30 MPH down some hills. ( the Elite cyclists reached a scary 50 MPH).

The 3rd day from Abbeville to Beauvais was wonderful it was slightly cooler and a little flatter, we chatted to our fellow cyclists and met many interesting people. As you can imagine people cycled for many reasons, charities, personal challenges and it was very moving to hear some of the stories. We had a lovely lunch stop near a chateau where the picture was taken. When we arrived in Beauvais we were all so elated and had a nice evening chatting as there were 120 of us in our group we were split between two hotels and this evening we chatted to some less familiar folk. There were some interesting moments, a couple of incidents, one lad was chased by a rottweiler, came off his bike and it was completely wrecked (the bike not the dog) and Paul had to borrow a bike for the final part of the challenge. Our legs and knees were fine, we didn't get sunburnt, other sore bits I am unable to discuss on this page but we learnt a lot about our bodies and something called tube lube!!!!.

Day 4: Woke with mixed feelings, pleased to be going to see our husbands but sad it was to be over. Cycling into Paris was unbelievable, We all joined up as a big group and cycled in on mass it was a sight to behold though I am sure if you were trying to drive up the Champs Elysee it lost its charm quite quickly, then onto the Eiffel Tower and a fantastic group of friends and family to meet us all. As you can imagine it was over all too quickly 6 months training became 4 days cycling - 305 miles. It gave us time to think about our charities and why we took up the challenge, to think of all our sponsors who have given so generously and how that kept us going through the tough times, but most of all how lucky we were to be able to do the challenge.......

It was brilliant, so glad I did it and had 4 fantastic days with my mate Sarah."

Tricia cycled in memory of her mum for The British Lung Foundation and Sarah cycled for EACH East Anglia's Children's Hospices.

Thurton Litter Pickers

Thank you to all those who supported Litter Pick no. 6 on Sunday June 14th. A good load of rubbish was picked up and it was great to have the Playing Field and the surrounding area looking clean and tidy in readiness for the Family Fun Weekend. Please watch this space for details of a possible Autumn/Winter Litter Pick. Thank you to all those residents who continue to pick up litter in our village when and where they see it - you are our COMMUNITY HEROES!

Thurton & Ashby Residents Association (TARA)

TARA is now up and running and welcomes contact from residents of Thurton and Ashby regarding local matters of interest, residents concerns, worries, problems and/or issues to do with our local community. The intended catchment for the association includes all the properties, whether currently rented, leased or privately owned, in Thurton and Ashby and the surrounding area within a two mile radius.

Some of the the aims and objectives of TARA are

• to represent the interests of all residents of Thurton & Ashby and the surrounding area
• to promote social, educational and community activities for the benefit of the members of the association
• to encourage community improvements
• to undertake fund-raising activities for the benefit of its members and the local community
• to make representations to public bodies as and when deemed necessary
• to affiliate to other organisations that may assist the association in achieving its aims and objectives

Membership of TARA is entirely free and is open to all those residents living in the catchment area. If you would like further information about this new group or would like to leave a comment please email.

Bogus Callers Alert

Bogus callers are thought to be active in our area posing as electric meter readers or meter inspectors. They carry convincing looking hand held devices but their identification badges are suspicious. Please be vigilant and do not allow callers into your home. If you're in doubt - keep them out.

The police has been informed, but if you have any suspicions please call Norfolk Police on 0845 456 4567(non-emergency number). Norfolk Police has tips and information on home security.

The Greenest Village in Norfolk

WE HAVE DONE IT! Yes we are the greenest village in the county of Norfolk. On the 15th August Energy Saving Trust presented Thurton with the plaque for the first prize. Many thanks to all who attended the one day event, way back in February. Your enthusiasm was a major factor in putting Thurton at the top. WELL DONE US!

New Village Sign for Thurton

The glorious Spring Bank Holiday Monday weather ensured a good crowd of local residents and well-wishers attended the unveiling and dedication of Thurton's new village sign. The new sign, cast by Thurton Foundries Ltd, replaces the original wooden sign that stood on the same roadside spot for forty years.

The new sign was commissioned by Thurton Parish Council when the Thurton, Ashby & District Women's Institute indicated that their original sign was in a bad state of repair and probably needed replacing. During the mid 1970s the WI had fund-raised for the provision of the village sign and commissioned Mr Harry Carter of Swaffham to carve the sign with a design based on the stained glass windows of St Ethelbert's Church in Thurton. The glass in the windows of St Ethelbert's is reputed to have originated in Rouen Cathedral and was rescued and installed by local benefactor Lady Beauchamp of Langley Hall. Mr Carter was a first class craftsman and a well respected carver of village signs. He was a teacher at Gresham School at Holt.

The original sign was unveiled by WI President Mrs Eileen Leathers on July 15th 1976. The sign stood for forty years and had been maintained and refurbished by the WI. Several WI members who were present at the original sign's dedication were pleased to be present at the unveiling and dedication of the new sign.

On Bank Holiday Monday at 11am Thurton Parish Council Chairman Peter Martin welcomed residents and special guests and invited County Councillor, Mr Adrian Gunson to perform the unveiling ceremony. The Rev Dr Peter Knight led prayers of dedication and gave the blessing. The crowd cheered heartily as the sign was unveiled.

The new double-sided village sign looks stunning and owes much to the expertise of talented local artist Linda Alden. Mrs Maureen Capps commissioned Linda to paint the sign. Thurton Parish Council contributed towards the provision and erection of the sign but much of the cost of the moulding and casting was generously donated by Ian and Emma Capps of Thurton Foundries Ltd, so many thanks to them. The brick plinth was built by retired local builder John Rudd in memory of his dear wife Heather - so many thanks to John too.

Thurton, at long last, has its new village sign - to all residents and visitors and to all who pass by it - we extend our very best wishes.

Village Directory and Welcome Pack

We are planning to compile a Village Directory and Pack. If you are a tradesman, retailer, artist, run a business or offer a service and would like to be included in the listings, email us.