Thirty-year tradition of printing continues in Reepham

By Richard Taylor
 
Reepham residents are justly proud of the town’s distinctive shops and enterprises. Visitors, too, regularly comment on the friendly service they receive.
 

Ben Pitcher of Norfolk Print & Design. Photos: Richard Taylor

 
When Geoff Deal ceased trading at Meloncaulie Rose greengrocers in the Market Place the multi-paned shopfront with its agent’s board looked bereft, particularly during the early days of the 2020 coronavirus lockdown.
 
People looking through the windows now will see Ben Pitcher, proprietor of Norfolk Print & Design, working on layouts on his computer or operating impressive printing machinery.
 
Mr Pitcher took over the lease of the property in summer 2020 and has been offering a full design and printing service since January 2021.
 
By taking over the reins from the late Peter Fitzjohn, he has ensured that a 30-year tradition of printing in Reepham has continued unbroken.
 
Mr Pitcher will undertake a job as small as a few photocopies or as big as designing and producing booklets, vehicle signage, banners, clothing and much more.
 
With his many years of experience as a graphic designer, illustrator and printer, he can design commercial logos, business stationery or even printed T-shirts.
 
At this time of year, many local photographers and artists have commissioned him to produce Christmas cards or calendars.
 
A former pupil of Reepham High School, art was always Mr Pitcher’s favourite subject.
 
He later progressed to Fakenham sixth form college (now Fakenham Academy), continuing his studies at A-level. From there, his 18-year route to running his own printing firm is engagingly unconventional.
 
Still a teenager, he went from farm work to selling pots and pans at Aldiss’s Fakenham store.
 
He has since progressed through several jobs in graphic design and printing around Norfolk, including working for a promotional merchandise production firm near Fakenham and illustrating for a clothing and giftware printing company, making contacts that are useful if he now needs to outsource part of a job.
 
Mr Pitcher and partner Eloise, who is a photographer, specialising in weddings, family and new-born shoots, have two boys, Oliver and Finley.
 
Living in Dereham at present, they are big fans of Reepham and hope to move to the town in future.
 
Unsurprisingly, Mr Pitcher has already been approached to get involved with both the Reepham Music Festival and the Reepham Classic Car and Bike Festival.
 
Contact: Norfolk Print & Design
Market Place, Reepham, Norfolk NR10 4JJ
Tel: 01603 393467/07584 240245
Email: ben@norfolkprintdesign.co.uk
 

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