Following discussion, it was agreed that YMCA Norfolk will be commissioned to conduct an outreach service to establish what youth services are wanted in Reepham.

County Councillor Greg Peck and District Councillor Stuart Beadle were in attendance and gave verbal reports; devolution and local government reorganisation were discussed. Cllr Peck told the town council about some grant funds available.

Following a tree inspection, the required work to make the council’s trees safe are ongoing. A quote was also agreed to remove two large Leylandii trees in the courtyard garden at the town hall.

Following a tender process, it was agreed to appoint a design agency and construction company to be the council’s preferred contractor for a new skatepark at Stimpson’s Piece: Betongpark will carry out consultation, assist with fundraising and any planning, and conduct the construction phases.

A quote was agreed for a Rotanet for the recreation ground, which will be installed in the autumn at the same time as the callisthenics gym.

A local chid has asked for a running track at Stimpson’s Piece; the clerk is contacting him to ascertain what is required. Thanks were also passed to the child and his friends, as they have been litter picking recently at the recreation ground.

A new contract for the tennis club was discussed, and a draft contract will be prepared.

The Friends of Stimpson’s Piece group has done a fantastic job, clearing the old nursery garden at the community hall. They have identified some additional work that needs doing and will pass details to the clerk to arrange for the work to be done, hopefully with the Community Payback team.

The Town Hall and Stimpson’s Piece Community Hall & Pavilion are available to hire. Please contact the town clerk on 01603 873355 or email for availability and prices.

There are currently four vacancies on the town council. Anyone interested should contact the town clerk for further information and an informal chat.

Highways issues (potholes, etc,) can be reported online HERE.

The next Reepham Town Council and Stimpson’s Piece trustee meetings will take place on Wednesday 10 September from 7.30 pm at Stimpson’s Piece Pavilion, Bartle Court, Reepham.

Notes supplied by Reepham Town Council. Full minutes can be found on the town council website.

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Having nurtured his passion for ceramics and glass, David was approached to curate a specialist auction. Thereafter he expanded his knowledge and interest in other objets d’art and sundry items coming through the sale rooms.

He explained that the business, founded by Geoffrey Key in 1953, started out by trading livestock, mainly poultry. In the 1960s the business expanded to include a weekly “furniture” sale, over time introducing art, jewellery, antiques and other niche auctions.

The impact of Covid has increased online sales significantly, with bidders from all over the world. Some bizarre items have gone under the hammer: a lock of Nelson’s hair, a pair of Churchill’s false teeth, a piece of royal wedding cake and Princess Diana’s bicycle to name just a few.

David explained how trends come and go. Certain genres of art, ornaments and furniture are now not so sought after, whereas gold and silver, as well as Chinese ceramics, are currently in high demand.

His advice is to buy what you will enjoy and never be tempted to bid more than you can afford. If selling, being able to provide provenance can greatly enhance the value of an item.

When our June speaker, Brian Chattern, first started working in “weights and measures”, the most serious offences were diluting milk and alcohol with water. He explained that these days scams are significantly more serious, targeting personal bank accounts, last year costing those affected £11 billion.

Various insidious ways are used to obtain details such as names, addresses, bank account numbers, debit/credit card details and passwords. The most common ruses are impersonating a family member or friend in urgent need of funds, your bank and HMRC. Calls from “Amazon” and texts from bogus courier companies have also featured. Romantic “liaisons” and selling services and products that do not exist, such as holidays and concert tickets, are also rife.

Brian encouraged all to be extremely wary and carry out checks before divulging any information, for instance making a call to the business’s official number, if possible from a different phone. Never ever share passwords.

Useful numbers if you think you have been scammed are:

• Report scam texts: 7726
• Forward scam emails to: report@phishing.gov.uk
• Action Fraud: 0300 123 2040
• Citizens Advice consumer helpline: 0808 223 1133
• Financial Conduct Authority: 0800 111 6768

Reepham WI meets on the third Thursday of every month at 7.30 pm in St Michael’s, Reepham. The next meeting will be held on Thursday 17 July, when a representative from Broadland District Council will give guidance on recycling.

Dee Taylor

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The accounts for 2024/25 were approved and will be sent to the external auditor.

Permission was given for the King’s Arms to hold a music event on half of the Market Place as part of the Reepham Festival.

The legal order to increase the parking allowance in the Market Place is going ahead but will take time.

The tree survey has been carried out, and the required work identified will take place at the beginning of July.

Three tenders have been received for the replacement skatepark at Stimpson’s Piece. They will be assessed on a standard criteria and information forwarded to councillors to allow for a decision to be made at the July town council meeting.

The need for youth provision in the town was discussed, and the YMCA will attend the meeting in July to show what services it can offer. Another provider, Norwich Youth for Christ, has also offered its services. The town clerk will liaise with the church to see if it has capacity to host them.

A callisthenics gym quote was approved for installation at Stimpson’s Piece. This will be funded entirely from Section 106 and Community Infrastructure Levy funding from the district council. Further quotes will be obtained for a Rotanet (“witches hat”) climbing frame.

Highways issues (potholes, etc,) can be reported online HERE.

The town hall and Stimpson’s Piece Community Hall & Pavilion are available to hire. Please contact the town clerk on 01603 873355 or email for availability and prices.

There are currently four vacancies on the town council. Anyone interested should contact the town clerk for further information and an informal chat.

The next Reepham Town Council and Stimpson’s Piece trustee meetings will take place on Wednesday 9 July from 7.30 pm at Stimpson’s Piece Pavilion, Bartle Court, Reepham.

Notes supplied by Reepham Town Council. Full minutes can be found on the town council website.

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The total amount the Reepham Christian Aid Group raised this year was £1,105.78, which includes the online Reepham QR code donations and the extra that will be claimed back as Gift Aid. Thanks to everyone who donated.

Sue Cripps, Reepham Christian Aid Group

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The founder, John Jarrold, opened a grocers and drapers business in Woodbridge in 1770. He kept copious notes, most pertinently rules on how to be a good tradesman that are still relevant today.

John Jarrold passed away in 1775 after which his wife, Elizabeth, ran the business until their son, John Jarrold II, was old enough to take over. This he did in 1794, expanding the business into farming and printing.

He purchased Grove Farm in Suffolk in the early 1800s, where he installed a printing press, while moving the retail business to 13 Cockley Lane (now London Street), Norwich, in 1823. With his four sons, John James, Samuel, William and Thomas, involved in the business, the focus was on selling books, publishing and printing.

Jarrolds moved to its present site on London Street in 1840, with a gradual expansion over adjacent buildings in the years since. Interestingly, at one time the caretaker lived above the store, with a rose garden and fish pond on the roof.

The family has continued to expand, with sons taking control of various interests, including publication of Norfolk News, the forerunner of Archant, the former publisher of Eastern Daily Press. Another notable publication in 1878 was Anna Sewell’s Black Beauty, an all-time children’s favourite.

On Samuel’s retirement, he handed over the business to his sons, William and Herbert, who further developed it into a substantial retail concern, with branches in Cromer, Sheringham and Lowestoft; Cambridge was to follow later.

The printing operation was enhanced by the Victorians, who favoured “Poppyland” as a holiday destination, with the requirement for guide books and postcards.

At the height of its success, this arm of the business, latterly based at St James Mill, Norwich, employed 1,500 people. The printing and publishing divisions were sold in 2005, although the site continues as the company’s headquarters.

As well as remaining one of the few independent department stores in the UK, Jarrolds has more recently ventured into property development and business services, with members of the family, now daughters as well as sons, still heavily involved in its management.

In 1965 the John Jarrold Trust was established, donating millions to various charities throughout Norfolk.

Reepham WI meetings are held at St Michael’s, Reepham, at 7.30 pm on the third Thursday of the month.

Dee Taylor

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There are two people interested in becoming town councillors. Their co-option will be considered at the June meeting, when hopefully both can attend.

Committee and working group members were agreed for the year ahead.

Reports from PC Denis Evans and County Councillor Greg Peck, who were unable to attend, were distributed prior to the meeting. District Councillor Stuart Beadle was in attendance and gave a brief verbal report.

Grants were approved for the Reepham Food Festival (£450) and Reepham Classic Car Festival (£150).

Allotments were discussed at length. At the Fiddler’s Field site, there have been several issues regarding the keeping of chickens and cockerels. All allotment holders will be reminded of the rules and regulations on keeping chickens. Due to continued issues, one allotment holder will be written to, advising that they must rehome their chickens.

The provision of further play equipment for the Overton Way play area was discussed. A leaflet drop for residents will be carried out, asking what equipment, if any, they would prefer.

Kirby Leonard of Moor House has kindly arranged for the fallen branches to be cleared from the Whitwell Road cemetery. A tree survey has been carried out, and the report will be available soon.

Disappointment was expressed that the solar farm off Nowhere Lane was approved at Broadland District Council’s Planning Committee meeting. An application for the connection route to the Salle substation will be forthcoming.

The clerk is due to meet with the YMCA with a view to establish a youth engagement service in the town.

Broadland and South Norfolk District Councils are developing a design code for both districts, with the aim of strengthening the quality of new residential development across the area. They are seeking feedback, which can be given HERE.

Residents are reminded that any highways or public right of way issues can be reported HERE.

Quotes were discussed for trampolines for the Stimpson’s Piece recreation ground play area, but they are expensive at £5,000–6,000 for small (1m x 1m) trampolines. The purchase of gym equipment will be explored, with quotes brought to the next meeting.

It was agreed to commission a topographical survey for Stimpson’s Piece at a cost of £400.

The Town Hall and Stimpson’s Piece Pavilion are available to hire. Please contact the town clerk on 01603 873355 or email for availability and prices.

The next Reepham Town Council and Stimpson’s Piece trustee meetings will take place on Wednesday 11 June from 7.30 pm at Stimpson’s Piece Pavilion, Bartle Court, Reepham.

Notes supplied by Reepham Town Council. Full minutes can be found on the town council website.

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The money will be used to fund licences for a phone app that allows rapid communication between the emergency response controllers and the responder unit, ensuring that the responder has the support needed as quickly as possible.

The licences are paid annually and this is the second year that Reepham Lions has provided the funding to cover them.

The first responders are all volunteers who attend emergency situations in their local area, including Reepham, providing early care in the time before an ambulance or paramedic arrives.

Club president Kevin Long expressed his appreciation of the service that first responders provide and the many hours that their volunteers give to the communities around them.

Above: Members of Reepham Lions with Fakenham Area Community First Responders at their training session. Photo: Reepham Lions

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Re Hugh Ivins’ comments (Your Letters, 25 April 2025), how is it that such a major decision affecting thousands of Broadland residents be made by three members of a committee of Broadland District Council?

Given also the absence of several of the planning committee, surely such a decision should have been passed to the full council to make the final decision.

It sounds as if the committee had been lent on, especially when the chair of the committee, being fully aware of the scale and nature of the objections, used her vote to accept the proposal.

Given the planned large-scale solar farms in the Dereham/Swaffham area and around Long Stratton, which it is said will generate far more electricity than is needed in Norfolk, no further solar farms should be allowed, especially on greenfield sites.

What can be done to investigate the actions of the Broadland Planning Committee?

Bryan Gostling, Bircham Road, Reepham

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I would like to echo Hugh Ivins’ comments (Your Letters, 25 April 2025) on the sad day for democracy when only a small number of councillors were prepared to turn up and vote on a highly controversial project.

He has named Stuart Beadle as one who did not attend. I hope that he can name the others so that the 80 or more people who objected to the project can contact them and express their contempt.

Terry Lawton, Bircham Road, Reepham

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Those of us who travel along the Norwich/Reepham Road (I’ve often wondered where one becomes the other) are delighted that so many potholes have been filled.

Many thanks are due to the team that did the work and to whoever organised it.

Stephen Howard, Norwich

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