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Village News
Parish Meeting Cancelled
Grizelda Hubbard - 7th January 2010
Please be aware that the Parish Council Meeting due to be held on Monday 11th January 2010 has been cancelled due to the adverse weather conditions.
The next meeting will now be held on Monday 1st February 2010 at 7:30pm in the Village Hall. The agenda for this meeting is available here.
Other news
Calendar girls become the Pride of Breckland - 22nd October 2009
Calendar girls become the Pride of Breckland
Breckland DC - 22nd October 2009
Fifteen wives of men from the Light Dragoons based in Swanton Morley have appeared clad in only their underwear and combats in a series of photos, posing with flags and various items of military uniform, in a calendar priced at £5.
The women, who are all aged between 24 and 43 and have no previous modelling experience, hope to raise money for the Light Dragoons charity. The wives are hoping the proceeds from the calendars will go towards a memorial dedicated to the six Light Dragoons who have recently been killed in action.
The calendar's campaign organisers, Sharon Jarvis and Nicky Church, whose husbands serve in the Light Dragoons, said the models, who have over 20 children between them, were inspired by their husbands' bravery.
“There is a really strong bond of camaraderie between women on Robertson Barracks. I just wanted to do something positive as a military wife. Having the photos taken was bizarre, everyone was nervous but you just get into it and it's really exciting and lots of fun"
Miss January, Caroline Cox, 28, seen peeling her way through a pile of potatoes added: "At first we were all quite shy about having our pictures taken, but when we saw how they had come out we just thought 'wow, take some more'.
"My husband said he was very proud of what we were doing and I'm always telling him how proud I am of the work he does."
Photographer Julian Wheeler said the women worked professionally and instinctively discovered their modelling skills in front of the camera.
He said: "The girls were all brilliant to work with, some of them were really nervous at first but when they saw how the pictures had come out they became more and more confident.”
The charity calendar has been sponsored by Breckland Council’s Pride in Breckland scheme. Theresa Hewett, Executive member for community services said; “Pride in Breckland is proud to sponsor the calendar and I hope the public will help the wives in their support for the charity. I think this is a fabulous way to raise money and awareness for the charity, and I am sure it will brighten up their husbands Christmas!”
The 2010 calendars cost £5 and can be bought from various outlets across Breckland including Litcham Butchers, Breckland Travel in Dereham, Darbys in Swanton Morley and the Village Store in Swanton Morley.
Ploughman's Lunch - 28th June 2009
Ploughman's Lunch
Sue Douglas - 28th June 2009
Thanks go to everyone who attended the charity ploughman's Lunch in Kathy Wood's gardens on Sunday 28th June. A total of £470 was raised from ticket sales and from the various stalls; this will be split between Longham Church and Quidenham Hospice.
Thanks also to Kathy for allowing us to use her lovely gardens.
Norfolk Botanist Celebrated - 28th May 2009
Norfolk Botanist Celebrated
EDP - 28th May 2009
This article appeared in the Eastern Daily Press on the 28th May.
Botanical artist Sarah Drake is a new addition to the Dictionary of National Biography which lists the leading lights of natural history.
Sarah Drake was born in Skeyton, near Coltishall, in 1803, and grew up in Norfolk. She became friends with Anne Lindley, the sister of the eminent Norfolk-born botanist John Lindley. She went to live with the family, who by now had moved to Middlesex, in about 1830 as a governess. She was given drawing lessons and due to her artistic talent became Mr Lindley's main illustrator. She did hundreds of colour illustrations and woodcuts, especially of orchids. A genus of Western Australian orchid, Drakea, is named after her.
The biography entry says: “Drake was recognized for her scientific accuracy as well as her painstaking artistic genius… Nevertheless, she tended to be regarded as simply a technical assistant to Lindley, and her position as a member of his family circle prevented her from receiving in her lifetime the personal status and attention that her talents warranted.”
She stopped drawing in 1847 when she moved back to Norfolk to live with her elderly uncle and his wife in Fritton. In 1852 she married wealthy farmer John Hastings, from Longham Hall. She died in 1857.
Her achievements are commemorated in a plaque in the porch of St Andrew's Church, Longham, which incorporates one of her orchid illustrations. She is buried in Longham churchyard with her husband and his other two wives.
Local MP's Expenses Summary - 15th May 2009
Local MP's Expenses Summary
David Smith - 15th May 2009
Just to join in the current farrago surrounding the publication of MP's expenses, I offer here a summary of the expenses claimed by sitting Norfolk MP's for the year 2007-2008.
| Name | Party | Seat | 2nd Home allowance | Total Claimed |
| Bacon, Mr Richard | CON | Norfolk South | £20,888 | £147,498 |
| Bellingham, Mr Henry | CON | Norfolk North West | £22,350 | £140,359 |
| Clarke, Rt Hon Charles | LAB | Norwich South | £23,083 | £162,220 |
| Fraser, Christopher | CON | Norfolk South West | £23,022 | £153,822 |
| Gibson, Dr Ian | LAB | Norwich North | £16,216 | £136,241 |
| Lamb, Norman | LD | Norfolk North | £23,083 | £163,746 |
| Simpson, Mr Keith | CON | Norfolk Mid | £22,076 | £160,087 |
| Wright, Mr Anthony | LAB | Great Yarmouth | £23,083 | £154,625 |
Of the 50 highest total amounts claimed by MP's, 37 were by Labour, 6 Liberal Democrat, 3 Conservative and 4 Other. The total expenses claimed by all 646 MP's was £92,993,748.
Total expenses include staffing costs, stationery & postage costs, IT expenditure, travel expenses, London allowance (where applicable), communications and office costs.
All figures are taken from BBC News. Just to show that nothing really changes, download a copy of Oliver Cromwell's speech on dissolving Parliament in 1653.
New Parish Priest Appointed - 27th August 2008
New Parish Priest Appointed
David Smith - 27th August 2008
The Parochial Church Council for Longham are delighted to announce that Robert Marsden has accepted the post of priest in charge to the five parishes that includes Longham.
Robert and his wife Barbara will be joining our community from November.
Longham & Beeston Post Offices to close - 26th March 2008
Longham & Beeston Post Offices to close
David Smith - 26th March 2008
The Royal Mail today announced the start of consultation on the future of the Post Office network in Norfolk. This includes the intention to close Longham and Beeston Post Offices, leaving the closest offices at Gressenhall or Litcham.
The public consultation period runs until 2nd June, and we would suggest that in the first instance, any representations you may have on this issue be made to the Parish Council, who I am sure will be submitting their views to the authorities.
In addition, to express your views directly to the Royal Mail, you can write to:
Laura Tarling
Network Development Manager
C/o National Consultation Team
FREEPOST CONSULTATION TEAM
or by email to: consultation@postoffice.co.uk
or by phone to the Customer Helpline: 08457 22 33 44