Bird watching, boating, walking, cycling, horseracing, river trips, gardens, lamb feeding, heritage railways and Easter Egg Trails

- Norfolk is packed with great ideas for the Easter Holidays.

“We are looking forward to a very busy Easter in Norfolk,” said Lydia Smith, Director, Norfolk Tourism. “Our new Outdoor Norfolk Campaign, www.visitnorfolk.co.uk outdoors is encouraging visitors and local residents to get out and about in the county and go walking, boating, birdwatching, canoeing, cycling, fishing and horseriding at more than 100 locations, using public transport like the CoastHopper bus or The Bittern Line railway whenever possible. Norfolk with its endless skies is the place to enjoy the great outdoors.”

Here is a selection of Norfolk’s Easter offerings:
- The Veranda Resort Burnham Market International Horse Trials, Sussex Farm Burnham Market PE31 8JY, 1st to 3rd April www.musketeer.co.uk
- Explore the North Norfolk Coast and the Norfolk Coast Footpath using the CoastHopper bus www.coasthopper.co.uk
- Ride The Bittern Line from Norwich to Sheringham and hop off at intermediate stations for a circular walk www.bitternline.com/walks2.htm
- Visit RSPB Titchwell Marsh www.rspb.org.uk or Norfolk Wildlife Trust’s Cley Marshes www.norfolkwildlifetrust.org.uk
- Go cycling around Thetford Forest www.bike-art.com or The Norfolk Broads www.thebroadsbybike.org.uk


- Visit Wretham Lodge, East Wretham and Desert World Gardens, Santon Downham, both gardens open in aid of the National Gardens Scheme on April 4th and 5th, www.norfolkgardens.org
- Enjoy racing on Easter Monday, April 5 at Great Yarmouth Racecourse, www.greatyarmouth-racecourse.co.uk and Fakenham Racecourse www.fakenhamracecourse.co.uk
- Feed the lambs at Junior Farm Wroxham Barns www.wroxhambarns.co.uk and Snettisham Farm Park www.snettishampark.co.uk


- Take a river trip in Norwich on City Boats www.cityboats.co.uk
- Join Easter Egg Trails at Fairhaven Woodland and Water Garden, April 2nd to 5th, www.fairhavengarden.co.uk, Blickling Hall, April 4th and 5th, Felbrigg Hall, April 4th and 5th and Oxburgh Hall, April 3rd to 5th (all National Trust) www.nationaltrust.org.uk or take the Bure Valley Railway’s Easter Eggspress, April 2nd to 5th, www.bvrw.co.uk
- Catch The King’s Morris dancing at Snettisham, Heacham and Thornham on April 5th, tel. 01553 768930.

Indoor Ideas
- Visit Dragon Hall, Norwich’s magnificent medieval merchant’s trading hall www.dragonhall.org
- Clive Webb and Danny Adams return to Great Yarmouth’s Hippodrome Circus with ‘Circus Hilarious, Keep Britain Laughing’, April 2nd - 7th, www.hippodromecircus.co.uk
- Visit the exquisite Anderson Collection exhibition at The Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts, Norwich www.scva.ac.uk or Watercolour in Britain: Travelling with Colour at Norwich Castle Museum and Gallery, www.museums.norfolk.gov.uk

Cinema City has launched a brand new free-to-join club for students, aptly named the ‘Slackers Club,’ set up by TV Channel E4 and Cinema City, which will offer their student members the chance to attend special screenings every month.

All students need to do is flash their student ID card and the cinema will provide them with a shiny membership card that will get them into one free screening per month, where they can watch brand new E4 shows, classic movies or catch a sneaky peak at a film yet to be released.

The next free monthly screening for the Slackers Club is Kick-Ass, showing on Mon 29th March, at 1.30pm. This funny, screw-ball, high-energy adventure, directed by Matthew Vaughn and produced by Brad Pitt, tells the story of average teen Dave Lizewski (Aaron Johnson), a comic book fan who decides to take his obsession one step further and become a real-life superhero.

He chooses the name ‘Kick-Ass’ for his alter ego, puts together a suit and mask ensemble, and starts work fighting crime. There’s only one snag; Kick-Ass has no superpowers! His life quickly becomes complex beyond his wildest dreams as he inspires numerous copycat superheros, meets crazed vigilantes and does battle with a scheming mob boss.

Book online at www.picturehouses.co.uk or by calling 0871 704 2053.


Kids’ Club: Every Saturday at 10.30am. Creative activities, fun and games are followed by a children's film at 11.00am. The Club is suitable for 3 - 15 year olds.

Big Scream takes place every Tuesday and Thursday at 11.00am. Doors open at 10.30am.

At Big Scream club, sponsored by Benpanthen, films are screened exclusively for parents with babies under one year old. Enjoy the latest releases from a regular programme accompanied by baby in a safe and comfortable environment.

Contact Details for Cinema City:-

Cinema City, Norwich
St Andrew's Street
Norwich NR2 4AD
cinema Tel: 0871 704 2053
Restaurant reservations 07504 356378
Email: cinemacity@picturehouses.co.uk
www.picturehouses.co.uk

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The day is shaping up nicely, with over 40 exhibitors booked and more will be announced before the event. 6 artists have already confirmed they are taking part in the Scrap Heap Art Challenge and the Shaping Norfolk’s Future Business Breakfast is filling up nicely.


This year the range of exhibitors is even better than last year. Visitors can attend the event for Free. As well as the exhibition, there are talks throughout the day on various subjects (programme will be announced next week), demonstrations and of the Scrap Heap Art Challenge.

The day is an excellent way to gain knowledge for your business or your home. Business advisors like the CLA, Catchment Sensitive Farming and Business Link will be on hand to advise and direct you to the best sources of information for all your environmental issues. The Energy Saving Trust will be on hand to help homeowners save money on their electricity, gas and other utility bills.

Some of the best installers of renewable technologies are attending the event. Visitors can find all the information they need on solar panels to heat hot water, PV to generate electricity on your roof, a wind turbine for your garden or farm yard. Farmers and landowners might consider an anaerobic digestion system. You could even book an energy assessment for your business or property to identify the best way to save costs from the Norfolk Energy Consultancy.

The Norfolk Master Composters will be helping you with all your composting issues, while the Home Grown Revolution show you the best way to grown your own veg. The RSPB will help you attract wildlife to your garden. Edwards Eco Building are showing how to build cob buildings and earthen ovens for your garden.

“It is wonderful to be a part of something that can have such a positive effect on the way individuals view and treat the world we live in. Education and awareness are the key factors in making the changes necessary to combat global warming and the inevitable peak oil catastrophe.” said Andrea Bramhall of Deepdale Backpackers & Camping.

Deepdale Backpackers & Camping are looking forward to hosting this wide range of organisations. Of course you can have a look at the eco-friendly facilities of Deepdale, and learn more about how they reduce their energy costs, run a more sustainable business, yet offer excellent quality accommodation.

You can follow the event in two ways, either at the Deepdale Farm website - www.deepdalefarm.co.uk/earthday or if you use Facebook, then search for North Norfolk Coast Earth Day.

Diss Smockmill

Diss smockmill stood on the corner of Stuston Road and Victoria Road, having been erected on the site of an older postmill that was often known as Chase's Mill and had been destroyed during a gale in 1839.

The 5 storey mill had an 8 sided tower with a boat shaped cap that had a pettticoat, gallery and a 6 bladed fan. The 4 double shuttered sails each had 8 bays of 3 shutters, drove 2 pairs of French burr stones and were struck by rack and pinion. The upright shaft was made of cast iron.

A separate building stood adjacent that housed the steam roller mills.





The above photograph shows the army from Diss Camp 51 about to give a demonstration with Maxim machine guns on Stuston Common with several civilians looking on.

Diss smockmill and steam roller mill is to the right, the steam chimney and Rose Lane composite mill to the left of centre and the sails of Victoria Road towermill are just visible on the left horizon above the back of the horse.

A quote from the past . . .

NARROW ESCAPE
Last week a young man of the name of Dykes, in the employ of Mr. Rush, miller of Diss, was caught by the gripe taking his handkerchief about his neck, and carrying him up; it must have proved fatal, but some person below, hearing his cries, suddenly stopped the mill, which would otherwise have, by coming in contact with the upper beam, severed his head from his body. - Norwich Mercury. The Times - 9th November 1840.

For more history about this mill and many others, please visit - www.norfolkmills.co.uk

Everyone loves the Easter bunny, but did you know you can meet the real thing at RSPB Minsmere nature reserve this Easter?

From Friday 2 to Sunday 4 April 2010, families can part in the Minsmere Easter bunny hunt. As well as watching wild bunnies, there’s a quiz trail with chocolates at the end. Costs for this event are £2 per child or 50 pence for Wildlife Explorers members. Normal entry fees apply for adults. Booking is advisable to prevent your bunny hopping off. The event runs from 10 am to 3 pm.

Following this event, families can also hop into spring at Minsmere with a programme of craft activities from Monday 5 to Thursday 8 April. After getting mucky making funny mud faces, you can make your own booming bittern or plant a sunflower for the summer. Costs are £5 per person, or £3.50 for Wildlife Explorers members (free for RSPB member adults), and the event runs from 10.30 am to 2.30 pm.

RSPB spokesman Ian Barthorpe said, “This is a great opportunity to see real, wild bunnies, enjoy a fun day in the countryside, and perhaps even spot some unusual wildlife. The bunnies often sit beneath the feeders outside the visitor centre, eating spilt sunflower seeds. Spring is a great time to visit Minsmere. Perhaps you’ll even hear a bittern booming.”

The RSPB speaks out for birds and wildlife, tackling the problems that threaten our environment. Nature is amazing - help us keep it that way. The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) is a registered charity: England and Wales no 207076, Scotland no SC037654.
RSPB Minsmere is open daily. The visitor centre opens from 9 am to 5 pm. The RSPB Shop is open 10 am to 5 pm. The tearoom is open 10 am to 4.30 pm. Entry to the visitor centre is free. There is a charge for non-members to use the nature trails and birdwatching hides.
For a full list of RSPB events on the Suffolk coast see www.rspb.org.uk/events.

1931 :
Saw the first edition of the Highway Code

1934 :
Driving test was introduced

1935 :
The 30mph came to our towns and villages

1960 :
The MOT Test was started

1965 :
The introduction of the 70mph limit

1965 :
It was compulsory to fit Front Seat Belts to cars built in Europe

1967 :
The Breathalyser Test was introduced

1983 :
Regulations for the Drivers and Front seat passengers to wear Seat Belts (Transport Act of 1981)

1989 :
Compulsory for children to wear rear seat belts

1991 :
Compulsory for adults to wear rear seat belts

2000 :
Saw the setting up of targets for road safety by 2010

2003 :
Hazard perception test for new drivers added to driving test

2003 :
Illegal to drive while using a Hand Held Mobile Phone

2006 :
Road Safety Act 2006 legislation for child seats

2007 :
Second phase Road Safety Act introduced

2008 :
Corporate Manslaughter Bill (making companies aware of their drivers safety)

2009 :
Driver CPC introduced

Left hand driving in the the uk, no this is not driving on the left side for the first time after years of being on the right side.

This is using a left hand drive vehicle on the British Roads, this gives a completly new aspect to viewpoints in driving.

There is a lot of concentration and observation required,so keep a close eye on door mirrors and monitor to where you are sitting on the carriageway. It is so easy to drift to the middle of the road as you have been
used to driving left of the centre line.

The biggest dangers with a left hand drive is to overtaking, you must leave plenty of room from vehicles in front before you attempt to pull out..front seat passengers can help in your judgements.

One of the biggest problems is turning left as your view from the right is obscured, a major problem is changing gear the right hand is just not used to doing things like this when driving.

During early days while parked on side of road just practice gear changing as much as possible, a real word of warning dont change gear as you meet on coming traffic, because if you miss a gear you could steer off course into their lane..

In 1969 a research team found out countries who drive on the left had a lower accident rate.

When holding back to give way to on coming traffic in built up areas, leave plenty of space in order to move out, returning back to the left side quickly and safely, extras mirrors on the right side are really useful.

Just a very important reminder.. dont forget drivers who are caught driving a car while using a hand held mobile are likely to be stopped and charged, this will result in a £1,000 pound fine for car drivers, this will raise to £2,500 for goods vehicle and coach/bus drivers, plus 3 penalty points on the licence.

Don't forget also switch off the engine if you do stop and talk on the phone while sitting in the vehicle.

While travelling around the countryside on a daily basis there seem to be more and more drivers, holding a phone near their ear and driving.... :(

Exchange Radio 87.7FM, based at Hospital Radio Norwich and staffed by school students and youth organisations (ages 5 to 19), is on air from 9am to 8pm, Tuesday, March 23rd to Thursday, March 25th. This is Exchange Radio’s sixth spell on air.

The FM frequency broadcasts 15 miles around Norwich, but the radio station can be heard throughout Norfolk online at www.exchangeradio.co.uk. Twenty-one schools and youth organisations from around the county are taking part.

Each school or youth organisation has an hour-long slot. The students plan and produce their own programmes and have the chance to broadcast live as well as use some pre-recorded material.

New this year is White Woman Lane Junior School, Norwich who will be interviewing Norwich North MP Chloe Smith live during their programme at 9am on Thursday, March 25th.


Old hands, Barnham Broom Primary School, whose Head Teacher, Keith Wright is a Hospital Radio Norwich volunteer, return at 10am on Monday, March 23rd with an hour of music chosen by the students and parents along with news, weather and travel updates.

Oriel High School, Gorleston will have presenters in the studio at 10am on Wednesday, March 24th linking recorded items including Facebook - friend or foe, the impact that the images of women in magazines have on girls, the school’s scholarship scheme with Greshams School and recorded music and interviews from school bands.

Methwold High School presenters will also be linking a series of recorded items at 1pm on Wednesday, March 24th, featuring an item on Methwold’s relationship with a school in Nairobi Kenya trailing a visit there in July, a comedy sketch, a history of the Olympics looking forward to 2012 and an interview with a member of staff about child soldiers.

Mike Sarre of Hospital Radio Norwich supervises the broadcast output and trains the young broadcasters in programme preparation, interviewing and recording techniques.

Diane Sutcliffe, Project Co-ordinator from The Exchange explained: "The content is entirely up to the schools and youth organisations. Some include poetry, music, interviews, drama or work to a specific theme. It is a very valuable experience as it improves confidence and self esteem, as well as developing the students’ range of enterprise learning e.g. creativity, using initiative, communication, innovation and team working."

The Exchange, www.norfolk-exchange.org.uk, tel: 01953 601439

The Exchange exists to support schools and businesses to work together in achieving effective partnerships.

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Norfolk IT Recruitment, now based just outside Norwich, has now undergone completion of its management buyout.

Norfolk IT Recruitment specialises in the placement of IT and technical staff to companies throughout East Anglia and nationwide. In addition to the buyout, the company has also recently undergone a full rebranding along with the launch of new website, www.norfolkitrecruitment.co.uk

Commenting on the announcement, Director Paul Watts said: “The acquisition of Norfolk IT Recruitment has been a very exciting time for us. With a proven track record over the last 3 years we aim to continue the good work and build further upon Norfolk IT Recruitment’s excellent customer service and reputation.”

“We have an extremely extensive database of local candidates throughout all sectors of IT and currently work with some of the most respected companies in our region. Specialising in IT ensures we have in depth knowledge of our client’s needs along with strong relationships with our candidates.”

Cassandra Gardiner, Senior Consultant added “Our ethos at Norfolk IT Recruitment is to provide a personal but professional service while always exceeding expectations. We place great emphasis on long term relationships and our rates are highly competitive.”

“We feel the market is starting to improve somewhat in our sector - There is undoubtedly a more positive outlook to 2010, with new vacancies come in thick & fast.”

These clips were taken along side my photographic projects during February 2010.
For a high res image go to: www.wildaboutimages.co.uk
© Paul Bunyard

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As a life long technophobe and newcomer to photography I found myself in what must be a common position. I had been given a stonking new SLR camera, which resided in it’s box looking downright scary. And of course a detailed book, which soon lapsed into technical areas like ‘depth of field’, ‘focal legnth’ - surely a foreign language?

I joined evening classes on photography, only to find they were all on Photoshop, with very little on tackling the monster in the box. I joined a local camera club, and found them so accomplished, and the visiting judges so erudite I felt too foolish to ask my basic questions.

I then chanced upon an article on the Beyond the Image Gallery (at Thornham Walks, near Diss) and their photoshoots, and was assured absolute beginners were welcome.

The photoshoots have a general theme, and are usually at the gallery, showing the complementary exhibition. The themes are loose enough to allow almost any interpretation, but specific enough to be thought provoking, they have certainly helped me to progress from holiday snaps. Sessions usually begin by looking at some images, and a general chat on interpreting the theme.

We then go out, or stay in if we want, and take some pictures. The friendly and informal sessions are led by members of the gallery who have extensive technical skills, which they are quite happy to share, and you can gain what you want or need from them.

At the end of the day we each choose our best images of the day, and they are projected on the screen for friendly discussion.

On my first session the beast came out of it’s box, was assembled and set on fully automatic, and I just followed the others and joined in. Some of my favourite images were taken on that day. Informal help over the last four years have built on my knowledge, technical terms have been addressed, the magazine articles and books now make sense, most of the buttons on the camera have been explained and experimented with.

At the end of every year participants are encouraged to put a couple of pictures in a special exhibition. As a beginner most of us are reticent, but it is a great opportunity to look back through your year’s work, and amongst the errors and blurry ones, there WILL be a couple that, with a bit of cropping, look good in a mount. There is nothing like seeing your images in the gallery to give you confidence, and to focus your mind on the next photoshoot.

You may have a beast lurking in it’s box, since Christmas (and it doesn’t even have to be a SLR), or have got started and run out of ideas. You may have got bogged down with the technicalities, and can’t commit the time and money to go on a high level training course. Come along and join in - you may well find what you need.

The first-ever film version of Lewis Carroll's tale has recently been restored by the BFI National Archive from severely damaged materials. Made just 37 years after Lewis Carroll wrote his novel and eight years after the birth of cinema, the adaptation was directed by Cecil Hepworth and Percy Stow, and was based on Sir John Tenniel's original illustrations. In an act that was to echo more than 100 years later, Hepworth cast his wife as the Red Queen, and he himself appears as the Frog Footman. Even the Cheshire cat is played by a family pet.

With a running time of just 12 minutes (8 of which survive), Alice in Wonderland was the longest film produced in England at that time. Film archivists have been able to restore the film's original colours for the first time in over 100 years.

Music: 'Jill in the Box', composed and performed by Wendy Hiscocks.

Natural dye and ecoprint workshop
Marian Williams, maker of silk clothing and accessories, offers a workshop in natural dying (including mordanting) and printing directly onto silk with plant matter such as leaves and flowers.

An additional charge of £3 will be made on the day for a piece of scarf size silk fabric. We would advise participants to wear suitable clothing for working with dyes.

Hat making
Martin Faulkner, of Painting the Clouds with Sunshine, will help you to make a new hat from old!

Participants will need to bring a hat to work on. It can be absolutely anything - including a man's - and made of any material (except, perhaps, a crash helmet or riding hat)!

It can be old and tatty and be completely re-sculpted; or it can be an expensive one, worn last summer to a special event and then perhaps be restyled for a wedding this year. Make something stylish or fashion-orientated, fun or fantasy. Why not use those bits of ribbon, beads, fabric, buttons, fur, feathers, lace, combs or hairslides to create that new look? Anything you have or fancy using is fine!

Please bring with you a sketchbook, needles, thread, and scissors.

Dry Felt Making
Join Su Lenk, of The Alpaca Barn, at our workshop and find out what you can create with the art of Needle Felting. Unlike the wet felt process you can create sculptures of animals, dolls, balls and cubes - the fun of needle felting is limited only by your imagination!

An additional charge of £3.00 per person includes the special needle, pre prepared designs to felt, alpaca fleece and merino wool. All we ask you to do is provide your own piece of 2 inch dense foam 6 to 9 inches square. Upholstery foam is suitable for this.


Fees: Individual workshop fees are £43 payable in advance which includes museum admission. Book before 27th February and pay £33. Please note some small additional charge may be applicable on the day - see individual workshop notes above.

Café facilities are available on site for the one hour lunch break.

Contact: admin@producedinnorfolk.com

Phone (01603) 424102

Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts

This Easter is packed with fun for families at the Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts. The holiday begins on Sunday 4th April with First Sunday ‘Elegant Eggs’. The event, which is part of the Centre’s popular monthly First Sunday programme, will run from midday and include storytelling, live music and drop-in activities in the café and galleries. The second of the Sainsbury Centre’s Object of the Holiday series, offering free drop-in activities for families, runs from Tuesday 6th - Sunday 18th April (closed Mondays including Easter Bank Holiday Monday). Easter activities and admission to the gallery is free.

At the ‘Elegant Eggs’ First Sunday on Sunday 4th April children will be able to craft their own bejewelled egg and hunt for egg-laying creatures in the galleries on a special trail. There is even chance to win a chocolate egg! The Dave Pullin trio will be performing live in the Gallery Café and there will be free Sunday papers. If the sun is shining families can then head outside to play in the beautiful parkland which surrounds the Centre.

During the Easter school holiday there will also be Object of the Holiday activities each day. This holiday the highlighted object will be the raven rattle in the Robert and Lisa Sainsbury Collection (activities and admission to the Sainsbury Centre is free).

“We are delighted to be continuing with our object of the holiday series which proved incredibly popular when we launched it at February half-term. The series brings our permanent collection to life for children and offers them a wonderful mix of learning and creative activities that are lots of fun. Gallery admission is free and so too are the activities. Come along and see what we have to offer! ” - Charlotte Peel, Education Officer (Families and Children).

Families will be able to spend the day at the Centre and enjoy a host of things on offer. These will include an activity table with artist-designed things to make and do (Tuesday to Sunday each week from 11am to 4pm), activity booklets and gallery trails. Children can also enjoy stories about the permanent collections narrated by Sainsbury Centre guides (Tuesday 6th to Friday 9th April at 11am). The activity booklet designed by artist Sarah Florence with support from the Centre’s guides includes fun facts about the raven rattle, drawing activities, trails and things to do when you get home.


The raven rattle is likely to have been collected on a voyage to the Northwest Coast of America. Rattles in the form of a bird were collected on voyages by explorers such Captain Cook in the late-eighteenth century and others in the nineteenth century. The most frequently depicted bird was the raven and these raven rattles were often described as ‘chief’s rattles’. Rattles were used to emphasise oratory and to create rhythm to accompany singing and dancing. The colourful raven rattle in the Sainsbury Centre’s collection is made of wood and leather with pebbles inside. The figure on the raven’s back is depicted with a bear-like face and claws. There is a ‘hawk’ mask on the raven’s breast. The rattle is larger and more sculpturally accomplished than many other examples.

Visitors to the Sainsbury Centre during the Easter holiday can also see the spring exhibitions. The Artist’s Studio explores the ways in which artists have represented their studios through a fascinating look at the workplaces of artists in Britain from the 1640s to the present day. The Anderson Collection of Art Nouveau is considered one of the most exquisite in the country. This stunning new display will tell the story of some of the key exponents of the art nouveau movement. The exhibitions run until Sunday 23rd May.

Opening times, bookings and information
Open Tuesday to Sunday (closed Mondays), 10am to 5pm and until 8pm on Wednesdays
Tel 01603 593199 www.scva.ac.uk

Admission to the gallery and permanent collections is free
Special exhibitions are charged - see below

First Sunday times and information
Midday - 4pm
Drop-in art activities in the gallery
Free

1pm - 3pm
Live music in the gallery café
Free

12.30pm
Storytelling in the gallery
Free
Not pre-bookable, places on a first-come, first-served basis

Forthcoming First Sundays during the spring season
Sunday 2 May - Here Comes the Sun!

Exhibition dates, times and information
The Artist’s Studio and The Anderson Collection of Art Nouveau will run from Tuesday 9th February to Sunday 23rd May. The exhibition will be open Tuesday to Sunday (closed on Mondays including Easter Bank Holiday Monday), 10am to 5pm and until 8pm on Wednesdays. Tel 01603 593199 www.scva.ac.uk.

Admission
Combined admission to the spring exhibitions £4, concessions £2
Family admission (up to 2 adults and 3 children) £8, concessions £6

People in NHS Norfolk’s area are being encouraged to make the most of No Smoking Day 2010 by making it the day they choose to give up the habit.

This year’s theme for the annual event is ‘Break Free’, as smokers commonly report feeling trapped or constrained by their addiction.

NHS Norfolk commissions a Stop Smoking Service which is available throughout the year, but it is hoped that this event may inspire people to quit smoking or find out more about the services available to help them.

Stop smoking trends show the busiest time for people giving up is from January through to March, which is attributed to New Year’s resolutions, Valentine’s Day and No Smoking Day.

Jennie Pusey, NHS Norfolk’s Stop Smoking Commissioning Manager, said: “No Smoking Day is an excellent occasion to inspire smokers to give up, particularly if they may have wanted to stop for a while. As so many people are inspired to quit around this date, it is an opportunity for smokers to help each other to stop smoking together and break free from a very addictive habit.”

For more information about no smoking day, go to: www.nosmokingday.org.uk

Norwich is soon to have its first backpackers hostel, a whole new tourism market for the city and the next venture for father and son, Alister and Jason Borthwick.

The team behind the award winning, eco-friendly tourism facilities at Deepdale Farm on the north Norfolk coast, are in the process of developing a hostel in the centre of Norwich, having just purchased the somewhat derelict Ferry Boat Inn on King St.

“The Ferry Boat will make an excellent location for our second hostel. King Street is an easy walk to the main attractions of the City, train and bus station. The river access means we can offer canoe hire and with national cycle route no1 passing the front door we can also offer cycle hire. We are really excited about the opportunities this site offers. The planners like our ideas to regenerate the site and we look forward to working with them to develop a really exciting landmark for Norwich.” said Alister Borthwick.

The Ferry Boat Inn has been closed for over 3 years. The only way it could compete with the chain pubs was as a live music venue, but after much of the river frontage was developed into flats, live music was no longer welcome and the pub was forced to close. Greene King, the previous owners, had considered developing the site into a pub restaurant, but decided the £1m to £2m price tag wasn’t a viable investment. Instead they put the building on the market and the Borthwicks bought the property in early February.

“Our primary use for the site will be backpackers accommodation, mainly private ensuite rooms and family rooms, with a few dorms, which will all be accommodated in a new eco-friendly building on the site. We plan to lease out the hostel, much as we have done at Deepdale, and the canoe hire, cycle hire and café may go to the same tenant or to separate tenants depending on who approaches us. Now that we have bought the site, plans will develop.” said Jason Borthwick.

“We know groups like CAMRA (Campaign for Real Ale) are keen to see the pub reopen. We definitely feel that a small real ale pub on the site as part of the overall development, would be an excellent addition. This might be run by the tenants of the hostel or as a separate entity, maybe CAMRA know of interested parties and can put them in touch with us. In the meantime we’ll be developing plans for the accommodation, canoe hire, cycle hire and café, looking for tenants for the whole or parts of the site and the possibility of a pub will develop as and when interested tenants approach us.”

Norwich Backpackers Hostel will link up with the well established Deepdale Backpackers & Camping on the north Norfolk coast and with any other backpackers style accommodation that exists in the county or region, including hostels and campsites. The new hostel will open up Norfolk and Norwich to a market that is virtually untapped currently. Most other historic cities, such as York and Bath, support two or more hostels. Norwich’s YHA closed over 7 years ago and no other backpacker hostel accommodation is available, yet the city and the surrounding area fit perfectly with the backpacker market.

The backpacker travel market is quite simply unique. Backpacker hostels offer simple clean quality accommodation, but with one major difference to hotels and other accommodation - the social interaction of fellow travellers, passing on stories and experiences. “Many friendships you develop when backpacking, stay with you for life. Staying in a hostel is a very ‘unBritish’ experience, you chat to people, join people for activities and food. Backpackers are all ages and from all backgrounds, it’s a state of mind!” said Jason.

“The best thing about the backpacker market, is the positive effects on the local area. Hostels work closely with many other local businesses, from those offering activities to attractions, museums, restaurants, pubs and more. We are really looking forward to creating jobs, working with Norwich businesses and adding to this great city.”

Norwich Backpackers Hostel plans to open its doors to customers in 2011. In the meantime watch www.norwichbackpackers.co.uk for the latest information.

The president of the Royal College of Psychiatrists visited Norfolk and Waveney Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust for the first time to give a lecture on 21st century psychiatry and to welcome the new clinical tutor in psychiatry for Norwich and Norfolk.

Professor Dinesh Bhugra personally congratulated Dr Mukhtar Nasir, consultant psychiatrist at the Trust, who is taking on the clinical tutor’s role. He also thanked Dr Hugo de Waal, outgoing clinical tutor, for more than five years of hard work improving training standards for psychiatry trainees.


Professor Bhugra said: “The role of the clinical tutor is very important. Tutors work with other colleagues to help them learn from each other. They help maintain high standards and best practice in psychiatry. Local tutors are aware of local needs and can pass this on to trainees who are new to the area.”

Dr Nasir said: “I hope to maintain the same high standards and to help the scheme attract more trainees. I also aim to improve attendance and to expand our range of teaching, supporting learning from best-evidenced practice in medicine. Equally important is ensuring that trainees get appropriate management training as part of the course.”

The clinical tutor post is funded by the Trust for a period of five years, and is supported by the Royal College of Psychiatrists, which provides training. It plays an important role in linking the College with psychiatrists at the Trust, and raises the Trust’s profile through reporting on its achievements and research in psychiatry. The clinical tutor coordinates training for postgraduate doctors in Norwich and Norfolk, and supervises specialist psychiatry training and psychotherapy. The tutor also ensures that students take part in valuable research.

Point of Interest: The ‘tutoris malleus’ (tutor’s hammer) was handed to Dr Nasir by Dr de Waal to symbolically mark the occasion. This hickory hammer has held a lightly threatening presence in training lectures - to deter students from answering mobile phones and encourage them to switch phones to silent!