The Health and Social Care awards are the most high-profile in the NHS and nominations were centred around the challenges of Quality, Innovation, Productivity and Prevention (QIPP).

Justin Gardner House contains two wards, the PICU and a 12-bed Low Secure Unit. It has been shortlisted for the Sustainability in Care award, which is one of the two regional East of England categories.

The Sustainability in Care award recognises a commitment to achieving sustainability in delivering health and social care, and achievement in combating climate change within health or social care settings.

The construction methods used in building Justin Gardner House ensure the lowest energy loss targets are met and the building is environmentally friendly, with solar panels on the roof to generate electricity, ground source heat pumps to warm water and rainwater collected from the roof for flushing toilets.

Leigh Fleming, commercial director for Norfolk & Waveney Mental health NHS Foundation Trust said:

"We are very proud of Justin Gardner House; it is a fantastic example of the Trust’s commitment to enhancing the environment for our service users, visitors and staff whilst putting sustainable development to the fore. It is tremendous that this has been recognised by the Health and Social Care awards."

The Compass Centre has been shortlisted in the most popular award category, Success in Partnership Working, which had a record number of entries this year and recognises integrated services which are person-centred and cross professional and organisational boundaries.

The centre offers high quality educational and therapeutic interventions to hard-to-reach young people who would otherwise be placed in residential schools, irreversibly breaking attachment to their families and local communities.

It demonstrates the excellent partnership working between the Trust, Norfolk County Council’s children’s services, schools in Great Yarmouth and the Pupil Referral Unit services supported by Great Yarmouth and Waveney Primary Care Trust.

The ethos of the centre is to engage young people and families who have previously found it difficult to access mainstream education and mental health services.

Compass staff work creatively to provide a flexible and individually tailored response for each young person in order to prepare them for reintegration into mainstream school.

Andy Goff, child and adolescent mental health services service manager at Norfolk and Waveney Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust said:

"The compass centre is the culmination of many people’s work within a number of agencies that share a vision that values young peoples’ education and therapeutic needs, enabling them to remain, supported, with their families.


"Putting the needs of young people central to this philosophy dismantled false agency boundaries and obstacles and made the vision a reality.


"There is nothing more satisfying then seeing these young people actively engaged in education and therapy and showing us what they can achieve with help."

The Health and Social care award winners will be announced later in the year.

An online survey aimed at new-mothers in west Norfolk has been launched to give people a chance to offer feedback on maternity services in their area.

The survey, which is expected to run until April 2011, has been organised by the King’s Lynn and Wisbech Maternity Services Liaison Committee (MSLC) in partnership with NHS Norfolk.

The survey asks new mums a range of questions about the care they received while pregnant, the information they were provided with, the support they were offered following the birth and further improvements to services they would like to see made in the future.

The aim of the questionnaire is to provide NHS Norfolk with ongoing feedback about maternity services in the west of Norfolk, directly from the people who use them. The feedback will be used to ensure services are benefiting patients and so areas for improvement can be identified and updated.

The King’s Lynn and Wisbech MSLC is one of two local MSLCs currently supported by NHS Norfolk – another is based in Norwich. MSLCs are independent forums which bring together patients, maternity staff and commissioners of maternity services to help to plan, monitor and improve local maternity services.

With the support of NHS Norfolk, the Kings Lynn and Wisbech MSLC has also created two online maps to make it easier to find existing services for parents, babies and children. The first map shows the locations of local parentcraft classes, breastfeeding groups, ante-natal groups, and teenage parents groups. The other shows the locations of toddler groups in the west of Norfolk. Both maps are hosted on NHS Norfolk’s website (details below).

Heather Farley, Chair of the Kings Lynn and Wisbech MSLC, said: “Our key purpose is to monitor the suitability of existing services and identify where improvements can be made. A key part of this is to collect feedback from new mums in our area, so it is essential that as many new mums in the west of Norfolk take part in the survey. We want to know what services and support worked well for you as well as what could be better, so we can make informed suggestions about how maternity services can continue to be improved.”

Laura McCartney-Gray, Patient and Public Engagement Manager for NHS Norfolk, said: “MSLCs play an important role in NHS Norfolk’s engagement with new mothers and their families. Our partnership working enables us to gather feedback directly from the users of health services, so we know exactly what is proving to be a valuable resource, while also collating suggestions for areas which need further improvement.


“It is essential that as many new mums in the west of Norfolk take part in the survey and have their say, so we can feed this in with other patient feedback and plan further improvements in maternity services for the future.”

If you are a new mother from west Norfolk and wish to take part in the survey, go to www.surveymonkey.com/s/PPXYRGV

To view a map of the conception to toddler groups in the west of Norfolk, go to: www.norfolk.nhs.uk/node/1686 or call the NHS Norfolk’s Patient Advise and Liaison Service (PALS) team on 0800 587 4132

For more information about the King’s Lynn and Wisbech MSLC and the Norwich-based MSLC go to www.norfolk.nhs.uk/node/721

EXERCISE AND CORONARY RISK
It’s widely recognised that a sedentary inactive lifestyle is harmful to health. In basic terms you will have a lower risk of illness and death if regular moderate exercise is performed.


PERFORMING A BALANCED WELL DEVISED PROGRAM ON REGULAR INTERVALS WILL:

1 Reduce the risk of dying prematurely

2 Reduce the risk of dying prematurely from heart disease

3 Reduces the risk of developing high blood pressure

4 Reduces the risk in developing diabetes

5 Helps reduce blood pressure in those who already have it

6 Reduces the risk in developing colon cancer

7 Reduces feelings of depression and anxiety

8 Helps control weight

9 Helps build and maintain healthy bones and joints

10 Helps older adults become more strong and mobile

11 Promotes psychological well-being


MAJOR RISK FACTORS OF CORONARY RISK ARE:

1 Smoking is the biggest risk factor and you will have 2 or 4 times the risk of non-smokers. Smokers who have a heart attack are more likely to die within 1 hour than non-smokers.

2 High blood pressure causes the heart to enlarge and over time will weaken, regular exercise has been shown to lower diastolic and systolic pressure.

3 High blood cholesterol will increase coronary risk considerably, again a well devised program performed on a regular basis may lead to reductions in cholesterol levels.

4 A sedentary lifestyle is a major factor as is a poor diet.

Norfolk and Waveney Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust is reaching out across Norfolk and Suffolk with a live broadcast of its Norwich-based annual general meeting on September 14.

The meeting will be held in the Noverre Suite at the Assembly House, Norwich from 6pm – 8pm and will be broadcast live to the Poppies Day Hospital dining room at the Trust’s Carlton Court site in Lowestoft and to the conference room at the Fermoy Unit in King’s Lynn.

The live connection will also enable interactive question and answer sessions between Norwich, Lowestoft and King’s Lynn. All venues will be serving refreshments from 5.30pm and members of the public are welcome to attend any of the three venues.

Maggie Wheeler, Chair of Norfolk and Waveney Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust said:

“As an organisation that spans a wide area we are always looking for ways to be more accessible. Using technology we can do this - so more people can take part, we are less “Norwich centric” and it’s greener as people can make a local journey rather than drive to Norwich.”

The theme of the annual general meeting is ‘Meeting the Challenge’ and will include presentations from chair of the Trust, Maggie Wheeler, and a joint presentation from Trust chief executive, Aidan Thomas and Suffolk Mental Health chief executive Mark Halladay on the proposal to merge the two mental health trusts.

Prior to the annual general meeting Norfolk and Waveney Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust and NHS Norfolk will be holding a public White Paper consultation event in the Assembly House Music Room from 4.30pm -5.30pm. All are welcome to attend.

NHS East of England Deputy Chief Executive and Director of Workforce Stephen Welfare will be speaking about the future plans for the NHS set out in the government White Paper 'Equity and Excellence: Liberating the NHS'. This will be a great opportunity to learn more and find out how your local NHS will meet the challenges ahead. There will also be an interactive display board to raise your comments and concerns about the plans.

Mushroom picking:The feast, the fear and the fungi

As the clouds send down a seemingly endless barrage of water, Clive Houlder is in seventh heaven.

The recent rain has created perfect conditions for many of the world's most highly-prized mushrooms. Better still, Houlder knows he faces little competition for the fungi that are sprouting everywhere.



On the Continent, the woods would now be crawling with families scouring the leaf mould for chanterelles, saffron milk caps and cepes.

 But our woods are deserted, for Britons seem instinctively wary of "toadstools" and many refuse to touch, let alone taste, anything lacking a Cellophane wrapping on a supermarket shelf.


As if to reinforce our instinctive distrust, it was reported last week that a woman had died after eating death cap mushrooms* on the Isle of Wight. Two weeks earlier, Nicholas Evans, author of The Horse Whisperer, and three of his companions were taken ill after unwittingly consuming toxic mushrooms (Deadly webcap, Cortinarius rubellus**) on a Scottish holiday.

Understandably, millions of Britons are now more wary than ever of harvesting wild mushrooms. Yet, with common sense, the dangers can be minimised - particularly when there are so many to choose from in this record-breaking season.

The best way to start is to be shown what to pick by an expert. The National Trust, Forest Enterprise and many Wildlife Trusts run forays, but these rarely target edible species. Head for a course that ignores Britain's 10,000 inedible species and focuses on those that are safe to eat.

It is also possible to teach oneself, but you must follow a few common sense guidelines. Arm yourself with a good field guide and don't get carried away. Instead, target the best tasting and most recognisable species.

Back home, check with a definitive encyclopaedia (Roger Phillips's Mushrooms is best, or see his website, www.rogersmushrooms.com) and make sure your identification is correct in every detail. If you are in any doubt at all, don't eat the specimen in question, but check with an expert mycologist.

In woodland areas, Houlder recommends looking for Boletus edulis, more commonly known as the cepe or porcino (depending on whether you are following a French or Italian recipe).

Guidebooks tell you to search for them in deciduous woods, but it is also common on mossy banks along the edges of conifer plantations. Its spongy gills, brown cap and thick beige and cream stalk make it easy to identify with confidence.

Shaggy ink caps (Coprinus comatus) are another great starting point. They grow on waste ground and verges, emerging like miniature ballistic missiles. The white torpedoes open to produce a flaking white cap that soon dissolves into ink. The only possible confusion is with the common inkcap, which has a more domed and greyer cap. These are just as delicious - unless consumed with alcohol, when they produce severe nausea.

The most distinctive is the wood hedgehog (Hydnum repandum). Instead of conventional ridged gills, the underside of its cap is festooned with tiny spikes. Although common, it grows close to the ground, often hidden beneath grass, but its delicate flavour and crunchy texture make the hunt well worthwhile.

The important thing about all these mushrooms is that not only are they easy to identify with total certainty, but they taste superb. This means that the brave beginner who plucks up the courage to cook his haul is amply rewarded with unique flavours and textures that far surpass the watery shop-bought variety.

"They are coming up the length and breadth of the country and as long as it keeps raining, they'll keep coming," enthuses Houlder. "The London wholesalers are full of Scottish girolles and winter chanterelles and the New Forest is positively overflowing."

Daniel Butler produces a free mushroom e-newsletter throughout the year. To subscribe, see www.fungiforays.co.uk.

Paul Murfitt (40), Director of Food & Beverage at De Vere Dunston Hall, near Norwich is running his first marathon in Nottingham on Sunday, September 12 in aid of the Variety Club Children’s Charity (picture below).


"The Variety Club Children’s Charity is the De Vere Group’s charity of the year," said Paul Murfitt. "I decided that it would be a good challenge to have a go at a marathon and add some extra funds to the £10,000 raised by our golf day and ball in May. I have been doing around 40 miles a week and hope that this will be enough preparation."

To support Paul, go to www.justgiving.co.uk/paul-murfitt.

The Variety Club Children’s Charity, www.varietyclub.org.uk was founded in 1949 to help sick, disabled and disadvantaged children and young people. The charity has raised over £200 million in the last six decades, supporting more than one million children and young people. The Variety Club provides Sunshine Coaches, electric wheelchairs, days out, equipment for children’s hospitals and more.

For more information about De Vere Dunston Hall tel. 01508 470444 or visit www.devere-hotels.com/our-hotels/dunston-hall

Enjoy the September sizzle in Norfolk’s National Gardens Scheme “Open Gardens.” The last of the “New” gardens to open this year “The Grange” at Heydon launches the change in seasons. It is set in the historic village of Heydon, with a three acre garden in a romantic setting. The local tea shop set in the picturesque village completes the perfect garden day out. It’s location is only a few miles away from Holt, a pretty Georgian market town, nestled in the North Norfolk countryside. The garden features herbaceous borders surrounded by old walls with views to parkland, a pond with fountain and ancient yew topiary with a new walk of malus.

September promotes the classic and contemporary style gardens, from the plantpersons garden at High House Gardens, Shipham to the three halls, Mannington, Lexham, Bradenham and Bolwick Hall, contemporary garden, East Ruston closes the “NGS Open Garden” season on the 2nd October. These are gardens for all seasons and entice visitors to return and enjoy the revolving changes more than once.

NGS County Organiser Anthea Foster said “Despite the unpredictable weather this year the NGS Open gardens are forecasting good visitor numbers. Throughout the open garden season a combination of gardens can be enjoyed at a relatively low price. It is a chance to down the garden tools and admire the hard work of another gardener and pick up a few handy hints for garden planning for the next season while helping raise funds for the charities of the National Gardens Scheme.”


NGS Ambassador Alan Gray said “Few people realise that the "yellow arrow open garden" sign is the trade mark of the National Gardens Scheme. The charities which benefit from the NGS are: Macmillan Cancer Support, Marie Curie Cancer Care, Crossroads Care and Help the Hospices, The Queen’s Nursing Institute, The Royal Fund for Gardeners’ Children, NGS gardeners’ careership (the National Trust) and Perennial - Gardeners’ Royal Benevolent Society. Founded in 1927, The NGS raises over two million pounds each year. Last year Norfolk raised nearly seventy thousand pounds. In one garden alone twelve gallons of tea were served this year. Refreshments and plant sales not only provide an enjoyable part of the garden visit but a valuable source of fundraising. It also puts Norfolk on the map as not only a tourist destination but one for garden enthusiasts. Thank you to all the National Garden Scheme Garden Owners and their visitors that have helped achieve this!”

If your garden is of high quality, character and at least forty-five minutes interest Contact County Organiser Fiona Black to discuss opening your garden. Tel 01692 650247

For more garden day out ideas visit your local Tourist information, garden centre, nursery or open garden to pick up a Norfolk NGS Garden Guide or visit www.norfolkgardens.org.

Richard “Ratman” Alexander is an international hockey player of repute. Considered to be “one of England/Great Britain’s most effective and consistent players,” he started his illustrious hockey career playing at Harleston Magpies in Norfolk. Now, you could have the chance to follow in his footsteps.

This September, the Norfolk Hockey Association together with England Hockey will be co-ordinating the Junior Development Centres for each age group and gender from Under-13 up to Under-17 for the 2010/11 season.

The Junior Development Centres are the first step in England Hockey’s Single System Pathway to County Level (JAC) hockey and above.

The two-hour sessions will be run by appropriately qualified coaches and at the end there will be a hockey festival, which will act as the assessment trial for the County Squad/Junior Academy Centre.

Who Should Attend?

- All young players, including last season’s JAC (County) players (except JPRC/Regional players) should attend a JDC if they wish to be considered for JACs.
- Players who were selected for JACs (but not involved with JPRCs)
- Players from clubs/schools who are of a standard below JAC (County)
- Players from clubs/schools who would benefit from coaching of JDC (sub-county) level
- Players in the older age groups who are late entrants to the sport or late developers

When & Where?

Training sessions will be held on 12th September, 19th September, 26th September and 10th October culminating in a hockey festival in November. Centres will be held at UEA Sportspark, King’s Lynn Lynnsport and Dereham Hockey Club.

Interested?

For more information and how to book, please logon to: www.activenorfolk.org/jdc and follow the links to the online booking form.

NHS Norfolk's Joy of Food team are taking part in the first ever Thetford Food and Drink Festival on Sunday 5 September.

The Thetford festival has been organised by the Keystone Development Trust. It is part of the county-wide EDP Norfolk Food Festival and takes place at the Guildhall from 10am to 4pm.

As part of the festival, the Joy of Food team is organising “create a creature” workshops at the Abbey Neighbourhood Centre and Thetford Library, where visitors will be invited to make cauliflower sheep and mashed potato hedgehogs, among others. They will be demonstrating recipes too.

Visitors will be able to meet the Joy of Food trainers, learn more about portion sizes, and about Joy of Food workshops which take place across the county. Everyone will be invited to come and try the Joy of Food traffic light kebabs.

Caroline Seaman, NHS Norfolk's Joy of Food lead, said: "We are delighted to be taking part in the first Thetford Food Festival, as part of our activities for the wider Norfolk Food Festival, and look forward to meeting people who have benefitted from Joy of Food in Thetford.


"Enjoying a wide range of different foods and eating at least five portions of fruit and vegetables a day are important to give you more energy, and protect your short and long term health and wellbeing.


"Reducing your salt, sugar and fat intake is also vital to maintaining a healthy diet. The Joy of Food aims to show simple ways that this can be achieved, and we are delighted to be taking part in the festival and passing on ideas for how to make everyday dishes healthier."

NHS Norfolk's lottery-funded Joy of Food project has been running for two years. The Thetford Joy of Food is part of Thetford Healthy Town, and is able to offer real help and support. It promotes healthy eating, correct portion sizes and offers real help and support to people wanting to make the switch to healthier eating.

It provides cook-and-eat programmes in communities, offering easy recipes, top tips on saving money and information about balanced diets and food labels.

Caroline added: "The social pleasure of sharing food with friends and family is also really important, and this is another message we will be continuing to reinforce during the festival.


"Norfolk has a great range of produce and there is no better time to promote it. We hope many people will come along to the event, and celebrate the huge variety of delicious Norfolk food available."

The festival will showcase some of the best food and drink producers and retailers from across the area. Part of the county wide Norfolk Food Festival, it is being organised by Keystone Development Trust in partnership with Thetford Healthy Town. Entry to the event is free.

Holly Gilbert, Community Health Officer of Thetford Healthy Town, added: “We are delighted to be sponsoring the first Thetford Food and Drink Festival.


"Thetford Healthy Town is all about encouraging people to adopt a healthier lifestyle, and eating healthily - as well as striving to be more active, is a great part of this.


"Joy of Food workshops in the town have been well received by those who have taken part, so we are delighted the team will be attending the show. Visitors will also have the chance to learn more about the Thetford Healthy Town initiative, and the wide range of activities that are available on our doorstep."

For more details on the Joy of Food on 01603 257219, email: joyoffood@norfolk.nhs.uk or visit www.norfolk.nhs.uk

For more information on the Thetford Food and Drink Festival call 01842 768 367, email kavo@keystonetrust.org.uk or go to www.thetfordfestival.org.uk.

Dartford Warbler and Deer on Dunwich Heath, this video was taken along side a photographic shoot, this movie was shot with a Canon 500D and a 500mm F4 Prime

For a high res image go to: www.wildaboutimages.co.uk
© Paul Bunyard

Emma Armitage (23) and Lorna Johnson (22), both recent graduates from Norwich University College of the Arts (NUCA), have been awarded licentiate status by Norwich Twenty Group (N20G) and will be exhibiting at the group’s autumn show, which openend at the John Innes Centre on Saturday, August 28th. The show runs until Wednesday, September 15th 2010 and is open daily, 10am to 5pm, with free admission, www.norwich20group.co.uk.

Emma Armitage and Lorna Johnson both live in Norwich and graduated from NUCA in the summer. Rory McShane, Chairman N20G explained: "Every year we review NUCA’s Fine Art final degree show looking for students creating original work that takes art that extra stage further. Lorna and Emma’s work really stood out and we hope they enjoy their year as licentiate members of N20G. It so important for us to encourage the next generation of artists in Norwich and Norfolk."

An illustrator who studied graphic design and illustration at NUCA, Emma Armitage will be exhibiting The Keyman, the children’s book that she wrote and illustrated for her final degree show. The book is about a man who collects keys. She will also be displaying some new characters that she is developing for her next children’s story.

Emma Armitage said: "I have always loved drawing and aim to create quirky and fun work. I am hoping to develop a career as a children’s book illustrator and am really grateful to Norwich Twenty Group for giving me this opportunity to showcase my work."


Lorna Johnson focussed on print making, new media and photography during her NUCA course. For her degree show she made an installation of acrylic rods coming out of the wall at different depths in a scattered pattern. Each tip was covered in blue powder, which glowed in the sun, giving visitors to the show an exciting visual experience.

She is planning to exhibit one of her photographs combined with an installation in the Twenty Group show. Lorna Johnson said: "Taking part in the N20G autumn show is a fantastic opportunity for me. It is very exciting to be exhibiting with some of Norfolk’s top artists."

Norwich Twenty Group @ John Innes Centre features the work of more than 40 of Norfolk’s top artists, from traditional figurative painting to abstract painting, sculpture, stone carving and imaginative site installations.

As well as the exhibition of large works, there will be an opportunity to pick up many small items in the Art Bazaar. All Art Bazaar items are donated by N20G members to raise money for the group and are sold for £15.

New Members exhibiting with N20G for the first time are Martin Laurance, Keith Pomeroy and Julia Sorrell.

Rory McShane Chairman N20G added: "Our autumn exhibition celebrates the rich mix of styles and ideas coming from some of Norfolk’s top artists and will be a colourful, energetic and original show."


"The group, as the name suggests, was originally made up of 2O artists from Norfolk who came together to discuss work and ideas. We have now expanded to more than 80 artists, following a series of highly successful exhibitions and collaborations, and include recent graduates from Norwich University College of the Arts and new members with long established reputations such as Derek Morris."

Norwich 20 Group


N20G was formed in 1944 comprising professional artists from the Norwich School of Art and Design. The group is no longer limited to 20 and now has more than 70 members, several of whom exhibit regularly in the West End and abroad. All aspects of the practice of contemporary fine art are represented e.g. sculpture, print, photography and painting.


Over the years the membership has included nationally known artists, for example, Bernard Reynolds and Jeffrey Camp. Colin Self has taken an active role as have numerous art historians and architects. Mary Newcomb, one of Britain’s best loved artists, famous for her visionary ruralist paintings, who died in 2008, was a member of N20G for many years. Her work often sold at exhibitions for around £20. It now changes hands for five figure sums. Current N20G members include Andy Campbell, David Holgate, Ros Newman, Vanessa Pooley, Louise Richardson and Laurie Rudling.

Like any young couple, Jack and Evelyn are prone to the odd lovers' tiff, but back in the days of snail mail (remember letters?), making up was a more complicated affair. 

Evelyn's mighty cross with Jack and ready to call the whole thing off: will his written plea for clemency hit the doormat in time? "Please forgive me honey, just this once" Jack scribbles earnestly, having seen one too many American movies. Trouble is, he can't remember if Islington's in N1 or NW1. The silly fool!

With the avant-garde flourish of experimental filmmaker Len Lye, this neat warning of postcode peril came courtesy of the GPO Film Unit. Hand-written love letter or hastily-typed text (LUV U CU L8R xx) - which would you prefer? (Simon McCallum)

More GPO films are available to buy as part of the BFI 2-disc DVD set 'Addressing the Nation: The GPO Film Unit Collection Volume 1' - http://filmstore.bfi.org.uk/acatalog/...

The 2-disc DVD set 'We Live in Two Worlds: The GPO Film Unit Collection Volume 2' will be released February 23 - http://filmstore.bfi.org.uk/acatalog/...

The web has evolved in the last ten years, from simple text pages to rich, interactive applications including video and voice.

Unfortunately, very old browsers cannot run many of these new features effectively.

So to help ensure your PC can use the latest, most advanced web apps, we encourage you to update your browsers as soon as possible with the latest versions:

Safari 5.0+

Firefox 3.6+

Google Chrome 4.0+
 
Microsoft Internet Explorer 8.0+
 

- 20 national & local exhibitors
- at Carrow Road stadium
- free entry
- not for profit event organised by Norfolk branch of national charity

Companies and individuals who are in any way connected with the plumbing and heating industry should pay a visit to Carrow Road in Norwich on Thursday 7 October. That's when plumbing and heating exhibition p&h east will be taking place, organised by the Norfolk branch of national educational charity, The Chartered Institute of Plumbing & Heating Engineering (CIPHE).

p&h east will feature 20 leading national and local exhibitors, including such household names as Baxi, Vaillant, Saniflo and Mira alongside Anglian Water, Suffolk-based GAH and Norwich Gas Centre. Starting at 3.00pm and closing at 8.30pm, the exhibition will be opened by CIPHE national president Allan McKintosh and offers free entry. The venue is the Business Suite at Norwich City FC's Carrow Road stadium where of course there's plenty of free parking.

Pre-registration for p&h east is available at the dedicated website, http://pandheast.webplus.net where there is also a full list of exhibitors.

The Management at Lowestoft's Marina Theatre has announced that it has secured an historic seventh year of residency with the world famous Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (RPO).

In a major coup for the Marina Theatre, the Orchestra has been resident at the Edwardian venue since 2005. In the six years that it has already held the residency, the association has brought world famous musicians, soloists and conductors to Lowestoft, with the link hailed as one the most successful of its kind throughout the UK.

Ian Maclay, Managing Director of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra says:

"We are thrilled to confirm an extension to our association and announce details of our brand new 2011 series at the Marina Theatre. As Resident Orchestra, we continue to enjoy the loyal support of audiences from Lowestoft and the surrounding areas, and we do hope that our new season of concerts offers something to suit all tastes - from Broadway and West End musical magic to popular and evocative English orchestral works."

Theatre manager Martin Halliday added, "We are extremely proud of our association with the RPO and are delighted that once again the Orchestra has agreed to extend its residency at the Marina. Since the association began it has enabled us to present some of the finest musicians in the world here on stage in Lowestoft. It is a great honour that the Orchestra has agreed to further extend their residency and shows a great deal of faith in both the future of the Marina, its management and its audience."

Acknowledged as one of the UK's most prodigious orchestras, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra enjoys an international reputation for bringing audiences worldwide first-class performances and the highest possible standards of music-making across a diverse range of musical repertoire. This was the vision of the Orchestra's flamboyant founder Sir Thomas Beecham, whose legacy is maintained today as the Orchestra thrives undertaking a very busy schedule of UK concerts, international touring and recording. As we release news of the 2011 series in Lowestoft today, the Orchestra is embarking on its first year of a prestigious annual residency in Montreux, Switzerland.

Cllr Stephen Ardley, portfolio holder at Waveney District Council which owns the Marina said: "We are absolutely thrilled that the RPO has agreed to extend its association with the Marina Theatre. To have one of the best orchestras in the world resident for another year is just fantastic."

Chairman of the Friends of the Marina, Peter Wilson also welcomed the news, "With the reduction in the theatre programme over recent years and the current worry regarding the outsourcing of the venue, the news that the RPO has agreed to stay with the Marina for another year is an enormous boost. The Marina's association with the RPO is the envy of many towns and cities across the country and I am delighted that the Orchestra has shown and continues to show such commitment."

Tickets for the seventh year of residency will be available from mid September to coincide with the launch of the venues forthcoming Autumn season. Before that music lovers can look forward to the RPO performing a special Opera Gala on October 2 with virtuoso Chloë Hanslip featuring in a programme to include Beethoven's Violin Concerto on November 27. For more information please call the box office on 01502 533200.

It’s become a common feature of modern cars to be fitted with a spare tyre or space-saver tyre which is a different size in order to save room and weight.

DSA would like to remind driving instructors that any vehicle presented for test must be fitted with:

• the same size tyre on the same axle

• tyres that are not subject to speed restrictions

The fair has been running for over 30 years as an annual event, each year changing and adding new events and displays to the show. Last year was the the biggest show we had ever put on and from your feedback everyone agreed the best yet. For 2010 we've raised the bar again and by the time September comes, we hope you'll agree the this one was the best yet!

The fair starts at around 11 am in the morning with the first flying display at around 12 opening events in style. During the day there are other displays of Vintage cars, working Steam Engines and threshing machines as well as the traditional dog show, terrier & ferret racing and Clowns for the kids. Add to this the Model Aircraft Display and the East Coast Pirates American Car Club and you have a great day out.

This year we have a display from the Knights of Chivalry. From the first moment visitors set eyes on their tented arena ringed with heraldic shields and flags, the Knights, Squires and Ladies of the Swords of Chivalry dedicate the day to bringing alive all the pageantry, sights and sounds of circa 14th Century England.

With authentic fighting skills honed by hours of practice, coupled with more than a dash of courage, and leavened with humour, the Swords of Chivalry recreate the magic and excitement of a Medieval Tourney. You will be able to look and touch the weapons as well as get involved supporting you favourite knight.

For the children we have a Bouncy Castle, the traditional slippery pole as well as new for this year, Andy the Clown and displays from the Funky Feet dance troop. Add to this a display of Flying Owls, more Live music than ever before and you have an event that will keep everyone happy all day and into the night.

There's music throughout the day and "El Gato's Men" take over to take the fair late into the night with music and dancing in a corn field. The bar runs throughout the day and night providing Adnam's beer, wines and soft drinks. There's also various food, Hog Roast, BBQ and Cakes stalls running throughout the day with a final "Hot pasty" delivery late in the evening.

The aim of the fair is to raise money for local charities, whilst having fun for all the family. The proceeds are split between many local groups providing the much needed funds to develop local playgrounds and support the Scouts as well as many other smaller community organisations.