The Mallard

Issue 342 Easter Issue April 2020

Below is the latest news about the Biodiversity Project.

A positive story. Much of this edition is about Coronavirus and
how it is affecting our daily lives and village activities.

Great Massingham Biodiversity

Project News
A fter ten years of leading the Biodiversity Project
on Weasenham Road, Mike Jackson stood down
from his role of chairman at the AGM meeting, held in
February. His successor is Tim Baldwin.
Mike has been involved since the start of the project in
2010, during which time much has been achieved un-
der his enthusiastic leadership by a very willing band
of volunteers.
The original pond was cleared, a viewing platform
constructed, paths were created and the village school
was invited to become a part of the project.
In the intervening years, the paths have been extended
to allow visitors to walk
around the site, the woodland
area now has many native
flowers and plants and a wild
Mike busy flower meadow has been cre-
rotivating. ated for all to see, as well as
to act as an attractive area for
butterflies and bees.
As well as this, Mike has also held open garden days at his
home, all in aid of the project. Fortunately, he is not leaving us
completely – merely handing over so as to allow himself time to
dedicate to other professional tasks. We are sure that he will The new sign
still be a very active member of the team though – as you can that directs you
see here! As a thank you and acknowledgement of all his hard to the site.
work, Mike was given a gift of garden vouchers by members of
the group. Peter James, (Honorary Secretary).
Thank you, Mike. The site has been transformed. A great place to walk, observe plants
and wildlife and even just sit. Many thanks to all involved.

Regarding the working party sessions, Tim says, “No group working party sessions are
planned for the time being, due to the need for social distancing but members will be
working on the site individually. Using email and sharing outcomes we can work through
what needs to be done whilst still preserving some sense of working together for a com-
mon purpose. Are there any residents who have not previously been involved, with time
on their hands, who would like to join us?” Please call Tim Baldwin on 520 813.
1
Mallard News
This parish magazine is
published every month for the
‘Histry Bits’.... The Backhus Boy
Back in the days before the First World War, every farmhouse
residents of Great and Little
Massingham with the support ofof any size in Massingham would have a backhus (back-house
the Great Massingham Parish
Council, the Parochial Churchor kitchen) boy. He would be a young lad aged aged twelve or
Council and Massingham so, straight out of the village school, who, unlike the other
Village Hall Trustees. male farmworkers, was directly answerable to the farmer’s
www.greatmassingham.net
e-mail: wife. His wages were £4 a year, and he lived in the big farm-
mallard.editor@btinternet.com house. His duties were many and various.
Editorial Committee He rose at six-thirty in the morning, and his first job was to
Editor: Bev. Randall. give the milking pails to the cowman. These were kept indoors
6 Abbeyfields for the sake of cleanliness and the cowman would come to the
Great Massingham
01485 520 899 back door to fetch them. He next made up and lit the fire under
Treasurer: David Baines the copper boiler so there was plenty of hot water for the maids
01485 520 966 to carry upstairs for the family to wash. Then came shoe pol-
Website : Contact the ishing – both for the farmer’s family and any guests who might
Editor - Details above. be staying. These had to be taken upstairs by the maids before
Deadline for the ‘they’ rose. His next job was to grind coffee for the cook, and
next issue clean and sharpen all the knives, giving him just time to feed
th the backyard chickens before breakfast. This usually consisted
17 April of herrings and salt pork. The herrings were smoked or
In this issue bloatered, and enough were bought to last a week. They were
strung up in a line across the back kitchen.
• Biodiversity Project After breakfast came family prayers in the drawing room. Then
• ‘Histry’ Bits it was time to go outside to get the vegetables for dinner – po-
• The Mallard tatoes, cabbages, roots, anything that was in season. Dinner
was eaten about one-thirty, after the family had finished theirs.
• The School
In the afternoon the backhus boy fed the chickens again and
• Community Cars did a variety of jobs around the kitchen, such as chopping kin-
• Village Hall Latest dling and calling
• Event Cancellations in the cows for
• Parish Council milking. A Backus Boy
• Mobile Library His last task was
• Surgery News to take the letters
• Thank You NHS to the post office
• Norfolk ‘n’ Good by six-thirty, after
• Farewell Jake which, if there
• Toadwatch were no evening
• Snowdrops jobs, he could stay
• Coronavirus Guide in the village to
• From Rev’d Jane visit his home and
• Spring Clean play with his
• Creative Arts friends. But what-
ever he did, he had
• Services/Prayer
to be back at the
• Church News farm before nine
• Church Services o’clock, and in
• Historical Society bed soon after.
• VJ Day 50th David Miller
2
Mallard News

The Mallard PLEASE BE AWARE THAT

Changes Could Occur to the Mallard Arrangements
During the Coronavirus Outbreak
While we will endeavour to keep everything running as usual during the next
few months we cannot be certain that printing and delivery will be possible. If
restrictions are tightened further it might be impossible to keep everything the
same. We will make every effort to produce each issue but the following needs
to be noted:
• If we cannot get the copies printed and/or we are not permitted to deliver the
copies then we will need alternative arrangements. If this is the case, we will
publish the Mallard on the village website both on the Mallard page and the
Home page. The website address is www.greatmassingham.net and it is man-
aged by the Mallard team.
• If this does happen, I know this will present problems for some of you who
do not go online. I hope that people you know will help.
• It would be good if some of you could send in any interesting or amusing
articles for us to consider publishing. Barry Yeend, for example, recently sent
in a great picture of a cormorant sitting on the ‘No Fishing’ sign and many
people provide articles and pictures on a regular basis. We appreciate this.
So, please get busy and email to mallard.editor@btinternet.com
• We will keep you updated in every way we can and hopefully, any changes
won’t be for too long.
The Editor, Bev Randall, 01485 520 899 or mallard.editor@btinternet.com

Great Massingham C of E Primary School and Harpley C of E Primary School

(Great Massingham and Harpley C of E Primary Schools Federation)
All schools closed on Friday, 20th March as per Government direction.
This doesn’t mean that the schools are closed completely but they will be open for some
pupils and particularly for pupils whose parents work in the Health Service and essential
services. This means that school staff will continue to be working.
We are grateful to our School staff for the valuable contribution they are making.
Great Massingham School 1st prize – Baz Pratt
100 Club Results for 2nd prize – Janice Frost
March 2020 3rd prize – Janice Frost

COMMNUTY CARS … Due to Covid-19 (Coronavirus)

Door to Door Trips are Regrettably Currently Restricted to:
• Medical appointments if deemed necessary by the hospital or GP Practices.
• Shopping trips, Hairdresser trips, etc., are unfortunately not possible at present.
When the situation improves we hope to resume our previous range of services.
David Butterworth dave.butterworth@me.com 07710348111/ 01485 520111

3
Mallard News Village Hall
THE VILLAGE HALL IS CLOSED DUE Individual Clubs, Societies and Events
TO CORONAVIRUS GUIDANCE Further Details of closure as follows:-
All regular events listed below are, FILM NIGHT - Cancelled until
therefore, on hold, for the time being. further notice.
VILLAGE HALL REGULAR EVENTS
Keep Fit Wed. 1.45 to 2.45pm Craft - As above
Bingo Fridays at 7.30pm &
Auction Sundays Chat
Coronation Club (4th Wed.) 2pm - 4pm QUIZ NIGHTS - As above
Baby &Toddler Thurs. 10am - 11.30am
W/Norfolk Radio Sundays 7pm -10pm West Norfolk Folk
Craft & Chat (1st& 3rd Mon) 2 - 4.30pm LIVE SHOWS - As above
Trefoil Guild 2nd Thursday, each month
Film Night 3rd Thursday, each month HISTORICAL - As above. Also see
Quiz Nights 4th Thursday, each month SOCIETY page 16.
Bowls - Short Mat Wednesdays 7pm - 9.30 COMMUNITY - April and May
Historical Society 2nd Monday 7.30pm LUNCHES are cancelled.
Youth Club Tuesdays 6.45- 9.15pm The Mallard will keep you updated about
Yoga With a Chair Tuesdays 10am - 11am any changes to the above each month.

Social Club membership fees are now due.
Please see insert delivered with this April
Mallard. Please check in the Mallard, on
Facebook or by notices put up in the Village
Store for when social events will resume.
We will all be following Government ad-
vice. See you all again soon!
Shop window
TONY INWOOD
CREATIVE GARDENING
Specialist in pruning and training
Telephone: 07887 780 056
All sizes of work undertaken
9 Crossing Cottage, Little Massingham
King’s Lynn, PE32 2JZ
tonyinwood100@icloud.com
Celebrations for VE Day in May
It is very likely that these celebrations
will be severely restricted due to the
current situation. The Social Club hopes
that VJ Day in August will be an oppor-
tunity to celebrate. See page 16. Happier
times ahead! Let’s hope it will be soon.
New Recent Adverts
• Keighley’s Happy Feet - page 11
• Guttering Services Norfolk - page 11
• Norfolk Wood Burners - page 11
• CGM Lawn Control - see below
If you want to place an advert contact
mallard.editor@btinternet.com
Or telephone
01485 520 899

4
Shop window

MASSINGHAM STORES & POST OFFICE

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phone: 01485 520272
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massingham stores and post office sandrreeve@gmail.com
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5
Mallard News
Parish Council - March Meeting
Seven Councillors attended the March Parish
Council meeting plus our County Councillor S.
Dark & Borough Councillor J. Moriarty.
Further discussion took place regarding
undertaking a Neighbourhood Plan. It
was noted that there had been some posi-
tive interest from parishioners following
articles in The Mallard. The Parish
Council was given a presentation by
Councillor J. Cole on digital mapping
software, Parish Online, which could
greatly assist in producing a Neighbour-
hood Plan as well as other aspects of day
to day tasks.
The War Memorial will be undergoing a
clean in the next few weeks. Quotations
were sought from three local companies
specialising in cleaning and restoring
architectural stonemasonry, and AJ Res-
toration was awarded the contract.
After a recent surge in the number of
mole hills in the village centre several
moles have now been trapped around the
Post Office pond and they continue to be
trapped around Scotsman’s. Given that
the ground may be uneven around the
ponds, do be careful when out walking.
After obtaining consent from the
BCKLWN, work will soon be undertak-
en to clean up new growth around the
tree stumps around Scotman’s.
The next Parish Council meeting is
scheduled for the 20th April. At the time
of going to press it is not clear about
what the arrangements will be.
THANK YOU
The Mallard, on behalf of all living in
Great & Little Massingham, wishes to
thank all who work in the Health Ser-
vice in our area and the huge contribu-
tion they are making to fight this crisis.
At the same time, many thanks to those
in our school and the part they are play-
ing in supporting our Health Service
workers & the care of their children.
Norfolk County Council
MOBILE
LIBRARIES
Coronavirus Update
Considering the current advice from the
Government, we have taken the decision to
suspend the mobile service for the foreseea-
ble future.
We will continue to offer
e-media services
We are arranging an online weekly bounce
& rhyme (videoed without an audience )
plus a daily story time will be available
online for our younger customers.
For Mobile Library customers with books
on loan, we will automatically renew them
until further notice. You can also use local
libraries, if open.
GREAT MASSINGHAM SURGERY
Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Changes to our Service in order to
reduce your chances of catching
COVID-19 and reduce pressure on the
practice during this busy time.
To minimise risk while continuing to
ensure people get the care and advice
needed, appointments will be carried out
over the phone unless there is a clinical
need for you to come into the practice.
We are not closed but
working differently.
Please be patient when ringing the
surgery as the phone lines are much
busier than usual.
Please do not order your prescriptions
unless they are due and
please allow a minimum of
2 working days before collecting.
Prescriptions ordered online over the
weekend will not be ready until
Wednesday for collection.
The staff are working extremely hard in
order to provide a safe service to our
patients. Please be patient and
understanding during this difficult time.
6
Shop window

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Ducklings Preschool
Great Massingham
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7
Mallard News

Gert & Daisy……

Gert & Daisy thought
this poem was really
quite apt, given the
current situation and is
written in their familiar
style. They also send
this message to you all.
“We would like to wish
everyone the best dur-
ing the present situa-
tion.
Please don't hesitate to
contact us if you need
help and we will do our
best to assist or try to
direct you to the best
place for advice.
Keep washing yer
hands and luk after
yerselves.
Dew yew keep
atroshing,
Gert & Daisy”

8
Mallard News
Toad Watch Massingham.

Toads are in decline all over the

UK, mainly due to habitat loss
and increased traffic.
The ponds at Great and Little
Massingham are a rare and im-
portant refuge where toads can
survive but they need our help to
get safely across the roads during
the spring breeding season.
No doubt you have seen the signs,
Sad Farewell to Jake particularly along
It is with the greatest of sadness that Jake was put Weasenham Rd,
peacefully to sleep in his field in Mill Lane at 08:30 asking you to
on 2nd March 2020. drive slowly &
Jake was a long-standing Massnum resident, having with care.
lived here for 28 of his 32 years.
Thank you to everyone who saw him in his last few PLEASE
days, after it was apparent that he was suffering from SAVE OUR
more than the effects of old age. Caroline Christmas TOADS

Snowdrop Picture from

Peter James

9
Up To Date - Coronavirus Government Advice
Information is available at
gov.uk/coronavirus and
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19
Get an isolation note
Use this service if you have to stay at home because of coronavirus and
you need a note for your employer. https://111.nhs.uk/isolation-note/

Stay at home if you have coronavirus symptoms

Stay at home if you have either:
• a high temperature – this means you feel hot to touch on your chest
or back (you do not need to measure your temperature)
• a new, continuous cough – this means coughing a lot for more than
an hour, or 3 or more coughing episodes in 24 hours (if you usually
have a cough, it may be worse than usual)
Do not go to a GP surgery, pharmacy or hospital.
How long to stay at home ?
• if you have symptoms, stay at home for 7 days
• if you live with other people, they should stay at home for 14 days from
the day the first person got symptoms
If you live with someone who is 70 or over, has a long-term condition, is
pregnant or has a weakened immune system, try to find somewhere else
for them to stay for 14 days.
If you have to stay at home together,
try to keep away from each other as much as possible.
You do not need to contact 111 to tell them you're staying at home.
Read the NHS advice about staying at home.

URGENT ADVICE: Use the NHS 111 online coronavirus service if:
• you feel you cannot cope with your symptoms at home
• your condition gets worse
• your symptoms do not get better after 7 days Use the 111 coronavirus
service
Only call 111 if you cannot get help online. (Updated: 20.03.2020)

10
Shop window
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11
Message to All Parishioners From Rev’d Jane
Easter
He lived
We know more about Jesus’ life than we know about most other ancient historical fig-
ures. That’s remarkable when we think about the modesty of his humble upbringing and
the humility of his death. Whatever anyone thinks about the truth or accuracy of the
events of Jesus’ life as described in the Gospel stories in the Bible (and there are many
different views) one thing nobody can dispute: Jesus had an overwhelming impact on
those around him.
He died
Every year at Easter we ‘celebrate’ Jesus’ death on the cross. Why do we do that? Why
honour such a horrific event? Well, the crucifixion of Jesus Christ was in fact the great-
est act of love ever known! The ‘gates of heaven’ are flung wide for all who choose to
follow. But more than that, for Christians, the cross is a sign of the self-giving life we
are called to live. The cross is a symbol of all Jesus was, of who he was, of what he did
and said, teaching and showing us how to live our lives together in community and in
love. It’s a sacrificial life, calling for hearts willing to forgive and hands willing to
serve. The cross calls for us to love our neighbour as ourselves, to do unto others, in all
circumstances, as we would have them do unto us, to strive every day to be the best that
we can be!
He Rose from the dead
It’s not easy to live that kind of life – the life we all know we really should live. But God
then sent us power to equip us for the task. Jesus died so that he could return to His
Heavenly Father. He died to rise again so that we can know his spirit alive and living in
our hearts. He died and rose ultimately so that he could send his spirit. So that we can
access his power – power that gives us the strength, determination and will to follow in
his ways. And, of course, in the end, to know we will be welcomed, when our time
comes, into his embrace in heaven.
So what?
So what now? That’s up to us – all of us! Who can tell what humanity is capable of if we
all follow this man who died showing us how to live? What tremendous love, peace and
harmony, both with nature and with one another, can be achieved on earth if everyone
embraces the Easter story as truth and embraces the message it holds for us all. One of
my favourite bits in the Bible is St Pauls prayer (Ephesians 3.14-21) where Paul prays
for his readers that:
‘...you may be strengthened in your inner being with power…that Christ
may dwell in your hearts through faith, as you are being rooted and
grounded in love…that you may have the power to comprehend,…what is
the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of
Christ that surpasses knowledge….Now to him who by the power at work
within us is able to accomplish abundantly far more than all we can ask or
imagine to him be glory - to all generations, forever and ever. Amen’.
Happy Easter. Love Rev’d Jane

Annual Village Spring Clean, 28th March
Sadly, this event will not be taking place
this year due to the current restrictions.
Please continue to keep our village tidy.
12
The Grimston Creative Arts
Exhibition 2020, 28th April - 4th May
This has been postponed until later this
year. Date to be confirmed.
Church News Services
ALL CHURCH SERVICES ARE NOW SUSPENDED
FOR THE TIME BEING
In light of the Government guidance concerning non-essential contact,
the Archbishops of Canterbury and York have issued advice that
public worship is suspended until further notice.
Churches will be open, where possible, but with no public worship services tak-
ing place. Prayers will be said by clergy and ministers on behalf of everyone and
do please contact our vicars to have anyone remembered in prayer.
Further updates will follow as we learn more. Please visit our
Website: www.ggmbenfice.uk for up to date information.
A Prayer for you all to join in from Rev’d Jane….
These are anxious times we are living through and as I write this, the situation changes
daily.
This is a crisis which affects us all and will involve us all in making sure we keep the
most vulnerable in our communities safe.
Whatever happens over the coming weeks, and indeed maybe months, I want to assure
you that we will endeavour to keep as many of our churches open during the daytime as
possible as quiet places for contemplation and prayer.
Below is a prayer issued by the Bishops of Norfolk which you may like to make you
own.
God of compassion,
have mercy upon this nation and our world in this time of fear and confusion:
we bring before you those who are suffering and who tend to their needs;
may those in isolation know your comfort and company
and may neighbours show your love in works of care, kindness and prayer;
we pray for the National Health Service and all engaged in scientific research
and we pray too for those upon whose shoulders
the yoke of leadership rests,
that in their conversation and communication
your still small voice may be heard;
we ask this in the power of the Holy Spirit,
through the One who stretched out his hands to bless and to heal
Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
I encourage those who feel that they can do so to make this their daily prayer each morn-
ing, throughout the days of this crisis. Rev’d Jane

CHURCH NEWS……
• Orders for Easter Lilies are still being taken. (see poster left)
• Plans for the ‘Back To The Forties’ Saturday in May are
still ongoing even though it is probably unlikely to go ahead if
the current health advice is still in place. (See next issue)
• Wednesday Teas - The teas that have been held by invitation
of Mary at her home, during the winter months, have now
been suspended. We thank Mary and Judith for all they have
done. No teas at the Church until further notice.

13
Shop window
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14
 Useful Numbers
Organisation Contact Phone No.
Allotment Association Gill Goold 0750 824 2223
Biodiversity Project Tim Baldwin 520 813
Borough Council James (Jim) Moriarty 07879 492400
Bell Ringing Dale Gagen 520 024
Bowls Club Martin Matthews 520 707
Church Contacts Revd Judith Pollard 01485 601 251
Community Car Scheme Office 520 823
Coronation Club Jill Whitmore 520 609
County Council Stuart Graham Dark 07450 679 355
Dabbling Duck Pub Mark Dobby 520 827
Doctors Massingham Surgery 520 521
The Film Night Arthur Allen 520 628
Fishing Warden Paul Smith and Ken Perry Sue Nash 07802 670 711
Guide Trefoil Guild Shirley Rae 520 259
Massingham Historical Society Peter James 521 706
Tennis and Multi-Sports Club Arthur Allen 520 628
Parish Council Mick Wingell (Chair)& Sarah Harvey (Clerk) 520 369 & 01328 823391
Pre-School Pip Armitage 07807 185 746
Police Non-emergency 101
School Ann Beardall 520 362
Village Hall Hall & Bar & Vic Cross 520 588/520 387
Village Stores and Deli Mark and Kerry Eldridge 520 272

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Historical Society and VE Day Celebrations.
Firstly, many thanks to Malcolm Tibble for his talk entitled ‘Navigating a Shackleton &
How it Differs From a Lancaster’ at the recent meeting of the Historical Society, on
Monday 16th March. The talk was well attended and will be the last meeting, for the time
being, of the Society, due to the current crisis.
Both the Village Hall and the Society had planned to hold a joint special event on the 8 th
May, all day at the Village Hall, to celebrate the 75 th Anniversary of VE Day (Victory in
Europe). This, as we now know, is to be put on hold.
However, The Historical Society had also made arrangements to light the beacon on the
green as part of the UK wide celebrations, in the evening, at 9.30pm on the 8 th May. It is
always possible this will still happen. Notices will be placed around the village, on the
Home Page and Historical Society page of the village website and on Facebook, if it is
going to go ahead. Please look out for them and come along if it is permitted.
Below are some pictures of how the village celebrated the 50 th Anniversary of VJ Day
(Victory in Japan) on 19th August, 1995. As suggested on page 4, VJ Day might be the
day to celebrate this year, in more ways than one. We’ll just have to hope!

War Scenes Re-created at Massingham

Typical wartime scenes, 50 years on, were brought to life at Great Massingham VJ Cele-
brations, in 1995. Villagers arranged a procession of floats recalling those memories.
The whole village was bedecked with bunting. The afternoon saw a fete with a jazz band,
a tug-of-war, rounders & cricket matches and junior sports. In the evening, a ceilidh band
played while residents danced until
dark, on the village green.
A former prisoner of the Japanese,
Mr. Bob Driver, was invited to
open the occasion and given a tour
of the village by the Rev’d Cedric
Bradbury.
Mrs Deborah Glassett, Mr Rodney
Reeve and Mrs Deborah Reeve, of
Barrack House won the competition
for the best decorated house.
£800 was raised on the day towards
a new village sign.

One of the many V.J Day

floats in the parade. 50th Anniversary
This one was called Celebrations,
‘The Big Krapper’. 19th August, 1995
‘A Special Day For All’

Do you recognise anyone?

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