Home page – News and Diary

Ken Munro is the news editor. Please let him know about village news and events via Contact Us on the main menu or on 07880801674.

Important for Bus Users – We have been notified that there is to be a change of ownership of our bus service- click here for EDP. It is a time when they are asking for your input on the future of all our bus services If you would like to put forward your thoughts then contact the Clerk shoteshampc.clerk@outlook.com or 01508 550358

And important for Shotesham….so, the end of another era is here as Richard & Nook have left The Globe in favour of living in Thailand. Our new ‘mine hosts’ are Anna & Ben who  are sure to make their own mark and one of the first things they are doing is going back to offering Sunday Lunches and an assortment of snacks at other times. Looking forward to seeing everyone there. Some..where, under the rainbow….
Captured by Bernie
The DIARY – Click here
 
Shotesham’s Warm Welcome started on October 30th and is now meeting weekly on Thursdays from 2-4pm in the Trinity Hall. Open to everyone. **** Walking Group has a formal walk once a month on the first Sunday, next outing will be on 7th December, meeting at 10.15am at The Trinity. There is a What’sApp contact group which can be accessed by contacting Ken Munro by WhatsApp on 07880801674   *****

TABLE TENNIS will continue on Thursday evenings from 6.30pm to 8.00pm, through December and January The group has been playing in Shotesham at The Trinity Hall for over 20 years, but interest last season had reduced to just 3 or 4 players. If the group is to continue we need some new members. The club welcomes members of all ages and abilities, both male and female. If you are interested please come along to The Trinity Hall on 2nd October at 6.30pm, or for more information please call David Howes 01508 558458 or 07775 698799 ****

Shotesham yoga –  yoga continues on a weekly basis from 18.30 – 19.30 on Wednesdays. Enquiries via our very own Shotesham Yoga teacher, Kendra –kendracollier0@gmail.com or 07748009411 *****

Shotesham Screen – The Problem with People’ to be shown on Friday December 12th at the Trinity at 7:30pm. Tickets £5, all welcome. Two distant cousins one in New York, the other in Ireland – come together to finally put an end to a generations-long family feud. It doesn’t go well. The Problem with People, set in beautiful lush Irish countryside, is a heartwarming comedy about family, world peace and sheep. Additional Family film on Sunday 14th December at 3pm in the Trinity. Bookings as above, tickets are £5, but children 12 and under free. Paddington in Peru features Paddington and the Brown family traveling to Peru to visit Aunt Lucy at her retirement home. When they arrive, they discover Aunt Lucy has gone missing in the Amazon rainforest, prompting a new adventure as they follow clues from a mysterious map to find her. Along the way, they journey through the jungle and up mountains, meeting new characters like the boat captain Hunter and his daughter Gina, and uncovering secrets about Paddington’s past. Also, the new season will begin on January 9th with The Ballad of Wallis Island, by all accounts a film not to be missed. More details soon, but normal logistics apply. ****

Seasonal Christmas Events

Sunday 14th December is a busy day for events, with Wreath Making at Christine Burton’s place (Hillside, The Common) from 10am -3pm, Paddington in Peru (see above) at 3pm, and Carol Service at St Mary’s Church at 6pm. Looking forward to our hugely popular Carols on the Hill on Christmas Eve, 5pm on Church Hill. This year led by Jenny Clarke  and her Shotesham Choir and accompanied by The Handbell Band. If you’d like to participate in the Handbell Band, with practices on Sundays through Dec, please contact Judie on Judie.harrison52@aol.com****
And, before we stride in to 2026, why not try the Old Year’s Day Fun Run on Wednesday 31st, please turn up on Church Hill at 10.50 for registration. See below for the course, which is 3 times round an approx 3km stretch of Shotesham, 9kms or 5.4 miles in old money, it’s a fun run as it says on the tin, but there are a few commemorative trophies! A number of other events go on in Shotesham’s surrounding villages, see Contact for details and timings. ***** Looking forward to 2026, as well as the normal Table Tennis, Yoga and Shotesham Screen, we can look forward to Babs’s Bonkers Bingo Bash on Friday January 30th 2026 at Trinity Hall 7.30pm.  A night of bingo unlike any other. Drag MP for East and West Suffolk, Babs Romance, comes to Shotesham with her Bonkers British Bingo Bash. Expect satirical comedy, parody pop songs, the most hideous wigs you have ever seen and the most outrageous  bingo calls you have ever heard as Babs trades the ballot box for the bingo card. Put on your glad rags and grab your dabbers for a night to remember. This is sure to blow away the post Christmas blues. Tickets are selling fast for this event in January approved by the SVA so can you please share the poster to ensure that people in the village have a chance to get hold of tickets as it is also being advertised elsewhere on social media. To reserve your seats email Jo at jomccall71@gmail.com. £5 payment on the door. Bring your own drinks and nibbles. Doors open 7.15pm.  Shotesham babs*******

Other Info

East Pye Updates – Link to video played at CPRE exhibition on 20/11/25…a depressing watch! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DHT5bsVHj18
Many of you will be aware of a second Targeted Consultation from East Pye Solar that is now open until 25th November if you wish to comment or give feedback.  Note the proposed changes to Brooke Road, Heath Road and Market Lane planned in order to give access for the heavy loads and lorries that will be needed, particularly in the construction stage. 
The details are below-
The Information Change Note is attached to this email and can be found on the website on the Documents page: https://www.eastpyesolar.co.uk/documents
The Shotesham action group are hoping to gather numbers of people who walk, cycle, and ride the lanes and footpaths that are likely to be impacted by the proposed solar development. The numbers will be used as part of the landscape impact assessment, to show that the land is of high communal importance, not only locally but also for the wider community. Personal data will not be shared, and this questionnaire is not  asking for statements of opposition or otherwise to the proposal. All responses will be collated automatically to show overall useage.
 
Please download and complete the form and share with friends, family, cycle or walking groups who may have used these lanes and paths. The more responses we get, the more useful it will be.
If you have any questions, please contact me directly.
 
Thanks, Judie
A number of protest gatherings and walks are being held, here’s some photos and news reports –  Shotesham hits the BBC….https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/clynjek4pdzo And for those who subscribe, here’s an EDP report….. https://www.edp24.co.uk/news/25013035.100-people-protest-east-pye-solar-farm/
Shotesham Ford will continue to be closed until at least August 2026, click here Shotesham STRO11106 DfT Extension Notice_for notice and alternative routes. 
Shotesham Common – The Trustees of Shotesham Common have been given permission by Natural England and will be continuing to carry out some work on the common over the following months. Just to explain what we are doing and why: We will be manually cutting back sections of the banks of the beck on an annual basis, where Willow Herb has dominated, to enable birds and mammals to have access to the water. We will be manually cutting Alder saplings and trees. Over the years these have changed the open landscape and caused drying out of the wetland meadows, which is contrary to the management agreement we have with Natural England. If you would like any further information, contact either Ed Howard edhoward54@gmail.com or myself floracot@btinternet.com. Bernie Fenn, for Trustees of Shotesham Common
Wildlife in Shotesham – who knew we had so many different wildlife species on our doorstep?! Village resident, Andy Musgrove is busy collecting and collating them all and, whilst in his own words he hasn’t got them all yet, click here for a few to be getting on with. Careful though, it could make your hair stand on end!! …And in Joys Loke….
[Show thumbnails]
 Courtesy of Tom Higgin
St Martins Church looking good – also see video at St Martin’s Church sub menu via Churches and the PCC heading above – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iMfP1tx642g  (copy and paste link)  Despite all the apparent awareness, people are still looking to take advantage of any weaknesses. As always, please keep an eye out for any unusual activity, DO NOT give out any private or secure info over the telephone, and remember that if you spot anything suspicious the police can be contacted by phoning 101.  SCAM AWARE! – A number of new scams have been notified by Norfolk Association of Local Councils, some of which I certainly haven’t heard of before and are well worth checking out – click on this link for details – https://mailchi.mp/52e6f8561225/scams-dont-get-fooled-again?e=7f9e357c98
Community information…. Hints and Tips for correct recycling – click here What goes in your recycling bin. 2023
Anglian Water’s Priority Services Register is in place to help lots of people with different needs and is completely free, click here for more info Local Council ‘stuff’ – Message from South Norfolk Council on 2 Unitary Norfolk Dear All, we wanted to share an important update regarding the submission of South Norfolk Council’s Unitary Proposal, at Full Council on 24 September it was agreed to submit to government the case for a 2 Unitary Norfolk. You can find all the relevant details and information by clicking on the link below – or see here   Agenda for South Norfolk Council on Wednesday, 24th September, 2025, 7.00 pm – South Norfolk and Broadland Government will be receiving submissions from all councils on the Priority Programme, and at the next Tow & Parish Forum we will provide you with an update on next steps.  Best wishes, Emma | Emma Hodds Chief of Staff & Monitoring Officer t  01508 533791 e emma.hodds@southnorfolkandbroadland.gov.uk Norfolk Citizens Advice have launched a new initiative to assist individuals in need – Grants for Individuals in need database. The database is funded as part of the Coordinated Community Support Programme and is open access on the Norfolk Citizens Advice website. The database contains largely small local grant giving organisations that operate in Norfolk. The webpage contains:
  • Brief information on how to use the database
  • A short video demonstration
  • A tips document on maximising successful applications with hints and tips from grant organisation trustees
  • A feedback link to report out of date information, suggest organisations to include,  or just give feedback on your experience of using the database
Norfolk & Norwich University Hospital’s ‘Settle in Services’ are looking for dedicated volunteers who wish to give something back to their local community. Volunteers meet patients on their day of discharge from hospital to help settle them back in to their own environment. Click here for more information 
For assistance with power cuts, please click this link from UK Power Networks
Thinking Fuel – If you feel you may be paying too much for your oil, Community Action Norfolk (CAN) have a scheme that may assist. Click here to see how you might save and here to see how it works, or go directly to the CAN website for more details. Our local police officers are – Beat Manager,  PC Tom Goodrum and Engagement Officer, Arvi Bhogal, They can be contacted by dialling 111 and asking for Poringland Police Station Selected older news items are retained on the “News archive” page)