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Important Notice for bus users    2 Unitary Norfolk news - all details below.

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 from 16th November, this is sure to be followed by lots more. Looking forward to seeing everyone there. Some..where, under the rainbow….
Captured by Bernie
The DIARY – Click here
 
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

Walking in Shotesham –  Still walking on the 1st Sunday of the month, next up on 2nd November. There is a WhatsApp group which may organise other impromptu walks, for info or to join, contact Ken via WhatsApp on 07880801674.

Shotesham’s Warm Welcome started on October 30th and will now meet weekly on Thursdays from 2-4pm in theTrinity Hall. Open to everyone.

Shotesham Screen – and the next one is a deeply moving and spellbinding romance. An adaptation of the best-selling novel by Ólafur Jóhann Ólafsson, ‘Touch’ is the poignant story of an elderly man who, on receiving a troubling medical diagnosis, embarks on an epic quest to find his long-lost first love. Decades earlier the young Kristofer, a student of economics, decides to give up his studies and work in a Japanese restaurant in London where he meets Miko, the owner’s daughter. Romance blossoms but then she disappears without a trace. All these years later, with limited time left, widower Kristofer sets off from Iceland on a seemingly impossible mission to track her down, eventually leading him to Japan and an astonishing discovery. ‘Touch’ will be shown on Friday Nov 14th at 7:30pm in the Trinity. Tickets £5. Booking via Lindsay on 07702832033 or lindsayheywood3@gmail.com  Advance notice – Christmas Movie (sorry!) 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.

TABLE TENNIS has now recommenced on Thursday evenings from 6.30pm to 8.00pm, 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.

An early reminder from the Parish Council that Remembrance Sunday will be on November the 9th, with our ceremony on Church Hill at 10.45. Everyone is welcome. Poppies – After Remembrance Sunday, if you no longer need your red paper British Legion poppies, could you pop them into the little boxes in either of the village telephone boxes, please and I will use them on the village War Memorial during next year. Thank you, Rosemarie Gough.

Operation Christmas Child – The annual Shoebox Appeal for Children in Need in Central and Eastern Europe and parts of Africa. Boxes and information leaflets available in All Saints church. The final date for handing in the boxes will be on Remembrance Sunday, November 9th.

On Monday 17th November, 7-9pm, Rhodri Coleman our First Responder is holding a resuscitation evening to demonstrate CPR and use of the village defibrillators this will be at the Trinity. He can accommodate 15 people only in this session. Please email me kimelizabethdyke@yahoo.co.uk if you would like to attend. If the response is more than 15 interested parishioners I will organise another event. Thanks, Kim Dyke on behalf of the PC.

Garden Group – as one gardening season comes to an end, you can start to plan a glorious border for next year. So, on Tuesday 18th November at 7:30pm in the Trinity Hall, Luci Skinner will be talking about The Herbaceous Border. Luci is RHS qualified and has worked in horticulture for over 15 years. She runs her own business; Greenways, offering gardening and plant advice. Her main passion is her National Collection of Pelargoniums. Everyone welcome. Cost £3

And Friday night is Quiz Night, well at least on Friday 21st November it is! 7.30 at the Trinity the quiz will be hosted by the ever popular, and entertaining Damian Beynon. Tables of up to 6 people, £5/table to be paid on the day and remember to bring your own drinks, glasses and nibbles.

Seasonal Christmas Events This year’s Christmas Craft Fair will be held in the Community Centre, Stoke Holy Cross. NR15 8LY on November 29th 10-3pm. Craft stalls, Raffle & the usual Refreshments. Proceeds this year to Cancer Unit @ NNUH. If anybody would like to donate a raffle prize this could be dropped off at Gwen Jacksons, Hillside Farm. Contact Gwen on 07788932646

See above for Christmas Movie on 14th December Dates for the diary – As always, the SVA will be putting on the hugely popular Carols on the Hill on Christmas Eve and then the traditional Shotesham Fun Run in its normal timing on 31st December. Details of both to follow. 

Dudley – details of both events to follow in next month’s Contact.

Another hugely successful Barn Dance at the end of Sept, summed up by our Lady of the Dance, Judie in her message –
And, whilst all the above is true, here’s a very big thank you from all of us, cos make no mistake, on this occasion (never mind Punch) there would’ve been no show without Judie……and her team.
Big thanks Judie!  And many thanks to Mike Knights for his very interesting and informative talk on the Shotesham Rocket. This was very well received standing room only at the back of the hall.  Many thanks for Mike for giving his time and for hir excellent audio-visual material.

Other Info

East Pye Updates – Consultation Stage One Report – Coincidentally, East Pye recently published this report, it can be accessed here.  Whilst the initial Non-statutory consultation complete, there’s still a way to go, here’s a link to a brief video to showing some potential effects …… https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E9lV5QhCkv4 And an example poster here……other posters are available
Consultation Q&A – click here
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
The Group has also moved the mock up of a single solar panel to church hill to give all parishioners, not just those residents who will be directly affected by thebuilding of an industrial scale solar facility in Shotesham, the opportunity to see the proposed size of each panel to understand the impact on all of us. The panel is being moved to different locations within the village on a regular basis.
         
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….
 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)