Our field trip in September was to Copthorpe and Stiffkey Fen led by Fran and Charles Neale. During the walk down the valley we saw Swallows, Housemartins, a Kestrel, various Finches, some well camouflaged Meadow Pipits  and a brief glimpse of a Marsh Harrier. In the salt marshes various waders were spotted including Little Stint, Greenshank, Common Sandpiper and the ever elegant Avocet. We also had a brief glimpse of a Kingfisher and a Little Egret. In all 45 species were recorded. 

At our indoor meeting Robin Goolden gave us an interesting insight into the conservation and land management work of the Wensum Valley Project carried out with the help of volunteers throughout the valley. His talk served to remind us what a diverse and sensitive wildlife habitat the Wensum Valley is. 

Our next field trip is a walk from Sparham Pools through to Attlebridge along the Wensum Valley on November 1st. Our next indoor meeting is on Thursday November 20th. Professor Fred Cooke will give a talk  entitled  'The Marbled Murrelet'. 

New members are always welcome. Details from John Horsman on 01328-856543 or e-mail: j.horsman@btopenworld.com. 
 

THE BECK W.I.

Margaret Peachment, our President for one more month, opened the meeting by welcoming all members and our guest speaker, Mr. Alan Barson. Carol, in the absence of Ruth, read the Minutes of the September meeting.
Pruning, the subject of this month's speaker, proved to make this a most interesting evening. Alan Barson impressed on us the importance of pruning, together with the knowledge of when it should be done. He spoke of, and illustrated, the use of good secateurs, loppers, pruning saw, folding pruning knife and even a half-bow saw - not forgetting the first option of using finger and thumb.
Mr. Barson then judged the many entries of a single flower stem from members' gardens. A beautiful rose brought by Audrey Taylor was 1st, and Faith was 2nd with a nerine lily. The raffle was won by Margaret Peachment.
Next month is the Annual Meeting (10th November in The Old School Room, Sparham); also, as last year, the bulb distribution. The exhibition is a Christmas Table Decoration. As always, new members are very welcome.
Mary Humphrey
 
 

Foxley P.C.C. met recently at Foxley Lodge and the Churchwarden, John Harvey, welcomed the Rev. David Head to his first P.C.C meeting with us.

As well as various routine matters such as Finance, report from Deanery Synod, pattern of Services, progress of the Hassock Campaign, the most appropriate locations for the fire –extinguishers, the project to repair our ancient pews and woodwork   was  discussed.   An  estimate  for  the  work had been  received  from  
Mr. Joe Dawes, an acknowledged expert, who, conveniently, lives in Reepham. The Secretary had contacted the Council for the Care of Churches and Norfolk Churches Trust and had been most encouraged by their response because both organisations recognised the historical values of these dilapidated treasures. It was decided to submit grant applications to help us to go ahead with the renovations which our architect, Nicholas Warns is so keen to promote. So much social and church history is encapsulated within the walls of St. Thomas’, it seems!
It was decided also to contact the Prayer Book Society in order that its members could be made aware that traditional services are still included in the rota at Foxley, something appreciated by those who value the richness of language and meaning in the Book of Common Prayer, which has sustained and inspired so many Christians over the years.

The Rev. Head expressed his pleasure at being with us and we all joined him in saying the Grace.

A letter has been received from Mrs. Vivienne Marsh, daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Jack  Buxton, who has recently erected memorials to her parents and her brother in the churchyard. She wrote of her great pleasure in its well–cared-for appearance, the best she could ever remember! We shall be conveying her words of gratitude to Richard Johnson, who is responsible for this excellent state of tidiness. Mrs. Marsh included with her letter a donation towards the  churchyard‘s upkeep, which will augment this year’s grant from the Parish Council. With the letter came an old postcard , a photograph of Foxley Church posted from Bawdeswell in 1907. This shows the church looking rather weather-beaten and partially covered in ivy, with its impressive pinnacles in place – oh, that we could afford to re-instate them, they still exist in storage in a mason’s yard in Norwich! .How interesting that St. Thomas’ should have been the subject of a commercially produced postcard at such an early date!
The Children’s Society Coffee Morning will be held at Foxley Lodge at 10am on Wednesday, 26th November with all the usual attractions. Everyone is welcome. Will Box-holders please come along with their boxes.

    Diana Harvey (Hon.Secretary.)