Meets 7.30pm 1st Thursday in every month at The Old Workhouse Bar

The Little Friend by Donna Tartt, one of December’s choices reviewed by Marilyn Collier
It was worth the 10-year wait since Donna Tartt’s last book.   I read this and I loved all 550 pages of it:  I could have read another 500, especially as the ending was abrupt, leaving me gasping for more, desperate for answers!   The book concerns a young girl’s search for her brother’s killer and is so well set in a small Southern town in America that I could taste the dust, smell the scents, droop in the heat and shudder at the snakes (they play a big part in the plot).   The search delves into every layer of local society involving many people and I was interested by and cared about everyone in the book.  I want to know more!  Roll on the sequel and not another 10 years wait, please.   An excellent read to while away those long winter evenings with pleasure.

The discerning among us will be reading Terry Pratchett’s "The Colour of Magic" for January.  If you’ve never read Mr Pratchett – now’s your chance.   Roll back the years, banish stress and winter gloom.   Meet Rincewind the wizard and imp-driven technology and laugh, laugh, laugh.  Happy New Year.
Marilyn Collier

REEPHAM AND DISTRICT ROTARY CLUB

Club members have been very busy over recent weeks.  In early December the club held a 'Snowball' at Weston Longville in a marquee in the garden of Vice President Robert Briggs.  The marquee was there for his daughter's wedding and he kindly gave us permission to use it for the fundraising event.  It was a very successful evening raising more than £3,000 for the East Anglian Air Ambulance Appeal.
Robert Buxton managed to find a very tall Christmas tree that members erected in the Market Place - a 35ft tree was acquired from the National Trust at Blickling.

The Rotary club has now excellent links with Reepham High School and members have assisted with counselling and various projects including the virtual baby, which was sponsored by the club.  This year for the first time the club has awarded a trophy known as the Tony Poole Memorial Trophy - it was decided in conjunction with the school and Mr Lockley to support an environmentally based sustainability project.  Judging,  which the school and rotary club carried out, was very difficult and the winner was Gavin Egmore.   Highly commended were Alice Louch and Michael Hill.  This will become an annual award. 

Members will shortly be preparing for the next fundraising event, which is the old time musical that is being held at the Reepham High School on Saturday 13th March.
Ken Ewing

If you are prepared to travel a bit further afield you could spend an enjoyable day at Anglesey Abbey, gardens and Lode Mill, situated just north of Cambridge.

Anglesey Abbey was left to the National Trust in the 60s by the first Lord Fairhaven. The house, on the site of monastic buildings, is built in the Jacobean style with many alterations having been carried out over the years. It contains many items of beautiful furniture and works of art from Lord Fairhaven and his brother's collections; many sculptures are also to be seen throughout the grounds.
The park and gardens cover 98 acres, beautifully planted and laid out, and looking particularly stunning in their Autumn colours - we are keen to return and see them in Spring and Summer.
Lode Mill is a working Mill from where you can buy their own milled flour.
The house will be closed now until Easter but the grounds remain open Wednesday - Sunday and the Mill at weekends, there is also a shop and restaurant.

Please send in your contributions to this Feature.  Ed.

WENSUM VALLEY BIRDWATCHING SOCIETY

We had a field trip to Wells and Holkham in December. The experts were a bit disappointed at the amount of birds sighted, but nevertheless pointed out at least 30 different species including a Redwing, a Goldcrest and Great Spotted Woodpecker. About 25 more than I would have seen had I been on my own. Our hardworking committee  has completed a programme of activities for the new year and have managed to secure some excellent speakers for the monthly indoor meetings. 
A variety of interesting field trips are planned throughout Norfolk and beyond.

Next indoor meeting:  is at 7.30 at Lenwade village hall on Thursday 19th  February. When the speaker will be Chris Knight, a well known wildlife photographer. Admission for non-members is £2 refreshments are available. 

Membership details from John Horsman on 01328-856543 
or e-mail: j.horsman@btopenworld.com.