We are very fond of saying that we hope we present village life as it is – always saying what is going on whilst also giving information that we feel will be useful and appropriate for our community.
Sometimes we feel that we get little feedback – please let us know if something that we have printed has been useful – or is incorrect – as on occasion we do get things wrong!  We also welcome your views, and opinions and if you feel moved to write about something that has happened or you have been away or visited somewhere, please do write and share it with us.
However, please put your name to anything you send to us.  We have a rule that anonymity means we will not print an article without a name and when we publish articles without a name at the end we are always aware of the writer or source of the article.
The Parish Council has asked us to remind all parishioners that they do not act upon anonymous letters. Your privacy can be respected but your name must be on a letter.

Clubs and Societies – we do need contact names and addresses and e-mail addresses for all village organisations, as we intend to print a full list in a future issue of the “News”.
Our thanks for donations this month go to Anon (Broom Green) and Anon (Billingford).

Village Press Correspondent

Mike Wyatt has taken over the role of Press Correspondent for the Dereham and Fakenham Times.  Tel 700276

Thank you

I would like to thank all the people who tried to help us and to get our pup to the vets.  We will always be grateful.
Mary Beane

Our speaker this month was Mrs Susie Haybourne. Susie runs the Magdalen Group in Norwich.

It took me a moment to guess the significance of the name 'Magdalen' – of course Mary Magdalen !! whose appearance in the Gospels of the New Testament is always remembered for her unfortunate occupation and her sincere repentance. Now you too can guess the work of the Magdalen Group. Sadly, it is a fact of life that even in our lovely city of Norwich, women for many different reasons feel obliged to work as prostitutes on our inner city streets. Whatever drives them into this way of life, the Magdalen Group recognises that these are very needy women and seeks to provide some support for them. There is a drop-in centre which provides meals, friendship and advice. In addition, Susie and her volunteers take a car into the city in the evening and provide hot drinks and a temporary refuge for those that need it. Naturally, we were all touched by the stories we heard and realised how fortunate we are in our own situations.

During August we shall not be holding a formal meeting, however, we look forward to a walk and picnic – and possibly a ride in a vintage bus, all to be revealed at the next meeting. There is also a trip planned for August to Burghley House in Lincolnshire.

So have a lovely summer everyone and hopefully the weather will be kind to us.

Rosemary Dyer-Perry

Nightjar evening:

Starting from the newly renovated Marsham Arms the group assembled at Marsham Heath in search of this enigmatic bird. The secret of Nightjar watching is for the group to be as quiet and unobtrusive as possible, not always easy with a large group but this year serenity was achieved and several birds made an appearance. The fact that we had a quiet group and our vivacious club secretary Lin, did not attend this year, are entirely co-incidental.

Going farther afield, a small group of intrepid members visited the Hebridean islands of Mull and Iona where they saw the majestic White tailed Eagle, also a Golden Eagle and a distant view of a Golden Eagle chick peeping over the side of the nest. Other highlights were Puffins and a Corncrake. Well over a hundred species were recorded.

Sennowe Park:

Members assembled at the Raptor Watchpoint at Great Ryburgh for a visit to this stately Edwardian home and were welcomed by the owner Tom Cook. Then, in the capable hands of ace birder, artist, and wvbs member Steve Cale, this picturesque estate of lakes and woods was explored. A very distant Kingfisher and a Little Ringed Plover were spotted by eagle-eyed members and a quick I.D. course by Steve helped identify a Mediterranean as it Gull flew from one of the lakes. Many thanks to Tom Cook for making us welcome and to Steve for leading an enjoyable afternoon. A total of 60 species were seen including Kestrel, Buzzard, Sparrowhawk, Little Egret, Avocet, Hobby, Blackcap, Goldcrest and Reed Warbler.

Rutland Birdfair:

Many of our members will be visiting the British Birdwatching Fair at the Egleton Nature Reserve in Rutland on the 19th to 21st of August. One of the biggest wildlife events in the UK which attracts over 20,000 visitors. Lots to do and see for all interests and age groups – well worth a visit.

Dates for September:

On Thursday 15th our first Autumn talk is by Professor Fred Cooke, 'A thousand years of birdwatching in the Castle Rising area'. Starts at 7.30 p.m. at Weston Longville Village Hall. On the 25th we visit Breydon Water and Berney Marshes. Non-members are welcome at both these events.

Colin Wright [010603 – 740548] www.wvbs.co.uk

When going to press we had not had our annual trip to the Cromer Pier Show – a write up of the night will be in the September edition.  There will no Wives Club in August so all those going on holiday and those staying at home enjoy yourselves.

Our next meeting will be on 8th September when we will have Richard Dawson give a talk entitled My Life from Bell Boy to Piper.  Something tells me we are in for a good night – I can almost hear the bagpipes now.