JANUARY MEETING
Our first meeting of the year took place on 18th January when the Rev Jacqui Horton came and gave us an illustrated talk entitled “Churches and Conveniences” this was about architect Augustus Scott’s churches al over East Anglia, stories of the Scoot family, tragedy, scandal and church conflict, as well as some of Scott’s other work.
Watton Society November Meeting
Our November meeting was our annual film night with Phil Slater.
He brought along a selection including: – The Sea Breaks Through – about the 1938 flooding of East Anglia and the work to prevent the tide breaking through again. Some film of work to free a train snowbound on the North Pennines at Bleath Gill in 1955, a 1947 Scout and Guide International Folk Dance Festival in London with Princesses Elizabeth & Margaret along with Lady Baden-Powell, a show of Horses of Austria performing at the Spanish Riding School, then a film about London’s last Tram, by British Transport film, a film of the 1959 Watton Carnival and the unveiling of the Town sign and finishing with Three songs by George Formby.
WATTON SOCIETY
DECEMBER MEETING 2022
Our Christmas meeting was held on Wednesday 21st December with our usual mulled wine and mince pies, this year we were again entertained by Annette Jude and Susie Turner.
Susie with her lovely singing voice gave us a varied evening of enjoyable songs, including some carols, with Annette accompanying her on the piano.
2022 AGM
In October we held our AGM, The Mayor Sue Hebborn who is also the society’s president was in attendance. Reports of the last AGM were read and approved, the chairman gave a report on the year’s activities and thanked the committee and our members who had given support to activities during the year, including the removal, refitting and reglazing of the Town Notice board in Chaston Place, which was funded from last year’s mayor’s fund.
The treasurer gave a report of the year’s financial activities and gave thanks to Mr D. Smith for auditing them, these were approved.
The mayor then took the chair for the election of officers, all existing members were re-elected to the same offices along with the additional member of the committee Pam Challand. Wendy Collins offered to assist with the Society’s publicity. David and Ruth Stapleton agreed to assist with the production of posters.
The mayor then gave some information on the additional duties the mayor finds they have when elected i.e. President of the Society.
A short talk followed and leaflets were handed out to Watton residents about the group looking into “Flood Defences” in Watton.
After some refreshments a fun quiz was held and prizes given to the first three teams with the highest team taking first choice.
September 2022 meeting
Norma Howell came and gave us a very interesting talk on Medical Detection Dogs and how they work.
The dogs are trained to use their amazing sense of smell to detect illnesses in people who could be unaware of the illness. Norma also told us how the dogs are rewarded when they discover an illness.
In July the Society had a visit to Peter Beales Roses following a talk by them in January.
We were given a demonstration of how to graft roses by Simon White, while we enjoyed tea and cake in the garden, this was followed by a guided walk around the gardens, ending up with time to browse the extensive display of plants for sale. A very enjoyable afternoon.
We were treated to an evening of amusement when “STUFF and FOLLY came to entertain us.
They are a group of 5 local writers and performers who put on sketches from cat ownership from the cat’s point of view, to short poems & Enid Blyton’s “Famous Five” with a Norfolk slant.
A most enjoyable evening.
Watton Society May Meeting
Our May meeting by Andrew Clarke was on Antarctica, Andrew gave a very interesting talk on when Antarctica was discovered and by whom, he then went on to explain its geography and make up.
His roll in the scientific research over the last 30 years and how it had changed, both during the winter months and in its summer when the number of workers increased from 1,000 to over 4,000 and the various nations operating there and the close contact with them.
He then went on to talk about the wildlife, including whales and penguins. His talk was accompanied by images of the landscape and accommodation along with some of its wildlife.
Next Month we have Stuff and Folly coming to the Methodist Hall on Wednesday 15th June. A local based entertainment group, that stage fully scripted original short plays and sketches, specialising in humour and a variety of themes.
The Bayeux Tapestry
Mia Hansson gave a talk about her project over the last ten years of embroidering a copy of the Bayeux Tapestry. She brought along two of her four nine metre rolls of work she has completed, which were displayed around the hall.
She started the project in 2016 and is ahead of her estimated time for this task.
She told of some of the difficulties she has encountered along the way with getting materials that will match with the original tapestry, and of TV programmes that wished to come to her home to see the project in progress, but not having sufficient space at home to show this and the tapestry she approached her local library who were happy to provide the required space. The TV company has returned to film the progress and is hoping to be able to view the finished item in the next year or so.
On Wednesday 16th March Roger Pugh came and gave us an illustrated talk entitled “The Most Secret Place on Earth”. This was the story of how the Military Tank was invented, and the first Tank force was created at Elveden, close to Thetford, in the utmost secrecy and despatched to France in 1916 to take part in the Battle of the Somme, resulting in the ultimate victory.
Roger gave some interesting information, like why it was called a Tank, this was to prevent information getting out to the public of what was being developed, as they also constructed Water Tanks for the army at this site.
