Latest news with #Fakenham
Yahoo
04-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Linnets prepare for opening test of the summer
Step one of the James Rowe era goes public on Saturday afternoon with King's Lynn Town's first cobweb-brushing game of the summer. The Linnets make the short trip to Fakenham Town (3pm), with all eyes on how Rowe will line up his team and how different the dynamic will be from the side that ended last season with disappointment in the National League North play-offs. Advertisement That defeat at Chorley triggered a collapse of two regimes – manager Adam Lakeland's, after he laid bare some facts about budgetary cuts, and owner Stephen Cleeve's, as Turn Sports Investments (TSI) took charge. Rowe stepped into the head coach role and set about managing a budget and reinvigorating the squad, with the word 'community' echoing around The Walks. That's another new era, with Cleeve's one-man band now departed and the liaison with a supporters' trust front and centre of promoting brand King's Lynn Town. Around 400 season ticket sales, so far, is early proof of the fans' vote of confidence in the new-look club. But it is what happens on the pitch that will ultimately determine whether this summer of upheaval has worked. Advertisement Rowe has been around the game too long to get sucked into long-term predictions, but the turnover of players, in and out, has been sufficient to stir up plenty of optimism. Rowe has signed 12 players, including former Linnets Tai Fleming, Adam Marriott, Michael Gyasi and new skipper Michael Clunan. There are high hopes for Lynn boy Fletcher Toll, who will be looking to take a prolific scoring record to its highest level yet, as well as Sam Collins, Bailey Clements , Joe Nyahwema and Archie Crowther, while Rowe has done well to persuade Reece Hall-Johnson and Jack Lambert to move to The Walks. Goalkeeper Louis Chadwick will challenge Paul Jones for the shirt in another intriguing duel. They all join current players Jones, Ross Crane, Theo Williams, Tom Wilson, Matty Warburton, Kyle McFadden and Cameron Forde-Brown. Inevitably, some quality players have left - Dylan Crowe (FC Halifax), Jonny Margetts (Gainsborough), Josh McCammon (Spalding), Tommy Hughes, Greg Taylor (Bedford Town), Josh Coulson (Newmarket Town), Sam Walker (FC Halifax), Bailey Marsden (Marine), Finlay Barnes (Ebbsfleet United)), Kian Ronan (Chelmsford City), Freddie Sass (Accrington Stanley), Josh Hmami, Finley Whiteley (Newmarket Town), Paulius Falcao and keeper Patrick Boyes. Advertisement That churn is the consequence of upheaval, but the goalposts have been deliberately shifted with a noticeable swing to a younger squad average age. Getting the balance right is key. 'The remit's quite clear,' Rowe told official club channels. 'The directive from the ownership model in terms of what we want to do here and what sort of club we want to be. Dropping the age is no slight on what's happened before me. 'I'm one to look at the present and looking forward in terms of the remit, it's quite a clear directive in the direction we want to go - we want to be a club where we nurture young talent, whether that's coming from players that have done well at step three, step four and coming up, or whether that's players such as Sam Collins coming down who have not had the opportunities perhaps at a Cat 1 club, who are looking for that first step in professional football and that platform to play 46 games. 'Hopefully we can build on those signings this summer going forward into the season and into next and my time here and we can really have a solid base of talent coming through. Advertisement 'But alongside that it's important that if you chuck 11 youngsters together you tend to struggle so it's important that you have a good mix and with Paul Jones, Kyle McFadden, Mike Clunan, Adam Marriott etc we've got a spine there of experience, Matt Warburton as well, so in terms of that experience around the younger group on and off the field it's crucial. So always striking a balance is important with the squad.'
Yahoo
21-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Bee colony biggest I've dealt with, says keeper
A honey bee colony discovered in a wall cavity of an industrial building "is the biggest I've ever dealt with", a beekeeper has said. The nest, believed to contain 80,000 insects, was found about six weeks ago at Crisp Malt, Great Ryburgh, near Fakenham, Norfolk, by scaffolders. Steve Barrett, of Barrett's Bees, said: "Yes, there's been a few stings, nothing major, but they've been very, very friendly, it's been a successful day." He is also the beekeeper of brewing company Adnams of Southwold, Suffolk, and he initially plans to relocate the bees to his aviaries there. "This is the biggest I've every dealt with, it's a really good size and very healthy too, said Mr Barrett. The extent of colony came to light when the company decided to renovate a building dating back to 1903, said Dan Clarke, site manager at Crisp Malt. "As we put up some scaffolding, the scaffolders recognised there were some bees flying in and out of the building, so we stopped to have a little look, called in contractors and yes it's a bee hive," he said. "There's always bees and other stuff flying around, no-one took much notice, but they've been around for 10 to 12 years and the hive was a lot bigger than expected." Chris Fulford, from builders PJ Spillings, was surprised that the bees were "a lot less angry than I thought they'd be". The site supervisor admitted he was a bit nervous when he began cutting into the wall to access the colony. "It's unnerving when they're all right in front of your face and you're in the hole, putting your hands in there, but it's been alright, I've got a nice suit and only got stung once so far," he said. Mr Barrett, who has 18 miles of aviaries across various counties, expects the bees to settle into their new home quickly. "They'll do orientation flights, I'll face them southerly and there's quite a bit of forage where they're going," he said. Follow Norfolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. Beekeeper helping kids get a buzz from nature Flowers on ex-industrial sites 'harming bees' Beekeeper creates 18-mile bee corridor along coast
Yahoo
08-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Funeral director takes over town's only independent service after nearly 60 years
A Norfolk funeral director has taken over a town's only independent, family-owned service, which had been in business for nearly 60 years. Adrian Amis of Cromer and District Independent Funeral Services has acquired Gowards Funeral Independent Services in Fakenham. Founded by Claude Goward in 1966, the Fakenham funeral service has been in the town for 58 years. It will now continue to offer compassionate, independent funeral care in Norfolk under the ownership of Mr Amis. Funeral director Paul Cook, who has more than 40 years' experience in the profession, will continue in his role at the Fakenham funeral home. "I am honoured and excited to be taking over Gowards Funeral Services," Mr Amis said. "It is a business with a deeply respected history and an incredible dedication to the families it serves. "My commitment is to uphold the independent ethos and the high standards of care that Heather, Paul and the Goward family have established. "We look forward to continuing to serve the community with dignity and compassion."
BBC News
07-06-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Wurlitzer wizard marks 45 years on the pedals at Thursford
A organist is celebrating four decades behind the keys of a Wurlitzer organ at a popular Wolfe, from Norwich, has played the organ for 45 years at Thursford in Fakenham, Norfolk, home to the annual Christmas Spectacular."To be here for the 45th year is absolutely fantastic, and I am loving it more than ever," he is expected to perform at the venue later in the year as part of Thursford's Steam Gala Day. Mr Wolfe, who was born in Luton, was invited to play at Blackpool Tower at the age of 16, becoming one of the youngest musicians to perform at the iconic ballroom."I was very lucky to be in that position at such an early age, and it was a great experience being there for three years," he said. Wurlitzer organs were used in movie theatres to evoke atmosphere and provide a live soundtrack during the era of silent film. During a trip to the museum when he was 19 years old, Mr Wolfe asked John Cushing, the chief executive at Thursford at the time, if he could play the original that visit in 1981, Mr Wolfe has since returned every year to play two shows a day for theatre closed during the pandemic, which had an impact on Mr Wolfe's confidence."In the year we closed with lockdown, I did not think there would be a return, and I did not that I would come back to it," he said."I lost a lot of my self-confidence. I thought that is it, my career is over."But I did come back, and I am so pleased I did."The Thursford organ was built about 100 years ago and is one of two of its kind still played regularly in the Wolfe is expected to play three shows during the Thursford's Steam Gala Day on 6 July. Follow Norfolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
The Sun
05-06-2025
- General
- The Sun
‘Such a shame' as promising jockey forced to retire aged 23 on ‘medical advice'
PROMISING jockey Gearoid Harney has been forced to retire from racing aged just 23 on 'medical advice'. The conditional rider 'kept getting concussed' when he fell and suffered a heavy crash at Fakenham in January. 1 Harney was rushed to hospital for urgent care and racing was abandoned soon after his slip from David Pipe's Micronormous. Unfortunately, while he made a recovery from that incident, doctors had advised him to stop racing altogether. A post from Pipe said on X: "Wishing conditional jockey Gearoid Harney @Gearoid84997068 the very best for the future as he unfortunately will not be returning to the saddle following his fall in January on medical advice. "He rode ten winners for me, the highlight being Kingston Queen's Listed Bumper success." Pipe added: "The scans showed there was still some damage there and it wasn't right for him to get his licence back. The decision was in their hands. "He kept getting concussed when he fell and the IJF have been very supportive, so he'll have to have a think about what he'll do in the future." Punters were quick to offer Harney their support, with some saying it was a great 'shame' he had been forced out. A post from Irish Racing referenced the tragic death of Michael O'Sullivan in a race earlier this year as a reminder of the dangers jockeys face every day. The message read: "We wish Irish jockey Gearoid Harney all the best as he is forced to retire due to a severe head injury from a fall at Fakenham in January. "In a challenging year for our sport, marked by the tragic passing of Michael O'Sullivan, this incident further highlights the risks jockeys face." . Remember to gamble responsibly A responsible gambler is someone who:
