Hethersett a norfolk village on the web

Hethersett - The Big Society - Hethersett's Big Society aspirations have seen numerous village groups combine over the past year to improve fitness, well being and the environment. The Big Society concept has been made possible through the selfless actions of numerous local people and groups who give their time and energy willingly to make our village one of the best in the country. In a new section on this web site we highlight some of the ideas and ways in which people are working together to create Hethersett - The Big Society. Visit this section by clicking here.

Pledge To Fitness

Read about the day the Active Norfolk Pledge Pod came to Hethersett and how hundreds of people have pledged towards improved fitness and health in 2012. To read the article and view photographs click here. You can also read a cutting from the Wymondham and Attleborough Mercury on Pledge 2012 by clicking here. You can also read about a special Rap song written by Little Melton School which was performed during the day. To read about this click here. You can also read about this event in the Eastern Daily Press Newspaper by clicking here.

Memorial Playing Field Workshops - Hethersett Residents are being urged to “get involved” in bringing new life to the village’s Memorial Playing Field. Two community led design workshops are being held in March to give the community a chance to plan for the future of the field. You can read about the workshops which will take place on March 4th and March 25th by clicking here.

Vote for Hethersett - Hethersett residents are being urged to vote for Hethersett when they go shopping. Waitrose of Eaton has chosen the village’s Olympic Committee as one of its three charities for February. Customers using the store throughout the month will be given a token to place in one of three boxes with £1,000 being distributed according to the number of tokens received. The more tokens the Hethersett scheme gets the larger the donation will be. Hethersett’s Olympic Committee, which comes under the auspices of Hethersett Parish Council, is responsible for organising a weekend of events in support of this year’s London Olympic Games. Over the past two years the village has organised more events per head of the population than any other village, town or city in the country. This year’s Open Hethersett event will take place from Friday June 22^nd to Sunday June 24^th. Events this year are likely to include a swimming marathon, the third Hethersett’s Got Talent competition, a come and try sports event on the Memorial Playing Field, a church service, round the square two mile fun run and a major ladies five-a-side football competition.

Olde English Fete - Hethersett will be celebrating the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee with an olde English Jubilee Fayre on Sunday June 3^rdon the Memorial Playing Field. To read about this and how you can help and support the event click here

Book Group Launch - Hethersett Library is launching a free book group which will meet on the first Monday of the month from February 6^th. The group will be sharing thoughts on both a chosen book and also other books being read by members and it will also cover magazines and e-books. The sessions will take place between 2 and 3 p.m.

Green Spaces Group - A Green Spaces Steering Group is being set-up in Hethersett to help with the village’s health and well being. The group will work closely with the Hethersett Environmental Action Team (HEAT) to tackle numerous issues including footpaths, community ownership and the setting up of allotments. The parish pit area, the central pasture between Henstead and Queen’s Road and the Village Hall Field are just three of the spaces that will be investigated. The group will also explore support available from the Campaign for the Protection of Rural England and other similar bodies. Anyone interested in joining the steering group can contact chair and parish councillor Simon Floyd on 07896 781574 or via e-mail by clicking here.

Wild About Hethersett - 2011 was a wild year in Hethersett. For the past 12 months the Hethersett Environmental Action Team (HEAT) has been holding a biodiversity survey and now their findings have been published in book form. The book includes observations from local residents on nature from bird and insect sightings to plants and improvements to the environment. The book is a limited edition publication and sells for £4. It was launched at a special event in Hethersett Methodist Church on January 28th. You can read about this by clicking here. Over half the copies went on the first morning. There are still some available and can be ordered by contacting HEAT member Dr Anne Edwards on 01603 812309 or by e-mailing by clicking here To view the story from the Norwich Evening News click here.

Canary Opens New Play Equipment - Norwich City midfielder Andrew Surman officially opened new play equipment on Hethersett Memorial Playing Field as part of a full day of events in the village that also saw the Active Norfolk Pledge Pod visit Woodside School. As well as cutting the ribbon Andrew pledged to help Norwich City stay in the Premier Division. To read about the playground opening click here. To see the story in the Wymondham and Attleborough Mercury click here.

School Grant to Celebrate the Olympics - Schools in the Hethersett Cluster which includes Hethersett Woodside Infants and Nursery, Hethersett Junior, Hethersett High, Cringleford Primary, Little Melton Primary, Mulbarton Infant and Mulbarton Junior, have been awarded a grant of over £8,500 for activities in celebration of the coming London 2012 Olympic Games. You can read this story by clicking here.

Women's World Day of Prayer - “Let Justice Prevail” will be the subject for this year’s Women’s World Day of Prayer on Friday 2nd March. Over three million people throughout the world are expected to pray and worship together during the annual day of prayer, using a form of service prepared by Christian women in Malaysia. Hethersett’s special service will take place in St Remigius Parish Church at 10 a.m on Saturday 3^rd March – the date and time still falling within the 24 hour period for the event.

Standing Start - Hethersett Old Hall School Pupil Sienna Sexton (13) has been named Under-13 Sportshall High Jump and Standing Long Jump champion for Norfolk. To read this story from iwitness24 click here.

Sports Association Meeting - The next meeting of Hethersett and the Meltons Sports Association will be held in Park Farm Hotel on February 27^th at 7.30 p.m. The meeting will discuss future plans for improving sports facilities and setting up new groups for fitness and well being and will look at existing facilities, how fitness and well being can be improved and will also celebrate success over the past six months and look to a very busy 2012 with so many community groups working together. The sports association is open to anybody with an interest in sport, leisure, health, well being and the environment. The meeting will also discuss a possible campaign for next year to urge residents to cut down on vehicle use in favour of walking or cycling.

Olde English Fete for Memorial Field - Hethersett will be celebrating the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee with an Olde English Jubilee Fayre on Sunday June 3^rdon the Memorial Playing Field. To read the full story and find out how you can become involved in the project click here.

A Cool Event - There will be a public showing of one of the most enduring films of all time at Hethersett High School on 15th February at 7.30 p.m. Cool Runnings is inspired by the true story of the first Jamaican Olympic bobsled team. The film is part of Hethersett's 2012 London Olympic celebrations and is also part of the South Norfolk True Film Festival of 2012. Tickets are £3 and can be booked on 01603 810924

Women's World Day of Prayer - “Let Justice Prevail” will be the subject for this year’s Women’s World Day of Prayer on Friday 2nd March. Over three million people throughout the world are expected to pray and worship together during the annual day of prayer, using a form of service prepared by Christian women in Malaysia. Hethersett’s special service will take place in St Remigius Parish Church at 10 a.m on Saturday 3^rd March – the date and time still falling within the 24 hour period for the event. Jean Hackett, president of the National Committee of the Women’s World Day of Prayer movement said: ‘This is always an exciting day as a great wave of prayer sweeps the world, beginning when the first service is held in the Queen Salote Girls School in Tonga and continuing around the world until the final service takes place, some 35 hours later, in neighbouring Western Samoa. By then the day will have been celebrated in over 170 countries and more than 6,000 services will have been held in the British Isles alone.’ Although organised and led by women, the services are a day of prayer for everybody, demonstrating solidarity with people from other countries. Refreshments will be served at the end of the Hethersett service.

Colourful Pantomime - The annual village pantomime proved as popular and colourful as ever. Dick Whittington was the 43rd production in a run that goes back to 1970. To read a review and view photographs from the show click here. To view a Picassa gallery of photos from the show click here.

Quiz and Chip for Cancer Research - Hethersett Social Club is holding a fish and chips quiz evening on February 18th to raise money for MacMillan Cancer Support. The club has announced its latest programme of music events that includes The Blues Brothers on February 11th, six piece band Heat on March 3rd, the Usual Suspects band on March 31st and What's Up on April 21st. The club will be holding a children's Easter party on April 8th with Excite Kareoke in the lounge on the same day. To view a poster of coming events click here. You can also visit the club's web site by clicking here

Talking Newspaper Visit - Volunteers from the Wymondham and Attleborough Talking Newspaper will be visiting Hethersett Library on Saturday 4th February to raise awareness of the free audio news and information service for visually impaired people. Norfolk Library Services will also be highlighting the facilities available to blind and partially sighted library users. The visit will take place between 10 a.m and midday.

Old Hall School Open Days - Hethersett Old Hall School is holding a series of regular open events. The first of these will take place on February 2nd from 9.30 to 11.30 a.m and will be an open morning for pre-prep and juniors and their parents. February 9th sees an open morning (9.30 to 11.30 for prospective senior school pupils and parents for a tour of the school and facilities on a typical working morning at the school. There will be a taster day for Year Six pupils joining the senior department in September when girls will have the opportunity to xperience science in the laboratories, cooking in the home economics room, drama on stage, art in the studios and outdoor activities. Parenst will also be able to tour the school in the afternoon. Booking for the open events is advisable on 01603 810390. Further information is on the school's web site which is available by clicking here

Wild About Hethersett - 2011 was a wild year in Hethersett. For the past 12 months the Hethersett Environmental Action Team (HEAT) has been holding a biodiversity survey and now their findings have been published in book form. The book includes observations from local residents on nature from bird and insect sightings to plants and improvements to the environment. The book is a limited edition publication and sells for £4. Copies will be available at a special launch morning in Hethersett Methodist Church on Saturday 28th January from 10 a.m. Copies can also be ordered by contacting HEAT member Dr Anne Edwards on 01603 812309 or by e-mailing by clicking here

Lead Theft Concern - Members of Norfolk's church community have once again hit out at problems with metal theft as 2011 is named the worst year on record for church lead theft nationwide. Hethersett is highlighted in the latest coverage in the Eastern Daily Press newspaper. You can view the story by clicking here.

School's Special Home Help - Youngsters from Hethersett Woodside Infant and Nursery School met a very special Home Help when Yorkshire Terrier/Poodle cross Odell visited the school to receive a cheque for the Hearing Dogs for the Deaf Charity. The money was raised at pre-Christmas events held at the school. To read about this click here

Praise from Downing Street - Hethersett’s success in becoming one of the region’s top well being communities has come to the notice of Prime Minister David Cameron. The village’s efforts to support sport, fitness, well being and the environment have been praised as part of the Government’s Big Society idea. The village has received a letter from the Cabinet Office praising it for organising events throughout the year and for being named Norfolk Sports Village and Norfolk Champion of Champions in the 2011 competition organised jointly by the Eastern Daily Press newspaper and Active Norfolk. “I was very interested to read about all of the activities and events going on in Hethersett. I am pleased that residents have taken on the ideas behind the Big Society and are really making a difference to the community. This really is Big Society in action,” said Sarah Baker of the Cabinet Office’s Social Action Team who was contacted directly by David Cameron.

New Tops for Sunday Footballers


Hethersett Athletic Football Club's Sunday First Team have been presented with a new set of training tops by their sponsors Park Farm Hotel. Here is the team pictured with them before the match against Hingham. On the left Chris Thirtle and coach Neil Luther with one of the jackets.

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Hethersett Policeman's Marathon Efforts - Norfolk Police Constable Stu Barnard, who lives in Hethersett, is in training for a gruelling charity effort that will see him run two marathons and also the 42 miles between Norfolk and Suffolk police headquarters to raise money for a charity which researches into conditions affecting children and babies. Click on the Media cuttings above to see the story as featured in the Wymondham and Attleborough Mercury.

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Martin's Marathon Challenge - Hethersett Cyclist Martin Anderton is not only arranging the first Hethersett 30/60 event this year but is also planning to raise money for a charity that supports disabled people by undertaking a gruelling London to Paris ride. You can read the story from the Wymondham and Attleborough Mercury by clicking on the cutting above.

Hethersett Library Losing Books - Thousands of books have disappeared from the shelves of smaller community libraries in favour of Norwich Millennium Library, council figures reveal. Hethersett Library is amongst 30 to see book stocks decline. To read the story from the Wymondham and Attleborough Mercury click on the Media cutting or go to our Media section by clicking here.

Opposition to Housing Continues - With the deadline now gone for comments on additional housing in Hethersett, the fight to stop development is continuing with two stories appearing in the Wymondham and Attleborough Mercury. To read these please click on the cuttings below to enlarge them.

Pantomime Dates and Ticket Arrangements - Hethersett's annual village pantomime takes place throughout next week. Dick Whittington starts its nine performance run on Saturday 14th January and goes through to the following Saturday in Hethersett Village Hall. There will be matinees on the 14^th and 21^st at 2.30 p.m and evening performances at 7.45 p.m on January 14^th, 16^th, 17^th, 18^th, 19^th, 20^th and 21^st. Ticket prices vary according to day between £5 and £7. To check availability please telephone either Norwich 811005 or Norwich 811481. Dick Whittington is the Pantomime Group’s 43^rd production since it started in 1970 and it will be the seventh version of the Whittington story. We will have a review of the production during the week.

Hawks AGM - Hethersett Hawks Cycle Speedway Club will be holding its annual general meeting in the upstairs room at Hethersett Methodist Church on Sunday February 5th from 2 p.m. The club has an exciting year ahead. As well as the visit of the Polish test teams in August and a National Round of the British Youth and Junior League in September, it has recently been announced that the club will stage the South East Cup Finals and Women’s Championships plus Norfolk Finals at Senior, Vets, Women and Under-10s level. The club has also announced the return of former members Leigh Cossey and Dan Chambers plus other former Norwich riders England international Lee Grange and Scotland international Joshua Herring to boost their first-team squad. Pre-season training gets under way in February ready for the March 18^th opening to the season.

Old Hall School Celebrates - Hethersett Old Hall School held a celebration evening for the examination classes of 2011. To read about this click here.

Pledge To Fitness - The Pledge Pod is on its way to Hethersett next Wednesday (January 25th). So just what does this mean for the village? To find out about this initiative and how you can pledge to improve your well being and fitness click here. You can also read a cutting from the Wymondham and Attleborough Mercury on Pledge 2012 by clicking here.

Play Equipment Opening - Wednesday will also see the official opening of new children's play equipment on Hethersett Memorial Playing Field at 3.15 p.m. Villagers, councillors and children from Woodside School will get together on the playing field to help cut the ribbon on the new equipment which has been made possible through major grants from Veolia, the Geoffrey Watling Foundation and the South Norfolk Neighbourhood Scheme. The new equipment includes adventure climbing towers, multiplay units, a carousel, a playhouse, a playbus, a springer, trim trail and a mushroom seat. In addition 17 new trees have been planted on the Memorial Field to help enhance the environment.