Hethersett a norfolk village on the web

Hethersett Players stretched themselves to the limit with an excellent production of the Marvin Hamlisch/Carole Bayer-Sager/Neil Simon musical comedy They're Playing Our Song in the village hall. To read a review of the production click here.

Peruvian Trek in Memory of Janet


On the left Ralph and Janet Cross and on the right Simon who will be undertaking a gruelling trek to raise money for research into MS

Former Hethersett resident Simon Cross is undertaking a gruelling trek in September to raise money for the Multiple Sclerosis Society. Simon's mother Janet died last November after suffering from MS for over eight years. Simon's dad Ralph still lives in the village. To read about Simon's Inca trail click here.

Philharmonic Twinning Concert

Singers from Hethersett, Wymondham and Attleborough will be taking part in a special concert by the Norwich Philharmonic on Sunday 27th May featuring artists from Norwich's tewin city of Koblenz in Germany. To read details click here.

Soccer Funday

The youth section of Hethersett Athletic Football Club held its funday and presentation event at Hethersett Middle School with hundreds of friends, supporters and members of the public attending. Full details and photographs of the event are available on the club's official web site that can be accessed by clicking here.

Forncett Festival

A major festival is being held in the Forncetts at the end of June. Hethersett on the Web is helping to promote the festival with a special section. To view information click here.

Cricket Club Off to a Sparkling Start

Hethersett and Tas Valley Cricket Club have made a sparkling start to the season. The first and second teams have both won their opening four league matches and are well placed for a promotion push. To see all the latest results click here.

Julianna Reaches Her Target
17 year old Julianna Ball has been raising money for her trip to help handicapped children in Uganda. We are delighted to report that Julianna has now raised the necessary amount. To read an update on this story click here.

Plant Sale and Coming Event

A plant sale outside Hethersett Methodist Church raised £160 for the Hope and Homes for Children charity. The amount raised also included a number of donations. Hope and Homes for Children was founded in 1994 in response to the suffering of children in the Balkans. Today the charity works in conjunction with overseas partners to provide families and homes for orphaned or abandoned children in 14 European and African countries including Sierra Leone, Rwanda, Romania and the Ukraine. Hethersett Methodist Church’s next fund-raising event is a shoppers’ coffee plus morning on June 9^th when coffee and refreshments will mix with a sale of goods from 10 a.m in aid of church funds.

Middle School Fete

The weather stayed fair for Hethersett Middle School's annual spring fete which took place on May 12th. For a report and photographs of the event click here.

Shock at the Polls

There has been a major shock in the local elections with both of the sitting councillors on South Norfolk District Council representing Hethersett being defeated with a clean sweep for the Conservative party. David Bills led the poll with 1,020 votes, followed by fellow Tory Leslie Dale with 936. Existing councillors Fred Watkins and Jackie Sutton polled 831 and 858 respectively with Labour candidate Thomas Clennell polling just 177 votes. The turnout was 46%. There was defeat also for 19-year-old Hethersett teenager Jenni Clutten. Jenni was representing the Liberal Democrats in nearby Newton Flotman and gained 404. Opponent Claire Turner (Conservative) received 547 votes.

In Memory of Chloe

A special friendship bencht has been placed in the grounds of Hethersett High School in memory of 14-year-old Chloe Goose who was killed in a car crash in the village last July. The bench includes a plaque containing the following words: "In loving memory of Chloe Goose 1992-2006 Forever missed and never forgotten."

Annual Garage Sale

The Friends of Hethersett High School will be holding their fourth annual garage sale on Sunday 24th June from 9 a.m to 1 p.m. Participants in the sale are being given the choice of opening their own garage or using their front garden, taking a car boot pitch at the Village Hall or taking a table-top inside the Village Hall. The cost of each pitch is £5 and entry forms are being distributed throughout the village. Further information on the event is available from Karen on 01603 811543 or Clare on 01508 570179

British Champions

The village can boast British champions in the sport of cycle speedway. Hethersett Hawks are the proud owners of the Under-16s title. To read about how they achieved this click here In addition you will also be able to read how Jazz Abbott became Norfolk Under-16s champion with Hawks riders filling the first three places.

Aspiring Artists on Display

Aspiring Artists in Hethersett will be holding an exhibition of their work in the Village Hall on June 3^rd from 10.30 a.m to 4 p.m. The annual exhibition will feature all aspects of art forms from oils to watercolours and pastels. There will be a prize for the best painting depicting the theme “Holidays.” Members of the public will have the opportunity to both browse and buy the art on display and refreshments will also be available. Hethersett Aspiring Artists was formed by a number of retired people in the village: “Several of us had an interest in art and felt that Hethersett was lacking in opportunity to learn about or exhibit art. With a small grant from Social Services we formed the group in 2003,” said one of the organisers Mary Leary. The group meets every Thursday afternoon from 2 to 4 p.m and holds its annual exhibition every June. Last year they sold 21 paintings and such is the group’s success that they have a waiting list of people wanting to join. “We hire tutors and have workshops to help inspire us and further our expertise. At present we have 30 members which is our agreed limit so that people can work in comfort. Talents vary from the absolute beginner to the upper level of achievement. We are looking forward at the exhibition to greeting everyone, old friends and new and especially interested children who may become the artists of the future,” Mary added.

Hethersett Players Prepare

Hethersett Players are well into rehearsal for their next production - the Marvin Hamlisch/Neil Simon musical They're Playing Our Song which will take place in Hethersett Village Hall on May 18th and 19th. To read about it click here.

"Gentleman" Fred Dies

Fred Tuck, who was a leading Methodist in Hethersett for many years, has died at the age of 96. A special service to celebrate his life was held at the Methodist Church. For details of this click here.

Heat is on for an Evening Clear-Up

Hethersett Environmental Action Team (HEAT) will be turning their minds to an early evening stint in June with their latest litter pick in the village starting at 6.30 pm on Wednesday 6^th June. Everyone is welcome and the group will be adjourning for refreshments at the King’s Head at 8 p.m. The next meeting of HEAT will take place on Wednesday 13^th June at the Methodist Church Hall. Meanwhile the group is also gearing up to support two important environmental dates in the village. The judging of the annual Hethersett in Bloom competition takes place on Sunday 16^th June and the village open gardens Sunday is on 1^st July from 2 to 6 p.m. Admission to the open gardens is £2 for adults with children free. Proceeds from the event will go to local charities. Tickets are available in advance from Hethersett Library and the village charity shop. Tickets will be available on the day from the Village Hall car park or from individual gardens which will be marked by a scarecrow sign.

Gabby's Success Story

Gabby Vautier's satirical musical A Karaoke Wedding has received rave reviews during its three week run at a Southwark Theatre. To read details of how the musical came about and also a review click here.

Footballers Settle for Runners-Up Place

Hethersett Athletic have had to settle for runners-up position in the Norwich Sunday League Premier Division after suffering two defeats in a row. They went down to title contenders Marlborough 1-0 and then lost 2-1 at home to Acle. It has been a good season for the club, however. The under-11 girls' team has won the Norfolk Women's and Girls League Under-11 section and the Ladies team are champions of the Eastern Region Division One East. In addition the Under-9B team have won their Knockout Cup Plate competition. For all the club news visit Hethersett Athletic's official web site by clicking here. The site also includes a full report of the club's presentation evening for its adult teams at Park Farm Hotel and the youth teams' funday at Hethersett Middle School.

Letter of Welcome

Newcomers to Hethersett will be receiving a “welcome letter” from the parish council. The A4 sheet issues new homeowners with essential contact numbers and also details of where more information about the village can be found. It also lists publications available within the village. It highlights a number of coming events including the Hethersett in Bloom Competitions for which the judging will take place on 16^th June and the village gardens open day on Sunday 1^st July. The letter also advertises the clubs and societies event in the village hall on 29^th September when village newcomers will be able to learn about various clubs and societies, what they do and when they meet. “We are hoping the welcome to newcomers letter will help people to find out more about the village, who’s who, what’s going on and where people can meet up with its residents,” said parish council chairman George Beckford.

Film Firsts

Hethersett Library will be celebrating the contribution films have made to our culture with a special display during May. Libraries throughout Norfolk will be selecting themes ranging from classics to comedy and sci-fi to golden oldies. At Hethersett the chosen theme will be family films and entertainment. It is also hoped that Hethersett Library will have free internet taster sessions on film related subjects and members of the public borrowing a film during the month will be entered into a draw to win a portable DVD player.

Hethersett Singer to Represent Country (special interview)

Top British soprano Elizabeth Watts, who originally comes from Hethersett, has been chosen to represent England in a world singing competition in Cardiff. Over 1,000 people applied for the 25 places available in the contest. Hethersett On the Web has spoken to Liz and you can read the interview by clicking here. There is also more on this story on the Eastern Daily Press Web Site and this can be accessed by clicking here. Liz will be giving a special concert at Hethersett Methodist Church in the autumn. More details as soon as they are available. LATEST UPDATE: Liz will be singing in the first round of the song prize on 10th June and for the song prize on 12th June. The main prize will be on BBC4 so put it in your diary!

Going For Gold

Hethersett will be going for gold this year in the Anglia in Bloom competition, having been awarded a silver medal last year. Parish Council chairman George Beckford joined Head Teacher Helen Lamb and children from Woodside First School to plant a tree in the school's grounds. For full story and photographs click here.

Cancer Charity Event

Help Cancer Research UK turn Hope into Cure is the message as cancer survivors from across Norfolk prepare to lead an all night festival of hope and remembrance in a united effort to find cures for the disease. Anne Cathersides from Hethersett is chair of Cancer Research UK's Relay for Life and tells us all about the event. To read about this click here.

Clubs and Societies Day

The public will learn more about voluntary groups in Hethersett when the parish holds another clubs and societies day in September. The last such event was held three years ago and proved extremely popular. Due to space availability the event, which will be held in the Village Hall and run from 11 a.m to 4 p.m on Saturday 29^th September, will be restricted to 36 non profit making organisations from the village. Spaces will be booked on a first come first served basis and groups wishing to take part should contact parish clerk Ian Weetman on 01603 811490.

Reminisce Here

We are always looking for memories of the village and its people. So if you would like to be featured in a new section being built, please contact the editor by phone on 01603 811052 or by leaving an e-mail by clicking here. We are hoping to introduce a number of sections for memories and would be particularly interested in hearing from anybody with memories of the Methodist Church or its people for a project being organised by our sister site which can be viewed by clicking here. A new section of this site for reminiscences has been set-up and this can be viewed by clicking here.