Category: GOING OFF AT TANGENTS

• East Anglia Methodist Heritage Centre

  A Recent Visit Recently, in April 2026, I was able to visit the East Anglia Methodist Heritage Centre. Since 2023, this has been located in the former Primitive Methodist Chapel in Wighton near Wells-next-the-Sea. It is usually open in the summer two days per week, on Tuesdays and Fridays, from 11am to 3pm. Wighton Primitive…

  April 18, 2026

• “Outward Bound”

  Nottingham Castle and “Outward Bound” On Saturday 4 April 1925, grandad noted in his diary that “we went to Nottm Castle & Theatre “Outward Bound”“. We refers to grandma, Ethel Cirket, and grandad, Gordon Parkin. This was some five years before they married, see Chapter 16. Nottingham Castle On this Saturday, they went to visit…

  January 24, 2026

• Considering Coal

  Experiences of Coal A recent post on Kirkby Living Memory Face book Group asked about people’s experiences of using coal. There is a lot relevant to this question in my family’s diaries. However, although I have written a little about Kirkby as a coal-mining community, see Chapter 5, there is a lot more relevant material…

  January 20, 2026

• Supporting Norwich City: The Late Seventies

  Early Experiences I have detailed my early experiences of supporting Norwich City in a post on the topic. These include the period of the early seventies, also see Chapter 106. Those experiences rely heavily on my own memories and limited mentions in family diaries. My Diaries While those are also sources of information for this…

  January 19, 2026

• Insights from my Father’s Creative Writing

  A Blue Folder Recently, I was given a few things of my dad’s including a blue folder. This contains a wide range of stories which I think dad wrote when he did one or more creative writing courses. One of them is dated 1994 so perhaps that was the date of the first course. Another…

  November 27, 2025

• Caister to Happisburgh Walk

  School Sponsored Walk When I was at the Hewett School, see Chapter 118, I recall doing a sponsored walk on the beach from Caister to Happisburgh to raise money for the school swimming pool. This walk was between 15 and 17 miles. It was on sand so equivalent to a longer distance on a firmer…

  November 21, 2025

• Denis John Randall

  A Service of Celebration On Friday 1 August 2025, Jo and I attended a service of celebration for the life of my uncle Denis John Randall. It was held in the Newstead Chapel of Mansfield Crematorium and celebrated his life following his death on 3 July 2025, aged 97. My Uncle Denis and my father,…

  November 21, 2025

• A Hewett Brick

  My Secondary School I did my secondary schooling at the Hewett School in Norwich from 1971 to 1978. I have noted some of my experiences there in the early seventies, see Chapter 103, and in the late seventies, see Chapter 118. Decline While I do not know the details, in the intervening years between when…

  July 29, 2025

• Rev Gwynne Hodder

  Minister in Sutton and Kirkby Circuit One of the other Ministers in the Sutton and Kirkby District when Rev George Kendall was there was the Rev Gwynne Hodder. Speaker at Bourne Chapel As the Minister based at Bourne Chapel, Rev Hall spoke there frequently. Dates noted by mum included 27 January1946, 24 February 1946, 31…

  April 26, 2025

• Rev Alfred William Hall

  Minister in Sutton and Kirkby Circuit One of the other Ministers in the Sutton and Kirkby District when Rev George Kendall was there was the Rev Alfred William Hall. Speaker at Bourne Chapel As the Minister based at Bourne Chapel, Rev Hall spoke there frequently. Dates noted by mum included 1 September and 29 September…

  April 26, 2025