AUGUST 2020 CORONA VIRUS - COVID-19The welcome recent easing of the UK lockdown is good news to us all, but do not be fooled.The easing does not mean that we will be safe when going out - far from it. Thousands of people who are glad to be able to go out are not wearing masks and this is a danger to us all.Many thousands of people have died with the virus. None of us will be safe until we have an effective vaccine.The message is Stay Alert to be safe and to protect ourselves and others.Wear a mask or other face covering when out shopping and/or being with other people.Facemasks became compulsory in shops from Friday 24th July, with £100 fines for no mask!

HEATHLANDS MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE We hope you are all still well and perhaps slowly starting to go out and about.Please still take care and be safe.We have opened Heathlands Social Club for three days a week, at the moment on Thursdays and Fridays from 7.30 till 10.00pm and Saturday from 5.30-9.30pm. We are hopeful that the weather is kind to us and people are able to sit outside andenjoy a pint, as space inside is limited.At the moment there are no events at Heathlands and sorry, No Bingo.FISH AND CHIPS – on Fridays there will be a Mobile Chippy on the Car Park between 4.30 - to approx 8.30pm. Hopefully this will be an asset to the village and enjoyed by some of us.

HEATHLANDS 5050 DRAW RESULTS - Hello Everyone. We hope you are well in these strange times. We finally got to do the 50/50 Lottery draw for the Months of March April May & June, Here are the results and your patience is appreciated.March. 1st No. 21 Alan Oakes £27.50, 2nd No 425 Paul & Belinda Mutimer £16.50, 3rd No 216 Derek Hubbard £5.50April. 1st No 340 John Garaway £27.50, 2nd No 186 Mrs Jackie Kearns £16.50, 3rd No 195 Mrs Pam Hollis £5.50May. 1st No 15 A. Barrick £27.50, 2nd No 298 Tony Baker £16.50, 3rd No 325 Mrs Pat Crisp £5.50June. 1st No 110 Mrs Jean Wills £27.50, 2nd No 120 Derek Forster £16.50, 3rd No 4 George Pickersgill £5.50The Draws took place at Heathlands Social Club, on Thursday 9th July, at approx 20.00 hours. March Draw was officiated by Ken Bridgeman, April Draw was officiated by Michael GroomeMay Draw was officiated by Steve Hodgson, June Draw was officiated by Jimmy Bruce.

THE WALLED GARDEN COMMUNITY SHOP AND CAFEThe shop building was successfully craned into final position on the 27th of May. Since then, we have been painting the inside of the building and creating the patio in the garden outside the cafe. We are on track to open in August, after recently hiring our shop manager. Exciting times ahead! Please get in touch if you want to join our friendly team of volunteers. No experience necessary! enquiries@thewalledgardenshop.co.uk

MACMILLAN CANCER SUPPORT - If anyone has a glut of fruit or vegetables from either their garden or allotment, would they please consider donating it to Jackie so she can continue to make jams and chutneys etc to sell in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support. It would be very much appreciated. Not sure if I’ll be able to do my coffee morning in September at the moment but in the meantime I will occasionally have preserves for sale on my driveway in Borton Road. Every little helps as they say! Please contact Jackie on 01603 717382. Thank you.

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STOP PRESS - OPEN GARDEN August 9th. In view of COVID-19 it is unlikely we can hold our usual OPEN GARDEN.I am however trying to work out perhaps, having a PLANT SALE DAY, whilst maintaining latest Government rules which will still have to apply.Difficult and may be impossible, but please watch for Posters & Facebook for further news.Thank you to all you have supported me throughout this year. Claire.

BLOFIELD, HEMBLINGTON AND NORTH BURLINGHAM THREE CHURCHES TOGETHER SERVICES FOR AUGUST 2020

We are pleased to let you know that our churches are open again!We are following the Coronavirus safety guidance from the Diocese to open slowly, steadily and safely.Each of our three churches are open for private prayer at the following times. Mondays 9.30am - 3.30pm BlofieldWednesdays 9.30am - 3.30pm BlofieldWednesdays 9.30am - 12.30pm North BurlinghamThursdays 9.30am - 3.30pm HemblingtonWeekly Services have also started in our churches. Times and places are changing week by week. Please check the notice boards outside each church or the websites for up to date information.Rector, Rev Kevin M Billson Tel: 01603 712299 kevin.billson@eraith.net www.hemblingtonchurch.org.uk www.northburlinghamchurch.org.uk www.blofieldchurch.org.uk ‘PLAY CHURCH’ BABY AND TODDLER GROUP – IT’S FUN, FRIENDLY AND FREE! Play Church is unable to run at present due to the Coronavirus restrictions!As soon as we are allowed, we will be back.Please contact Yvonne on 01603 715213 or Barbara on 01603 714519 for further information or go to Blofield Church website www.blofieldchurch.org.ukUp to date information will also be posted on the ‘Play Church’ and ‘Friends of Blofield Church’ Facebook pages.

WEA BLOFIELD BRANCHAs it is unlikely that public meetings can be held this autumn, the WEA has arranged a 10 week Zoom course (No C2227494) entitled: “Language, Lore and Legend – the Story of English” with Graham Platt. This will start on Tuesday, 22nd September (9.00 am - 11.00 am) at a cost of £64.00.Enrolment is on line – www.wea.org.uk - or via telephone – 0300 303 3464. If you have not used Zoom before, advice is available on the WEA website, or locally – just ask. Being able “to Zoom” is a useful skill and there are lots of interesting courses available. General e-mail enquiries can be sent to: b lofield.branch@wea.ac.uk or ‘phone 01603 715804.

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ANNUAL NORFOLK CHURCHES TRUST CYCLE RIDE.Annual Norfolk Churches Trust Cycle Ride - might you be able to help with the stewarding at our churches please? The Annual Bike / walk / drive day out visiting as many churches and chapels as possible will again take place on 12th September from 9.00 am to 5.00 pm. Blofield and Hemblington Churches hope to steward this, signing in the cyclists (somehow) as they call by.If you are able to help either Blofield or Hemblington Churches with this, the numbers to call are:For Blofield call: John on 01603 713895 or for Hemblington call Catherine on 01603 270360

BLOFIELD & DISTRICT GARDENING CLUB.To all gardening club members and visitors - and all who have no doubt been doing more gardening than usual recently. The club decided to cancel meetings this year because of the Covid-19 virus, but has been publishing a newsletter with information from local and national horticultural societies as well as members’ contributions and photographs. As we can’t meet face to face at present, do have a look at the club’s website to see what was planned for the year, and also read the newsletters. We will let people know when the club reopens but in the meantime happy gardening and hope you all keep safe and well. Website link: www.blofieldgardeningclub.org.uk

WROXHAM BURE VALLEY ROTARY CLUB - Like many organisations, we have been restricted to electronic Zoom meetings as our sole means of communication over recent weeks. However, with the recent relaxations in the hospitality sector, and thanks to the great efforts of our regular meeting hosts at Wroxham Barns, we were able to hold a socially distanced meeting early in July, in the outdoor but covered courtyard cafe area. July marks the start of the new Rotary year and the presidential mantle has now been passed to new president Robin Baines. We were also delighted to welcome our District Governor Jonathan King to his first face to face club meeting of his new year in office. The meeting was well attended and we hope over the next few weeks to continue with a mix of electronic and socially distanced face to face meetings.Going forward, the end of the restrictions and return to “normal” is obviously still some way off, so meantime we wish everyone a safe passage through these difficult times and in the true Rotary spirit of “Service above Self” we have members ready and willing to help out in the local community wherever the need arises. If you have something you think we can help with, in the first instance please contact our president, Robin Baines, on 01603 782920 or 07721 465647

FRIENDS OF ALL SAINTS CHURCH, HEMBLINGTON All Saints Church is now usually open on Thursdays between 09:30 - 15:30 hours, for private prayer and reflection. There will be a steward in attendance, to ensure appropriate "social distancing" and to clean the area regularly. However as guide lines may change, please contact a churchwarden (01603 270 360) or check the church website: www.hemblingtonchurch.org.uk The churchyard is always open. Adding a water container for hedgehogs has proved very attractive to several species of bird, plus a squirrel and a hare. Do look into the churchyard as you can, and remember to download the revised local footpath walks, available on the church website.In this very strange year, where so few fundraising opportunities have been available, your support for the church fabric will be much appreciated. Further details about The Friends is available via e-mail: hemblington@gmail.com or ‘phone (01603) 715804.

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ARE YOU CONCERNED ABOUT YOUR LOCAL AREA?Do you want to contribute your business or personal skills expertise and represent the views of the local people? Are you passionate about services delivered to your community?If you would like to make a difference and be involved in shaping the future of your community then why not stand as a Parish Councillor?Why not attend one of our Parish Council Meeting’s or visit our website to find out more of what is involved. https://www.blofieldpc.info/

TELEPHONE SCAMS - PC Vicky Bailey, Norfolk ConstabularyDon't let fraudsters into your computer by giving them remote access over the phone. You can report to Trading Standards on Citizens Advice consumer helpline 0808 223 1133 or to Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040 or online at http://actionfraud.police.uk #ScamAware

KEEP BLOFIELD SPECIAL.We're pleased to be back, a small group of volunteers who like to keep our villages looking attractive and reasonably free of litter. We meet monthly for about an hour's litter-picking and anyone is welcome to join us, there is never a shortage of litter especially after several months without any litter-picks. August litter-picks, with appropriate social distancing, will take place on:

Monday 3rd August, meet at Heathlands, Blofield Heath at 9.30 amMonday 10th August, meet at the Old Court House, Blofield at 9.30 am

A big thank-you to everyone who has collected litter informally during the lock-down it is appreciated and has helped to keep our villages special!

READERS LETTERSGrapes wanted! My son is growing a few grapevines on my Blofield allotment and would like to try making wine this year. It’s unlikely we’ll have enough of our own to make more than a glassful so if you are expecting to have more grapes of any variety than you know what to do with this year, do please get in touch with him directly:Harry Christie. hjhchristie@gmail.com

FOCAL POINT ENTRIES / SUBMISSIONS Submissions from any individual, organisation or cause. Multiple items may not be accepted.Where an item is publicising an event or venue for which there is an entry/ticket charge, the item may incur a charge for inclusion.Entries (except trade adverts) via email in plain text please to Andy Broad, andyb@focalpointonline.org.uk not forgetting to include your name and address. Written entries; please deliver to Granville Hornsby, 11 Borton Rd, Blofield Heath, NR13 4RU. CLOSING DATE for items for the September 2020 edition, latest on the 13th August 2020.

BUSINESS/TRADE ADVERTISING.Final closing date is the 12th of the preceding month but we need your new booking & artwork by 10th please. Enquiries to; Granville Hornsby, 11 Borton Rd, Blofield Heath, NR13 4RU. Tel. 01603 713141. Email: editor@focalpointonline.org.uk

PAYMENTS & DONATIONS; BACS (bank transfer) to HSBC: Focal Point A/c.21524046. Sort: 403550.or by Paypal: editor@focalpointonline.org.uk

Focal Point community Online Edition is published for readers in Blofield Heath, Blofield, Hemblington & Little Plumstead, Norfolk UK. Proceeds are used to help provide facilities and services for events at Heathlands Community Centre as and when funds permit. Focal Point is compiled by Andy Broad and edited and published by Granville Hornsby. The Publisher does not necessarily endorse any goods or services offered in advertisements or content of copy published. The acceptance of any item or advertisement is solely at the discretion of the editor, who reserves the right to edit submitted items and whose decision is final. Every reasonable care is taken, but no responsibility will be accepted for errors or omissions. The assistance of Blofield Parish Council is gratefully acknowledged. Focal Point is subject to copyright. Reproduction for any purpose is prohibited without first obtaining clearance from the publisher.