…...and so to Norfolk—A Guided Tour.

This year we had decided that we would have three days in the area of Hunstanton, as there is always a rush to get up there and back, and there are so many places to visit. We left Margate on the Thursday morning and travelled towards Peterborough, a city which we had not     visited for some time. The weather was almost like summer, and the Cathedral was a golden yellow bathed in the afternoon sun. Having taken in the imposing perpendicular style of the west front one expects, when entering, for there to be similar architecture inside. But no, you are suddenly, when passing though the 800 year old doors, faced with massive Norman pillars and arcades running the length of the building. With the exception of the central tower and its piers, this, like Durham, is a spectacular example of Norman architecture.

We spent a little time here wandering around, then found a tea shop and had a snack. Finding the Wisbech road, we headed east towards Lynn. More road-works. We avoided the Sutton Bridge route. This was a bottle-neck even back in the 60s.  A huge roundabout just outside Lynn, and onto the A149 northwards.  There wasn't so much traffic in our time and the Lynn by-pass was fairly new and you could whiz along it. I usually take the old road through Dersingham and all places north. Rounding the bend and entering Ingoldisthorpe you are faced with the old Post Office. It still sends a slight shiver down my spine, because in school days, you knew you had arrived, you were in Pott country!! We continued on to Old Hunstanton to the Caley Hall Hotel. We had stayed here before when the Le Strange Arms was full, and is within easy walking distance if you don't want to drive. We thought that we would try the Neptune for dinner. (On the road next to the CHH). Very nice, expensive, and very comfortable Lloyd Loom chairs. They also do B & B here.

The next day we decided to go to Sandringham House. It was another glorious summer day(!) After wandering through part of the grounds we went inside. You don't get to see too much of the inside, but what we did see was most interesting. The front room (television room), small dinning room, the gun collection and large collections of photographs and other estate memorabilia.  I particularly liked the museum with a large collection of royal cars right from the earliest days. Back outside again we further explored the grounds. I particularly wanted to see York Cottage, where I, and some others, had 'A' level music theory lessons with Mrs Bone. (Her husband was organist of Sandringham Church, and she (and Mary Bone) had a top floor flat there). However, it was closed off as it was private property, not accessible to the public, but we could see it through the trees and across the lake. By now the sun was getting low and cast a golden light over the trees, themselves changing colour. We sat in the "Queens Nest", a little summer house looking out over the lake built for Queen Alexandra by her estates manager. The view from here is spectacular.

Time to go back now, so we went via Heacham beach- north, past Fridham and Henry Taylor's house- which is still there-somewhere behind the trees! and watched many birds whirling around with a beautiful sunset as a backdrop. Returning past "Joppa's" haircut shop (AHHH!), the village hall, Canon Pott Close, The White Heather Café, something else now, and on the other side of the pub, Wadsworths. Ah, the "summer specials"!  Up the road over where the level crossing was. I can just remember seeing a goods train here in 1964. Past the green with the entrance to the Shooting Lodge, the church on your right, oh the memories! and on to Hunstanton. This evening we had dinner at the Mariner's Inn which I'm sure many of you have been to.

We awoke to another promising fine day so decided to go to Titchwell nature reserve. We wandered slowly along the paths and around the twitchers. We enjoy watching birds as opposed to bird watching. We did see a number of birds including the Little Egret which isn't all that common. Continuing on to the beach we turned west and walked along often through stretches of washed-up razor shells piled up like shingle. By now the sun was beginning to be obscured by cloud, but it was still a pleasant walk-until we rounded the headland and found a dead dolphin.  I remember coming to this area- I think it was Brancaster beach- one summer weekend while at school, with Paul Hayes. We found dozens of small-calibre shell cartridges and took some back to clean up. We also "found" a boat in one of the creeks and launched it, but it leaked so much that we had to row back quickly to the bank before it sank!

Driving further east along the coast we passed through Stiffkey and on to Cley. We stopped here and walked through the village taking a path past the windmill. We thought that this was open to the public, but it seems to have changed owners and is not open presently. At this point we started the return journey to Old Hunstanton. More birds visible on the marshes around Stiffkey. Arriving back at the hotel we had a cup of tea, a rest then got ready for the evening and walked along to the Le Strange Arms Hotel.  Various familiar faces greeted us and we soon got chatting-helped by a drink!   A pleasurable evening as you will know if you were there. If not, then see you next October for the big one.  After saying "cheerio", we walked back along the road. At least it wasn't raining like the last time we stayed here.

The next morning we set off for Ingoldisthorpe. On the way I, as usual, pointed out the old school building, now returned to a learning centre. The area where the Iceni torcs were found. Where the bus had a puncture, where the track across the fields was that we occasionally took as a short-cut if we had to walk. (Back of Snettisham to Ingoldisthorpe hill). The site of the Manor Hotel etc. Then we arrived at Ingoldisthorpe church in the sunshine. We were a little early, so we sat on Miss Hayes-Williams's seat and contemplated for a while. Thanks Miss H-W and all the other staff for your input to my life.

After the service, efficiently run by the Wikeley family, we had refreshments at the back of the church. There I met Trevor Lincoln, a dayboy from my time, and his wife. We spent some time chatting to them and others at the church. So now begins the trek south to Margate. We were calling in to our daughters flat in Bishop's Stortford to assemble a bed and get an evening meal. Due to the lack of space and the fact that an old sofa had not been collected, assembling a double bed in a small flat needed a high level of logistical planning. We managed it though and her partner’s parents duly  arrived with some food and bubbly!   

All in all an enjoyable break, see you all in October.

Chris and José Gibbs.