The above is a quote from the book "Escaping Hitler" by Norfolk-based author Phyllida Scrivens. It comes from Joe Stirling.
The book is the life story of Joe who was born Gunther Stern, a Jew living in Germany. It tells of how he escaped to England, came to Norwich, set-up a travel business, became involved in local politics culminating in his becoming Sheriff of Norwich. It also tells how he became a leading figure in the Lions Charity, both locally and nationally.
I still remember Stirling Travel in Magdalen Street, Norwich. To me Magdalen Street is a sad street. It could be colourful and vibrant but isn't. It's a little way from the city centre. The book also deals with the 1970s and opposition to a massive flyover in Magdalen Street that was nevertheless built and which can be viewed from street level.
Then there is the ugly Anglia Square which was meant to be a state of the art shopping precinct and never was. There have been so many plans and projects to rejuvenate Anglia Square but nothing has so far come to fruition. I must pay it another visit to see if it is as bad as I remember. All I can recall is a 1970s style square of shops with a central sitting area.
As they say "beauty is in the eyes of the beholder" and Joe found Norwich to be beautiful. Of course it is but I would say that Joe's character and the city were a perfect fit thanks to his business acumen and willingness to serve.
Most people love the area they come from and keep it in their hearts even when far away. Home is Where the Heart Is. I remember some years ago we were on a cruise that took us to some very interesting small cities in Bavaria.
One of our guides loved the area. He finished his guided tour with the words. "I was born in Bavaria. People say to me there are other places in the world to live. I consider this and agree with them. Yes there are other places in the world to live other than Bavaria but why would you?"
I like Germany a lot. I like Bavaria, but I can think of better places to live - perhaps Norwich is one of these.
Which brings me back to my own village of Hethersett. I would never call it beautiful but I wouldn't live anywhere else because it has a beating heart community that I am proud to be part of.
The parish council is busy preparing celebration events for the Queen's Platinum Jubilee which is due to take place over a weekend in June next year.
Reading about the plans transported me back 20 or 30 years to when we had regular fetes/carnivals and events in the village - the kind of thing that doesn't seem to happen nowadays. Except it looks as if next June it will. There will be stalls, games and much more. In other words pretty much an old style fete. Hopefully it will bring the village together.
Joe Stirling whom I mentioned above was a leading member of Lions Club International. During his time the Lions were a big deal, raising millions of pounds for good causes with their numbers and the number of clubs blossoming.
But like so many things you never hear about Lions Clubs in our modern society. Same goes for Rotary and Round Table. I was in the latter for a number of years. I was also approached to join Rotary on a number of occasions but sadly I think both are now in decline. Hopefully I may be wrong and somebody will put me right on that. I know of a local Rotary club that had such diminishing numbers that it just turned itself into a luncheon club without the commitment that had to be made to Rotary.
I have fond memories of my time in Round Table. At Beccles in Suffolk we used to take the whisky spinner to fetes. This was a simple idea which I'm sure wouldn't be allowed today. The board had 24 numbered segments and a spinner. Players bought segments at 50p (or maybe it was £1). The spinner was spun (as spinners always are) and the person with the ticket corresponding to the segment where the spinner stopped won a half bottle of whiskey.
It proved very popular and of course there was a decent profit for every spin. We raised a lot of money this way and had some fun as well. I'm not sure those taking part realised that their chances of winning were 24-1.
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Finally today hope you enjoy a few more of my recently taken photographs. These were taken in the walled gardens at Felbrigg Hall a few days ago.