So I thought it rather apt to reproduce my entry of a walk undertaken on January 1st, 1999. If you want to read the full year just go to www.hethersettherald.weebly.com and follow my Hethersett History Project tab and then the Hethersett 1999 link.
Do you remember the concerns that all computers would crash on 31st December 1999 as we moved into the new millennium? Well that ensured that I saw in the year 2000 sitting on my own in an office. Hethersett Middle School had a special New Year party that year. I stayed there until about 10 pm and then headed off to work to sit in my office to monitor the computer situation. So as 1999 turned into 2000 there I was watching television on my own in police headquarters in Wymondham. Absolutely nothing happened. The county stayed safe and so I went home about 3 am to get some much needed sleep.
Here is my diary of New Year's Day 1999 which I hope gives a flavour of what Hethersett was like two decades ago:
Friday January 1st, 1999
New Year's Day always seems to bring a laid back feel to the village with few cars about, but numerous people out for morning and afternoon strolls.
Today dawned bright and relatively warm. The village was bathed in sunshine and birdsong could be heard.
A walk round the village shows just how large an area it covers and to gain the most from a walk it is important to pick a particular area and stick to the route.
Starting from home we walked along St David's Road before cutting through to Priory Road via Firs Road. St. David's Road is essentially a middle class residential road stretching for about one-third of a mile from New Road to Firs Road. It is a cul-de-sac at the top end with just a pedestrian cut through.
Most gardens are well cared for. It is impossible to walk along the road without hearing the chorus made by the rooks from the trees behind the properties nearest to the main road. The birds nest in massive trees and are capable of making a very loud noise indeed.
By using the cut through from Firs Road to Priory Road one misses Woodside First School which is situated on the left. This route also bypasses Woodcote Housing Complex for the elderly.
Priory Road consists of mainly medium sized houses and winds down to the old Norwich Road. Close to the end is a wooded section which runs adjacent to the garden of the King's Head Public House. On New Year's Day, 1999, the path alongside this stretch of road is partially overgrown and certainly work is needed to tidy up this area.
The Old Norwich Road is now extremely quiet. Looking across the fields the former A11 is just a few yards away. This road has also been by-passed, thus helping the peace and solitude of the village.
There is no better way of spending a warm summer's evening than in the garden of the King's Head. But, this being winter, we must be on our way. Suffice it to say that the King's is a quintessential English Pub.
As we walk the King's Head is on our left and shortly after we come to Norfolk Fire Headquarters (Whitegates). Crossing Cann's Lane we come to Harvey's Garage where petrol prices always seem to be higher than in the surrounding areas (the main reason I have never filled my car up there). The garage also repairs vehicles.
On the right is Hethersett Antiques and the March Hair salon. Both are small modern brick buildings. On the left at the junction with Queen's Road is the Queen's Head Public House. A number of years ago Hethersett boasted three public houses, but the former Greyhound in Henstead Road is now a private house. Over the past few years the Queen's Head seems to have lost some of its popularity.
Turning left into Queen's Road, the village middle school is on the right. Over 250 children aged from eight to 12 attend this historic school.
A few yards further on is the village business centre and then the village social club. A small road leads down on the right to the High School complex which also includes the scout and guide headquarters. At the beginning of this road is the village library which opens on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays but which had its opening hours cut at the end of last year.
Queen's Road continues towards the heart of the village (although on today's tour we will ignore this area) where it turns into Great Melton Road.
Today we turn right into Henstead Road. At the junction of Great Melton and Henstead Roads is Grinders coffee shop. Rather strangely Hethersett is the national headquarters for Grinders. This becomes more understandable by the fact that the proprietor is a local man.
Opposite Grinders is the former Post Office which is at present a charity shop, but which is up for sale. The shop occupied by Grinders itself has had a number of identities over the years. I can remember it as a newsagents and also a cross stitch shop.
Henstead Road leads to open countryside going towards Little Melton. As you walk along, the small Baptist Church is on the right and the former Greyhound Public House on the left just before the Church Rooms which are also known as the Old Village Hall and which many years ago were one of two schools in the village.
These rooms are still available for hire despite the building of the new village hall in Back Lane which is off to the right further along Henstead Road.
On today's tour we walk halfway down Back Lane towards the modern Steepletower Development, but double back before reaching it. At this point the new village hall is on our left. It was built as part of the agreement with the developers of Steepletower.
A short way further along on the opposite side of the road is the Jubilee Youth Club (a rather dull standard rectangular brick building). The playing fields of the high school are at the back of the youth club.
Doubling back we now have the village hall on our right. This time we cross Henstead Road and go down Grove Road. This again ends in a cul-de-sac with a pedestrian cut through to a rough pathway leading to what is known as the Parish Pit. On this particular day, the mud makes walking difficult and it is quite tiring.
Winding through to Lynch Green we pass some of the most historic and exclusive properties in the village. These include Cedar Grange. Eventually we are into Lynch Green and at the junction with Great Melton Road.
This time we turn left and pass the doctors' surgery on our left. On the right is the village butchers and chemists and the dental surgery. A few yards further on is the Methodist Church and opposite this is another walkway leading towards the village's Memorial Playing Fields.
One of the features of the village is its accessibility for pedestrians who can take advantage of many of the short cuts not available to vehicles.
We walk through this cut, being careful not to slip on the wet compacted leaves. On our left is the Memorial Field which, on this bright New Year's Day, is empty!
And so we return via Firs Road and St. David's Road. A wander such as this prompts many thoughts and memories.
On returning home we find the latest copy of the Good News Parish magazine has been delivered. It covers Hethersett, Little Melton and Great Melton and costs just 20p each month.
Businesses advertising in the January 1999 edition give an insight into the kind of activities that are going on in the village as we come to the end of the 20th century.
They include the following: Hethersett Dental Laboratories (established 1972), R.A Foreman and Son Builders, G. J. Fulcher Hethersett Tailoring Service, ABB Cabs Taxi Service, Hethersett Hall Residential Home, Sophie Emms Florists, R.E Burrell Builders Contractors, Aubrey Hammond Cabinet Maker, Hethersett Cattery and Picture Framing Service (a strange combination), Ronald Wales Chiropodist, Jean's Executive Cars, The March Hair, Hethersett Social Club, Yvonne's School of Dance, Hethersett Old Hall School, Hethersett Business Base, Hethersett Village Hall, Barry Foster Decorator, Chris Lewer Electrical Contractor and Harvey's Autos.
Topics featured in the magazine include reports from the Rector, the Rev Di Lammas; the Guild, Good Companions, Senior Citizens, Mothers Union, Church Mission Society, Village Millennium Group, Hethersett Society, Tuesday Club, Village Hall, Happy Circle, Jigsaw Library, Horticultural Society, Hethersett Sports Group, Parish Council, Jubilee Youth Club, Workers' Education Association, Women's Institute, Roman Catholics and Methodists.
Coming diary events include Hethersett's annual pantomime which will be held in the new Village Hall from Saturday 16th to Saturday 23rd January, a slide show of Old Hethersett on Saturday 6th March and Hethersett Church's Summer Fete on Saturday July 3rd.
News topics that promise to continue through the next few months include: The formation of a sports group committee to discuss facilities in the village and the continuing shortage of helpers at the Jubilee Youth Club.
In her address, the rector bemoans the fact that the news of Jesus Christ and God are more often used as swear words or exclamations of surprise. The lack of children attending church is another worrying factor along with the real meaning of the millennium.