I'm not sure where the paper got my photograph from - it must have been taken a few years ago.
You can also read the article on the EDP24 website as well at:
https://www.edp24.co.uk/features/returning-soldiers-could-bank-on-the-support-of-thankful-norfolk-villagers-in-hethersett-1-6930194
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I decided to drive to Norwich today for my Steward Stroll. There's another photographic project I would like to do either during or after lockdown which I will call Norwich Above Ground. Most people who live in our beautiful city or visit it keep their eyes to the ground. If you look up, there is some wonderful architecture that just oozes with history. Over the next few months I would like to capture some of the more interesting aspects of Norwich Above Ground.
Yesterday was more about a stroll round the river, however. We braved the rain which got worse as we went round. Started with a walk down the incomparable Cathedral Close to Pull's Ferry, turning left at the river and keeping the Norwich School playing field on my left. Then round past Cow Tower to Fye Bridge and across the road to continue into the St George area of the city. Grabbed some chips on Norwich Market before returning home.
I can't go past Cow Tower on the riverside walk without thinking about my days playing rugby at Norwich School. Quite often I ended up playing on a pitch very close to Cow Tower. It's now part of the parkland. In the 1960s, Rugby Union was more of a kicking game than it is nowadays with the aim, as I saw it, to gain territory by booting the ball as far as you could into touch. Unfortunately if you played on this pitch kicking for touch was banned due to the proximity of the river. Conversions and penalties were also banned for the same reason. It seemed ridiculous that such an important part of the game couldn't be included.
The teacher who refereed on this pitch I seem to remember was a Mr Metcalfe, who obviously had no interest in rugby. He was a science teacher who probably disliked sport and saw refereeing it as an impostition rather than a joy. Many of the boys shared this dis-interest and asked him if he minded the ball being kicked into the river. I think his reply was something like "as long as you get it out by the end of the game." So some of the players would thump it into the Wensum at every opportunity. This would give us a break until a boat or canoe went past and could help us to retrieve it. Rugby was primarily a winter game so that meant that relatively few craft came past so it was sometimes quite a while before we could re-start the game.
I can't remember what my view on this was. I have always loved playing sport - any sport - and represented the school at tennis, hockey, football and cricket, but not rugby which was a game I didn't take naturally to. So I was probably happy to see the ball go into the river. I was glad when the winter rugby season was over and we could play hockey in the Spring term.
When it rained we would take refuge in Cow Tower. This idea had one major flaw - there is no roof on Cow Tower so the rain still came in. On top of this the place was full of pigeon crap which could often slop onto your head.
I remember also the rather archaic changing facilities known as The Stables. These were in the pathway that is now part of the riverside walk. The building still exists but I have no idea who owns it or what it is now used for.
On the walk I found some unusual images on one of the walls. It looks as if they are children's artwork. Some of the images are reproduced here.
As for Cow Tower itself. I don't think any of us recognised it as an ancient monument. It was just a hollowed out tower of bricks that had little or no significance. Now of course I know much better due to my interest in history.
Cow Tower is an artillery tower which was built between 1398 and 1399 in response to the threat from France and indigenous English rebels. The tower was intended to defend the north-eastern approach to Norwich with cannons and bombards. The tower was designed to hold a garrison when required and was well furnished, probably using different floors for dining and sleeping. The origin of the name is derived from the surrounding water meadow known as ‘Cowholm’, in which it stood.
Our walk also took in Elm Hill which was deserted. If this street was anywhere else in the country it would be a tourist magnet. In Norwich it largely goes unnoticed! My cousin told me a rather gruesome story about an ancestor who went blind following a domestic accident whilst washing clothes. It ended with her losing both eyes and the sockets being stitched up. Maybe someday I will relate this very sad story in a blog.
Our walk also took us round the back of the Cathedral where the memorial to the 97 soldiers who died in the massacre in Le Paradis in Northern France in May 1940 will be placed, hopefully next year. Many of those who died were soldiers with the Royal Norfolk Regiment and some came from the county. One of my pictures shows the area reserved for the memorial. A couple of the other photos are less attractive and show a damaged phone box which has had its door ripped off and also a boarded up building.
Yesterday's Steward Stroll was a slightly lighter one due to the rain but still managed to weigh in with four miles, taking my total during lockdown two to over 50 miles. I am now aiming for 150 miles during lockdown.
It was interesting on the way into and out of Norwich to see the long queues at McDonald's at Thickthorn. Obviously picking up a Big Mac and eating it in the car park is a expedition during lockdown.
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Eldest son was probably still smarting from living next door to one of this country's best singer-songwriters without being aware of that fact. So last night he played a trick on me and it took a while to catch on.
He sent me a text informing me that he had been speaking to somebody who knew me and would it be ok to pass on my contact details. He wanted to check that I knew a Scott Chegg. Well the name meant nothing to me, so I checked Facebook and there were a number of Scott Chegg's on there but none rang a bell.
So I rang him back and twigged. If you say it fast you will understand the trick.