We moved to the village way way back in August 1979. I had just got a job with Eastern Counties Newspaper back in my native Norfolk after over a year living and working in the Midlands (something I really didn't enjoy).
As I have said before i have no idea how or why we chose Hethersett. It was probably its proximity to Norwich where I would be working and it seemed the easiest and least congested way of getting into Norwich along Newmarket Road.
So we moved into a chalet bungalow in Buckingham Drive and I eventually became involved in village life. Probably my first involvement was as a member of the Middle School (now Primary School) PTA when my sons were old enough to go there. I then became a governor at the school and subsequently chair of governors. I also became involved in Hetherstt Cricket Club and also the setting up of Hethersett Athletic Football Club along with lots of other organisations and groups.
But going back to the PTA. Those were good and slightly whacky days. I particularly remember the annual May fete which got more and more zany as the years passed. It always featured a gunge tank which was basically an adapted toilet with the gunge a horrible mix of Smash mashed potato and colouring.
Various people from the village were set-up to be gunged, but I was never picked. I waited until the year when most of the PTA were retiring due to their children moving on to secondary school. I was vice-chair and so decided to employ some reverse psychology by continually making it known that I was so glad I had never been gunged and couldn't imaging how horrible it would be, whilst, of course, secretly being desperate to be gunged.
It worked. I was led into the gunge tank and this slimy green/blue mess descended. Of course I had got wind that it would happen and so had very old clothes on (although anyone who knows me would claim that I always wear old out of date clothes- a fashionista I am not). After being gunged the recipient was hosed down with cold water which was a lot less pleasant than the gunge.
Sorry I digress. I am supposed to be talking about Christmas in Hethersett. Our Christmasses as our sons grew up were spent either in Hethersett or York - with probably more visits to "up North" than staying at home.
On the occasions we stayed in Hethersett, our Christmas took on a pattern. After all the early morning opening of presents (which later in life turned into an early afternoon opening), we walked down to the Methodist Church for their family service which was a lovely family affair with everyone taking along presents for a "show and tell" session. Then it was round to our friends who lived next door to the church for a couple of drinks. Home for a late Christmas lunch and then the rest of the day was spent playing games. The day just flew by.
Christmas Days always just seemed to evaporate. Before you know it the time gets to 7pm. Often it was the build up that was the most exciting. The Middle School PTA always held a Turkey Supper which was sold out many months in advance. I have written about this before but it was a simple evening of food followed by a raucous disco. That was about it but you couldn't get a ticket for love or money. Eventually the supper just ran out of steam (everything does seem to have a shelf life). I used to prepare the punch to drink - can't remember whether it contained alcohol or not but I suspect it did.
We always look at the past with rose tinted spectacles - I believe that's the phrase. We can be accused of always thinking the "good old days" were better but I can never remember there being so many Christmas lights as there are this year. One couple, however, have been bringing Christmas cheer to the village for decades.
Most people know about the "Christmas House" (actually a bungalow in Firs Road) and the thousands of pounds raised by Margaret and Tony Dunton every year for local charities. It really isn't Christmas until Margaret and Tony have got lit up and this year they started early.
This Christmas will be remembered for Covid restrictions more than anything else but we have the great Hethersett bauble trail and the Advent Window trail which is brightening up the village.
Very shortly we will have Santa on a trailer taking a turn round the village. I believe the date is still to be decided.
I thought it would be helpful to list the Advent Windows featured so far. The dates refer to when they were released. All the windows will continue to be lit up throughout the Christmas period.
December 1st - Clarity Colorimetry 23 Buckingham Drive
December 2nd - 1 Harman Close
December 3rd - 7 Buccaneer Way
December 4th - 29 Horseshoe Road
December 5th - 6 Baker Drive
December 6th - Janey's Cafe in Mill Road
December 7th - 72 Priory Road
December 8th - Hodge Podge in Oak Square
December 9th - 86 Mill Road
December 10th - 23 Recreation Road
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On Wednesday I talked about my memories of Hethersett Herald. Our friend Janet Murphy posted the following message which I found really interesting:
"Corrie was a big part of my life when living in Wilmslow. Lots of the cast lived nearby - "Ken Barlow's" daughter temped for me one summer; she was a darling and he contributed to the work she did and sent signed photos for an old couple I knew. There was also the time lag between filming and broadcasting: went out for a walk one evening after watching Corrie when it ended with one of the characters beaten up and left for dead and it was a bit of a shock to meet him on a back path walking his dog. I was also just about saved from embarrassment one lunchtime in the small town where I worked seeing a young lady looking at shoes, thinking I knew her, couldn't remember where from, maybe a student who we'd had on work experience - politeness got the better of me and instead of walking by I was about to stop and ask her how she was getting on, what was she doing now and just in time realised she was a Corrie main figure. Ooops - showed how they were so believable!"
I can't match that. My only Soap connection was opening the door for Amy Turtle (Ann George) in Palmers Department Store in Great Yarmouth. Although as I have mentioned before I did interview Benny from Crossroads for the local newspaper.