East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices staff and volunteers stepped back in time to celebrate a 1940s-themed weekend in Sheringham.
The annual feast of nostalgia took place on 18th and 19th September and was run by North Norfolk Railway.
Businesses in the town were encouraged to get involved and EACH staff and volunteers decorated the window of their shop in Station Road. They also rolled back the years by wearing outfits from the era.
EACH Shop Manager Naomi Munro said: “It was a very memorable weekend. We decorated our window with flags and everyone got in the spirit by dressing up. Many of our customers also wore special outfits so it was great fun and created a very happy, positive environment. It really was like being in a time warp and going back to the 1940s.”
Naomi was joined on the day by EACH volunteers Brian Chambers and Pam Green. “This year’s event was toned down a little, to try and avoid large crowds because of COVID,” added Naomi. "However, hopefully everything will be back to normal next year and we’ll be able to do even more to celebrate the occasion.”
EACH Shop Manager Naomi Munro and volunteers Brian Chambers and Pam Green.
EACH cares for children and young people with life-threatening conditions across Norfolk, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire and Essex. It has a hospice called The Nook in Framingham Earl, just outside Norwich.
The Sheringham shop is open from 9am to 5pm Monday to Saturday and 10am to 4pm on Sunday.
Anyone interested in lending a hand and volunteering should call Naomi on 01263 800887 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
For more information about volunteering for EACH, head to www.each.org.uk/get-involved/volunteering
More volunteers are needed to help out at a popular charity shop in Wymondham.
The East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices store is based at Anchor House, in Market Place, and open Monday to Saturday from 9am to 5pm and between 10am and 4pm on Sunday.
Shop Manager Becky Cooke is keen to hear from anyone who might be interested in joining her team and supporting the cause. She said: “We’d love to hear from anyone interested in joining us. As many extra pairs of hands as possible would be wonderful. We’re looking for all-rounders who fancy helping with a variety of jobs, like sorting, pricing and operating the till. However, if anyone has any specific requests that’s fine, too. We’ll always do our best to cater for everyone. For instance, we have separate toy and book rooms and some people just love working in there.We’re a friendly bunch and anyone who joins us is assured of a warm welcome. Everyone’s equal and we all get stuck in together, as part of a team.”
Creative Mary Hyder is proving a real-life ‘material girl’ and helping raise vital funds for East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices.
The 69-year-old, who volunteers in the charity’s Swaffham shop, has teamed up with a local upholstery business to source high-quality fabric for EACH customers.
The move is already paying handsome dividends and hopes are high it could prove a money-spinner for the Market Place store.
Mary said: “It all started when I popped into Narborough Upholstery and got talking to (owner) Simon Emery, telling him about my role with EACH. When he told me I’d be welcome to look in the remnants box, I assumed it would be full of odds and ends and bits and pieces. What I found was far more than that, though. There were yards of high-quality fabric and more than enough to cover things like chairs and stools."
Big-hearted Matthew Hercog-Chan was bursting with pride after tackling a popular Bubble Rush event and raising more than £100 for East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH).
The spirited six-year-old celebrated his birthday the day after but, instead of having a party, asked family, friends and classmates to sponsor him.
Matthew, who loves space, maths, languages and learning to play the guitar and ukulele, took part in the King’s Lynn Bubble Rush, at The Walks, on 26th September.
He completed the circuit twice, clocking up 5 km, and was joined by proud dad Steve and mum Aga.
Steve said: “It was a fantastic day and Matthew loved his first ever Bubble Rush. We’re incredibly proud and he was determined to raise as much as he could for EACH. Instead of a party, we decided to attend the event and turn it into an adventure weekend, asking friends and family to sponsor him and make a donation rather than buying a present".
New volunteers are being encouraged to lend a hand at a busy charity shop in Norwich.
East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH) would love to hear from anyone keen to join their team at Unthank Road.
It is open from 9am to 5pm Monday to Saturday and 10am to 4pm on Sunday.
More volunteers are needed for roles including serving customers and using the till, Portable Appliance Testing and putting items on eBay.
Shop Manager Alicia Hammond is leaving this week but says her successor would love to hear from anyone interested in getting involved. “Joining the team as a very valued volunteer is something I’d thoroughly recommend to anyone,” she said. “It’s a fantastic, rewarding thing to do and a lovely shop to work in. Anyone who can lend a hand, even just for a couple of hours a week, will be made to feel very welcome and there are great social benefits. It’s relaxed, informal and fun. It’s been lovely to work with an exceptional, amazing team of volunteers but we’ve become a little depleted in recent times. We can never have enough volunteers and it would be great to welcome a new and enthusiastic influx of helpers.”
This weekend (Sunday 8th August) will see Benny’s Poppyline Marathon run in memory of a brave little boy from East Runton in Norfolk who sadly lost his battle with cancer last year.
Benny Pitcher was just six year-old when he passed away in July 2020 after a 15 month fight against brain cancer. This Sunday (8th August) Benny’s dad Kevin will be joined by 17 other marathon runners as he completes the challenge. The marathon will start at Sheringham Primary School at 9am and finish outside the Crown pub on Lifeboat Plain at around 3pm. Fireworks to celebrate Benny’s life will be set off over the sea at around 4.30pm.
Additional runners will be joining the group for shorter distances to show their support taking on a half marathon, 10k, 5k and fun run – with around 30 people in total will be taking part. It is hoped that pupils from Sheringham Primary School, where Benny attended, will take part in the fun run.
Kevin Pitcher, Benny’s father has organised the event: “We were originally going to run the Brighton Marathon for Benny, but it was cancelled because of Covid. This event is our way of celebrating Benny’s life and giving back to our local community and the charities who have shown us so much support and kindness at this horrible time.
“We want as many people out on the route as we can – to show support and encourage our runners. Please be bright and colourful, wave flags and wear superhero outfits. Cheer us on in memory of Benny!”