Forncett Village Info

The funeral was held at Gt Moulton Evangelical Chapel, on Friday 5th May of Sally Rhodes whose death was reported in the Forncett Flyer (May edition, page 12). The internment was held at Forncett St Peter’s church and refreshments were beautifully organised by the members of the Tharston W.I. in Forncett Village Hall afterwards.  The wonderful flower arrangements - on each of the four windowsills - were done by Alison Walker and each one represented a different aspect of Sally’s life; her nursing career; her interest in embroidery; her love of gardening and finally one to celebrate her sixty-plus years of marriage to her husband, Bert. A great many family and friends attended, and happy memories of both Sally and Bert were exchanged.

Click on pictures to enlarge - photographs by Su Leavesley

With the theme of 'Celebration' the Flower Festival will run from Saturday 2nd June to Tuesday 5th June and beyond.

All displays will be created by Forncett residents inlcuding a children's section – an arrangement on a teaplate..

On the opening day of the Festival, Saturday 2nd June, and as part of Forncett Jubilee celebrations, St. Peter's church will be holding a home-made cake sale on, from 10am to 12 noon at the church. Refreshments will be available and young musicians will provide an informal live music session at the same time.

I now have information regarding Edwin Charles Gostling and have details of his memorial.

I have been given a photograph of Ernest Pymer and now know why George Henry Thomson is buried in Forncett churchyard. My correspondent was unable to supply a photograph of George Thomson. Maybe a Scottish descendant knows of him? His father was William B. Thomson, his mother Elizabeth H. Thomson and they lived in Dalry, Kircudbright.

My thanks go to relatives of these men who took the trouble to contact me and for supplying me with information.

I am still seeking photographs of WW1 victim Walter Ernest Brooks, and Thomas Edward Green and Roy Arthur Tann from WW11.

Many thanks for help already given and that to come. .

Jackie Scully
April 2012

The Friends of St Edmund regret that this event will not now take place owing to lack of support.

Reminder: The second St Edmund's Summer Fete will take place at the church at Forncett End on 4 August.

On Sunday 3rd June Graham Prior and Susie Rohde will be walking the The Tas Valley Way from Cringleford to Attleborough to raise funds for Forncett St. Mary Church, a distance of around 26miles.

Armed with blister plasters, Kendal mint cake and biscuits for unfriendly dogs, they will begin early morning, following the footpaths through Swardeston, Mulbarton, Hapton, past St. Mary's itself, through New and Old Buckenham, ending at Attleborough church. ( also called St. Mary's.)

Please sponsor them - any amount will help funds - to do so contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it " data-mce-href="mailto: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it "> This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or 01508 481856.

To all in the Forncetts,

You may be aware that after heavy lobbying by Norfolk’s MPs the Government has given Norfolk £15 million towards the effort to boost broadband speeds across Norfolk.  This was matched by an additional £15 million of funding from Norfolk County Council. 

The County now needs to attract competitive bids from telecoms providers to install the actual wires and aerials, but first we need to show would-be providers that the demand for better broadband exists.   Over 10,000 residents have already registered at the County Council’s  'Say Yes to Better Broadband' website, but we need more! 

I would like to take this opportunity to urge everyone in the Forncetts to visit the website and register with Norfolk County Council’s campaign.  

By registering at http://sayyestobroadband.co.uk/default.aspx you are not committing to anything other than having your voice heard on this matter, which is vital for the economic well-being of our county.   Best wishes

Richard Bacon MP for South Norfolk

Renovation continues at a steady rate, with work now being done in the Vestry. The wooden floor has been insulated and replaced, the ceiling insulated and boarded, and work begun on storage cupboards and shelves to house archive material and parish records.  New electric heaters were installed in the main church in October.

The plan to take St. Mary's out of redundancy is also moving along, with the PCC, the Diocese of Norwich, and the Church Commissioners all giving their approval. The church will still be used for various community events, and services when required.

On January 28th, more than 80 competitors [some of whom had been revising for at least 5 minutes!] filled Tacolneston Village Hall to boost the funds of Forncett Allotment Association, for a Chilli & Quiz evening. The 14 tables of 6 competitors per table were only too glad to sample the chilli, given that it was close to zero outside. Slow-Cookers full of simmering chilli (including a vegetarian option) were brought in by association members, while others cooked jacket potatoes by the score.

Clare Aldus ran a raffle during the evening, which had eleven prizes; John Wilde was the master of ceremonies, question compiler and question master, assisted by his wife, Margaret, the Chair of FALGA; our tame paparazzo [Su Leavesley] was recording the event with her camera.

Peter Hunter and his team (named 'Last Years Losers') managed 'the double' by taking the booby prize again......yes, another marrow, and 'The Newcomers' came out on top, each of the winners receiving a bottle of wine.

The thanks of the association go especially to all of those who contributed towards such a happy and memorable evening; from those who did the cooking; those who patronised the event and helped towards the fundraising, to those who tackled the mountain of washing up!

Photos by Su Leavesley