In our weekly Memory Lane feature, we take a look back at what was hitting the headlines this time 14 years ago as well as a picture of a children’s fun day from 1994…
Discount sports retailer Sports Direct will be opening a new store in Lynn High Street this weekend, bringing 50 jobs to the town. The chain, which sells sports equipment, clothing, and footwear, is to open in the former Wilkinsons store with the launch of a summer sale. Sportsdirect.com has more than 375 branches across the country and is the latest big name to be welcomed to Lynn. Elsewhere in the town, electrical goods company Bennetts has announced it will be opening next to Wickes, on the St Nicholas Retail Park, this autumn with around 20 jobs being created. ShakeAway had a successful opening in Broad Street last weekend with about 350 people queueing up for the launch of the milkshake store – and the first 50 received free drinks.
Health chiefs are “seriously worried” about the outbreak of norovirus, commonly known as the winter vomiting bug, at Lynn’s Queen Elizabeth Hospital because of the disruptive effect on operations and patient admissions. At one point this week, six wards were affected by the disease which causes severe vomiting and diarrhoea. Restrictions on Gayton and Pentney wards have been lifted, but Feltwell, Necton, Terrington, and West Raynham wards are still affected.
Every pupil at the new academy opening in September at Park High School, Lynn, will be given a free uniform. Parents have been assured that there will be no cost to them this year. For existing pupils at the Gaywood school the cost will be met by the academy; for new students joining in Year 7, the cost will be met by Park High School. Although it has yet to be decided what constitutes the uniform and how much it will be worth it will certainly include a blazer.
Offices and workplaces came to a standstill on Wednesday, June 23, to support England’s crucial World Cup clash with Slovenia. Two branches of the Norwich and Peterborough Building Society did their bit for patriotism, with staff at Lynn and Downham wearing football shirts as well as red and white clothes, and both branches adorned with red and white bunting. [The tournament was staged in South Africa; England beat Slovenia 1-0 in that group match and reached the round of 16, then losing 4-1 to Germany].
Dozens of cars were vandalised in an overnight crime spree at the weekend. The culprits removed or snapped off aerials, wiper blades and wing mirrors from 39 cars in Lynn, with vehicles in York Road, William Street, Thomas Street, Guanock Terrace, Guanock Place and Chase Avenue targeted. Police described it as “a large-scale act of vandalism leaving many people with the inconvenience and cost of repairs”.
Swaffham-based company Edwards & Blake has been chosen by the Tulip meat factory at Lynn as the new provider of catering services for its 750 staff. It marks the latest triumph in the remarkable success story of the catering firm, which was set up by two enterprising women, Shirley Edwards and Caroline Blake, 12 years ago and now employs 500 staff. Edwards & Blake recently celebrated its best year ever – winning a £2 million clutch of new contracts from high-profile names across the region and recording annual sales of £8.2 million.
The blaze that broke out at the Pinguin Foods factory on Lynn’s Hardwick Industrial Estate this week could have been “a lot worse” according to Lynn fire station manager Paul Richardson. Ten fire engines from as far as Wisbech, Fakenham, Heacham, and Downham were called to the factory. Half an hour after the first report of a blaze there were 66 firefighters and an aerial ladder from Lynn at the site, together with ambulances. Between eight to ten prefabricated buildings, used as offices, were on fire. It took more than two hours for the fire to be put out, but there were no reports of injuries, and fire crews were praised for stopping the blaze from going into the factory.
Breckland Council has started its search for a new £124,000 a year chief executive with a campaign designed to attract high-quality candidates from both the public and private sector. The current chief executive, Trevor Holden, is leaving to take up a similar position with Luton Borough Council by the end of the summer. Breckland says it is looking for “leadership, enthusiasm and drive” with the new post holder having a crucial role to play in determining the future shape of the council.