On Thursday evening, 6th June we had a wonderful turn out for the Friends AGM, held jointly with the Hemblington Parish Council to inform all about the exhibition in July to celebrate its 50th anniversary. Over 70 people crammed into the church to hear an excellent presentation by landscape historian Prof. Tom Williamson (UEA) which ranged over the use of wood and timber over the centuries, which trees were most ubiquitous in Norfolk – and why – together with examples of detailed maps of estates and woodlands in the county and further afield. The causes of various diseases which have affected trees was very interesting, and the audience raised several thought provoking questions afterwards. The Friends is most grateful to the Parish Council for arranging for Prof Williamson to speak at the meeting, as he certainly drew people in.

After a refreshment break, some 17 people stayed for the actual Friends AGM, in which the highlights of last year were outlined, the current financial position confirmed, and events planned for the coming year were presented. Several Annual Friends renewed their 2019/20 subscriptions, and if anyone else would like to become a Friend or renew their membership, please contact Sue Rowe, Secretary – tel. 01603 715804.

On Sunday June 30th there will be an Open Garden at Gable End Cottage, Woodbastwick Road, Blofield. The garden opens at 2 pm. Entrance and free car park on Holly Lane. Admission is £2.50, children free. Dogs on leads welcome. There will be teas, cakes, books, excellent plants plus a wonderful garden to explore which will provide inspiration for your own gardening. All proceeds to All Saints Church Hemblington.

The next Make and Mardle will be on Tuesday 25th June at Hemblington Church. It will be at the usual time of 10 am to 12 noon. As always there will be coffee, cake, chat and craft (optional); all are welcome. Call 270360 for more information.

Walking boots on, pencil to hand, it’s time to have a go at the walking trail Treasure Hunt, this year around the Hemblington and Burlingham area. If you tried to solve all the clues in last year’s treasure hunt, you will know what fun it is. If you didn’t, now’s your chance to find out! The entry forms are available at All Saints Church for just £5 per team. They contain all the instructions you need, and you can attempt the trail in one go, or do it over several sessions, as the mood – and the weather – suggests. The prize of a “Candlelit dinner for two” will be awarded in early September, as the closing date for completed entries is 31st August. All profits are going towards the Hemblington Church Repair Fund.

As a retirement project, Andrew Hawkins is building a website which takes a virtual tour of places of interest in and around the historic city of Norwich, presented as a series of interactive 360-degree panoramas in which you, the viewer, can ‘turn the camera’ to look left and right and up and down. He has just added a section about Hemblington Church which contains beautiful views of our church. The Hemblington Church entry can be found at:

http://norwich360.com/hemblington.html

But have a look round the rest of the website for interesting insights into our local heritage.

For anyone who is researching family history in the Hemblington area we have a page explaining how you can access our church records.

This can be found here.

Thanks to Paul Brittain of Norfolk360.co.uk you can now experience a 360 degree tour of the inside and outside of our church by using the following links:

View inside All Saints, Hemblington Church on Google Tours

View outside All Saints, Hemblington Church on Google Tours

This is video shows our beautiful church on a lovely summers day in June. Music by the Octagon Singers of Norwich.