We wish all our readers a very happy 2018.

What can we expect in the new year?  Leaving aside the obvious high-level political stuff, and focussing on matters which affect the residents of Claxton, the following events are those we know about.  This list will be revised throughout the year in a Quarterly Forward Look.  Similarly if you have a village-wide event you would like publicised just let the Clerk know.

We anticipate another photo competition this year and would encourage everyone to take pictures of the changing seasons this year, so that a wider range of photos can be assessed at the time.  And don’t forget about the 2019 calendar (see September entry  below).

The Community Café celebrates its 2nd birthday on Tuesday 9 January.  Come along and help us record this milestone.

The Parish Council meeting on 17 January will decide the level of funding we shall need for 2018-19, which is paid for through our Council Tax.

We will be organising a village-wide litter-pick early in the year.  There is already a group of regular volunteers.  Let the Clerk know if you’d like to join in.

The South Yare Wildlife Group has its AGM on 16 April in Claxton Village Hall, from 7pm.

The Annual Parish Meeting – your meeting – takes place on Wednesday 16 May at 7.30pm in the Village Hall.

At the end of May your current Parish Clerk steps down after 6 years in the job.  Look out for the vacancy notice.  This could be you.

The 2018 Fair on the Yare takes place on Sunday 3 June from 12noon to 4pm.  Mark your diaries.

We are hoping to stage another Open Day at Ducan’s Marsh in June.  More details in due course.

The Annual Quiz Night will be on Saturday 16 June.  Another date for diaries.

In September the Village Hall Committee expects to run another photo competition with the best entries forming a new calendar for 2019.

Sometime in October we anticipate the first of 3 fibre-optic telecom cabinets will be installed in Claxton, giving the lucky few? access to high-speed broadband – at last.  The second cabinet should arrive by year’s end with the third coming some time in 2019.

Later in the year, on Sunday 11 November, there will be an event at the Village Hall to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the end of the Great War.  More details nearer the time.