Claxton Village, Norfolk

We have lots of exciting events at the Village Hall planned for the spring and summer.

Following last year’s great success, another Race Night jointly organised by the Village Hall Committee and Social Club is to be held at the Village Hall on Saturday 8^th April. Tickets include a light buffet and are £8 on the door or £5 in advance from Robert Ellis on 01508-480914 or Julia Kaye on 01508-480527.  Doors open at 7pm with the first race at 7.30.

A new Pilates Class is beginning on 3^rd April to be held every Monday 2-3pm.  As the first class is being offered free, there is no excuse for you not to come and give it a try!  For more information ring Rosie Matthewson on 01508-480071 or 07827-668503.

On Sunday May 14^th at 10am the doors open for a Tabletop and Car Boot Sale. There will light refreshments available and pitches or tables will be £5. (No caterers).  To book please ring Mary Button on 01508-480580 or Lesley Hamblin on 01508-480422.

Our ever popular Quiz Night returns on Saturday 17^th June.  Again, please arrive from 7pm for a prompt start at 7.30pm. Tickets are £10 and include a two course home-cooked meal with drinks available at the bar.  To book a place for this very popular event, ring Julia Kaye on 01508-480527.

For those who took part in last year’s Photography Competition or purchased one of the delightful calendars for 2017 featuring the best photos, you will be pleased to hear we are planning to do something similar this year.  Again, the competition is open to all, with both adult and under 14 categories, but all photographs must be taken in the villages of Claxton or Carleton St Peter.  The theme this year is “Our Villages” and we are looking for photos which you feel reflect life in our two villages, maybe highlighting their history, wildlife, seasons, landscape or character in some way.  There will be an exhibition later in the year to be judged by a guest judge and the best photos will be featured in a calendar for 2018.  More details will follow.

And don’t forget the Community Café welcomes everyone from 10am-12noon on the second Tuesday of every month at the Village Hall for teas, coffees, delicious home-made cakes and savouries.  No doubt the Easter café on 11^th April will have some extra features too!

The Adrian Bell Afternoon was a great success with delightful seasonal readings by members of the Adrian Bell Society, hosted by chairman, John Ford. In between readings, the audience were invited to join in with Christmas carols led by local singers. Mulled wine and mince pies and other refreshments together with the Village Hall decorated for Christmas, created the perfect atmosphere for a very enjoyable afternoon.

This seasonal mood continued into our December Community Café which was the most successful ever! After cakes and savouries with a Christmas theme (the Christmas cake was devoured in record time!) hours were extended over lunchtime as an extra Winter treat, to include a selection of delicious and warming home-made soups and bread.

January saw us celebrating the Community Café’s first birthday in style. Pat Clare, Chair of Claxton Parish Council, said a few words of congratulations and thanks to everyone who had helped make the Café so successful over the past year. “Happy Birthday” was sung and the cafe organisers shared blowing out the candles on the delicious chocolate birthday cake which was then cut and offered to everyone there. First drinks were free of charge and there was also a free raffle to add to the fun. The usual cakes and savouries were on sale too at 50p per item and the book exchange, the newspapers and magazines and children’s corner were there for everyone’s enjoyment as always.

We do welcome ideas on what we can do to enhance the café and people are invited to use the Café to spread the word about local events, activities, etc – just speak to any of the organisers at any Café. Above all, make sure you remember to put the Community Café from 10am-12.00 on the second Tuesday of every month in your diary, with the next one being 14^th February. People tell us how nice it is to have somewhere to go where they can chat with old friends and neighbours or have the chance to meet new ones. We are always delighted to see new faces, so if you haven’t been yet, why not call in next time?

Looking ahead the Village Hall Committee are already planning events for 2017. Dates for your diary are Saturday 8^th April for another Race Night and Saturday June 17^th for the next Quiz Night. More details will follow.