Council Membership
I am pleased to tell you that, for the first time in many years, the Council has its full complement of Councillors. We welcome Cllr. Stephen Young who was co-opted at this meeting. On the PC notice board, opposite Ditchingham Stores, you can find a full list of Cllrs.; dates of meetings and details of how you can contact us through our Clerk.

Cycle Track at the Thwaite Road Play Area
We are “making haste slowly” but the intention is, subject to acquiring sufficient grant aid, to provide a really good cycle track for local youngsters. A contractor will shortly be clearing the track, and the surrounding area, of brambles. With the help of a specialist cycle track installation company, we will draw up plans and apply for grants. Cllr. Ed Vandijk is our lead on this project; we thank him.

Bleed Kits
Bleed kits have now been installed in the defibrillator cabinets at the shop and village hall. If you ever need to open the cabinets, ask in the shop or hall, if open, or dial 999 for the key pad code. A full list of local AEDs is elsewhere in the magazine.

Village maintenance
The fence along Cheyne walk (the field edge path up Hollow Hill) will be repaired soon, as will the roof of the lychgate at the cemetery. We thank Cllr. Neil Humphries who has taken on the role of Tree Warden. He has already attended training and has produced his first (very thorough) report ahead of the annual professional report. None of the trees, for which we are responsible, appear to need any urgent care at the moment.

Public Transport
Changes to the ownership of the bus companies providing services locally are changing with a consequent review of routes. Cllr. Brendon Bernard has recommended a number of improvements to get busses to areas, like Broome, which are currently not well served.
Public amenity area, Pirnough Street This area has been (and could be again) an attractive spot in the village. At the moment it is far from that – scruffy and overgrown. We have worked with a number of residents from The Maltings to encourage the Broads Authority
to make those responsible for the upkeep of this land fulfil their obligations.

Remembrance
We are grateful to Cllr. Andrew Evans-Hendrick for organising the Remembrance Service held on 9th November at 11:00am at the village war memorial. Between twenty and thirty people attended. The service included spoken tributes; Reveille, Last Post and the laying of wreaths. Elsewhere in this issue of “Parishioner” Andrew has written the moving story of nurse Mary Rodwell.

If any readers would like to share stories of other local folk’s exploits in wartime please send them to the editorial team using
ikalescure@outlook.com. If you would like help to write your memories please contact me using cllr.keith.weston@ditchingham-pc.gov.uk or give me a call on 07551361907.

As you can see from this brief article the Parish Council is busy maintaining and improving the village. Councillors are unpaid volunteers and we should be grateful for the work that they do.

Last but not least, on behalf of the Parish Council, I wish all “Parishioner” readers Happy Christmas and a peaceful New Year.
Following previous volunteering in the Ditchingham Community Orchard off Lower Wells Close, the next orchard session will take place on Thursday 12th December, when the Bungay Conservation Volunteers plan to tidy the hedging, plant bulbs along the fence where there are gaps, and, if possible, dig up another walnut tree that has become entangled with an apple tree in the parishioner’s garden.

Armed Forces Covenant
At the meeting held on 8 September 2025, Ditchingham Parish Council agreed to support the Armed Forces Covenant. This is a pledge to
recognise the service and sacrifice of members of the Armed Forces community, including serving personnel, veterans and their families. By
signing the Covenant, the Council has committed to ensuring that those who serve, or have served, are treated fairly and with respect in the community, and that they and their families are not disadvantaged when accessing local services and support. Parishioners can find more information at: www.armedforcescovenant.gov.uk.

From Keith Weston
Chair, Ditchingham Parish Council