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THE MERRY MAWKIN

Click here to read some pages from the Merry Mawkin  
THE MERRY MAWKIN  

The Merry Mawkin, newsletter of the Friends of Norfolk Dialect (FOND), is packed full of interesting features, pictures and letters, all with one thing in mind – to help preserve our vernacular for future generations.

The twenty-four page, A5, glossy newsletter is published four times a year and is free to members of FOND, although non-members may purchase copies if required (please see below for details).

Ashley Gray, the editor, welcomes anything on a Norfolk theme: stories and poetry in dialect, photographs of bygone days, as well as letters or emails describing what living in Norfolk means to you.

THE MERRY MAWKIN, SUMMER EDITION, NO. 37

“Well, hare we are agin, my bewties, with the summer edition of The Merry Mawkin. I spuz, strickerly speakin’ that en’t summer yit, an’, as I sit hare tappin’ these buttons, I hatta wonder if we’ll ever git ridda them thare easterly winds, ’corse tha’s still suffen cold hare, that is.

“But, tergether, tha’s enough o’ my squit, so hare I’ll tell yew a titty-totty bit about FOND’s summer issue of The Merry Mawkin. Do yew find orl my writin’ what I’re done suffen long an’ teadyus t’read, I’re included a few pearges wi’ pickatures an’orl.

“So, do yew hev a look at the Mawkin (click here, or above) and, who knows, that might even parswearde yew to join us as another Friend of Norfolk Dialect – tearke care, tergether!”

Front cover: The last Norfolk horseman and good all-round entertainer, Ray Hubbard, graces the front cover of the summer Mawkin having appeared at the spring FONDdew at Wymondham.

Page 2: Our editor is in mardling mood again, and remembers some good old May Day customs and traditions from past years.

Page 3: Norman Hart, the chairman of FOND, has much to say in this issue; he tells us he’s pleased to announce FOND now has a new Minutes’ Secretary, and how FOND has become involved with the organisation of the Celebration of Norfolk Dialect, held annually in Cromer. He’s also please to announce that membership numbers are on the increase – with many new members signing up from the website! Perhaps you’d like to join as well?

Page 4: Trendy or Trosher? asks our founder, Keith Skipper, from his place of abode on The Gem of the Norfolk Coast. But which category does Keith fit into – purple winklepickers and all?

Page 5: Lil Landimore has A cure for the blues with another of her short poems in dialect.

Page 6: An enjoyable FONDdew – a report on the recent ‘dew’ at the Town Green Centre, Wymondham, where a packed house was entertained by Ray Hubbard, reputed to be the last Norfolk horseman.

Page 7: Gotta put yar thinkun’ cap on says the Boy Colin as he talks about the Election, and has a good moan about ‘lump and bump’ music. “Oi’d moan orl the more, dew Oi hatta buy a licence!” he said.

Page 8 Whilst at school, Canon Peter Nicholson had a fear of dentists, he tells us in A very unwelcome visitor. Although he manages a laugh or two in another of his entertaining anecdotes!

Page 9: Brenda Bizzell’s Wordsearch takes us to Dereham this time; but where is Nelson to be found, and is St George’s dragon lurking somewhere?

Page 10: Sid Kipper finds time to recite a pome, having started to take An interest in Norfolk literature. You’re also invited to Neatishead village hall on 10 September and Cromer pier on 13 November. Perhaps he’ll have learnt more pomes by then!

Page 11: Celebration of Norfolk Dialect, a report on the annual celebration at Cromer on 27 April by Derek Paul.

Page 12: A stranger in paradise by the Boy Pat, who tells of his ‘delight’ at being ‘picked’ to appear in the FOND panto, ‘My ow Bewty an the Beast’, staged at North Elmham earlier this year. After this, he’s assured a part in next year’s panto as well!

Page 13: FOND member, Lucy Catto, recently set up Broad Norfolk Designs, a clothing and gift company inspired by our Norfolk dialect. Hold yew hard tergether reveals her range of clothing, mugs and plates, all with distinctive dialect words or phrases on them, or the lovable Norfolk bishy barneybee!

Page 14: Ray Loveday is still Living with Hikey Sprites and tells us of his latest experiences.

Page 15: School meals – love ’em or hate ’em? June Burleigh certainly does and recalls past meals in this amusing tale. (You’ll never eat tapioca again!).

Also on page 15: Another Norfolk quiz by the Boy Colin, giving you the opportunity to test your knowledge of all things local.

Page 16: Old Tarm and Jimma have another of their Conversations in the ‘local’ as ‘bor’ listens in. It seems Jimma has become ‘addicted’ to the horses, whilst the beer gets weaker and weaker...!

Page 17: Make a note in your diary; a list of forthcoming events.

Page 18: Your website co-ordinator, Ashley Gray, brings us up-to-date with visitor numbers – which are still on the increase, amounting to over 1,000 a month! There’s also a selection of comments (all good!) from those visitors signing the guestbook.

Page 20: Poor Tina Chamberlain tells us I’re bin in horspital – but she’s all right again now, thank goodness. Seems she gave the other ‘in-patients’ a bit of a fright, walking about with her hospital gown undone at the back!

Also on page 20: Memories of a lady’s maid. Long-time member of FOND recalls her days as a lady’s maid to Lady Lavinia Leslie of Stragglethorpe Hall. A brief report of an article that appeared recently in Choices magazine.

Page 21: The Boy John had A wedding in the family and Sidney Grapes tells us all about it. There were ‘white ribbands’ on the car to the church, but the wedding party had to walk home as the car was booked for a funeral! Plenty of ‘sossage rolls and patties’ and port wine (the state of old Mrs W––’s face could testify to that!), and everyone enjoyed themselves, specially the children, “tree on ’em were sick!” said the Boy John, in his letter to the paper.

Page 22: Let’s be hearing from you! says the editor of The Merry Mawkin, as we publish letters from readers and the membership.

Page 25: Answers and solutions to the Wordsearch Puzzle and Boy Colin’s Norfolk quiz.

Page 24: FOND Officers and Committee members, plus a Membership Application form.

WOULD YOU LIKE A COPY OF THE MERRY MAWKIN?

If you would like a copy of this, the most recent, Merry Mawkin (£1.50 inclusive of P&P in the UK) email:

JOIN NOW – FOND NEEDS YOU!

With so many people visiting www.norfolkdialect.com each day (so far this month 40 per day on average!) we would like to invite you to become a member of FOND. For a mere £6 per year (individual member), or £10 (for family membership), you could look forward to The Merry Mawkin being delivered to your door four times a year. (Please enquire about overseas membership) So, join now, to make sure of your copy hot off the press every three months!



Geo R Reeve Ltd, Wymondham, printers of your Merry Mawkin.  

GEO R REEVE LTD
of Wymondham is a family-run business operating from two premises in the town.

The print works – where FOND’s Merry Mawkin is printed – is situated at Town Green with offices in a charming 17th century building, next door to the old Methodist Manse. Run by an enthusiastic team, led by John Seager, Reeve’s are proud of their state-of-the-art Heidelberg Speedmaster 4-colour press which produces print-work of the highest quality.

Their retail shop in Market Street is headed by John’s sisters, Amanda and Rachel, and sells books, stationery, art materials, greeting cards, and much, much more.

If contacting Geo R Reeve Ltd, please mention you saw it on the FOND site.



 

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