Home   News   Article The atmosphere was electric as crowds lined the streets to show their support for thousands of runners in Lynn on Sunday This year’s Bespak GEAR 10K saw 2,596 people take part ranging from runners chasing personal bests to families and fun-runners in fancy dress - all in support of a wide range of charitable causes The fast and flat course through town made it a day to remember for runners - especially Josh Holman who beat the previous course record of 31:40 by two seconds to finish in 31 minutes and 38 seconds Organised by Jane Tomlinson’s Run For All in partnership with Bespak with the Mini GEAR addition starting at 11.45am The scenic route took runners through the heart of Lynn starting and finishing in the Tuesday Market Place and featuring iconic landmarks such as The Walks Following shortly behind Josh and taking second place in the main field with 32:16 was Adrian Mussett and finishing in third place in 32:50 was Mitchell Bunn In second place with a time of 37:45 was Katie Vargeson Wheelchair participants showed up in force with Mark Howard crossing the line in one hour and two minutes Susi Rogers-Hartley in one hour and 11 minutes Adding another layer of competition was the corporate challenge where businesses and organisations competed as teams for the quickest collective time Those involved included teams from Mars Food said: “The Bespak GEAR 10K is another highlight in our calendar of events and the determination of the runners made it a truly memorable day Congratulations to everyone who took part – we can’t wait to return in 2026.” The Bespak GEAR 10K is sponsored by Bespak said: “It was a great day and fantastic to see participation across all age and ability groups as well as the outstanding support from the local community providing encouragement to the participants “This fills us with immense pride to sponsor this event The commitment and camaraderie from all participants and the atmosphere on the day are amazing “We believe it is vital that we have an active involvement in supporting activities in the communities where our people live and work and where local charities can also greatly benefit “The increased participation numbers across the GEAR and Mini GEAR this year show that this event goes from strength to strength Participants were encouraged to fundraise for a charity of their choice or one of the event’s partner charities Entries for the 2026 event are now open. Runners looking to be part of the action can sign up here: https://www.runforall.com/events/10k/gear-10k/ Click here to read Your Local Paper & Lynn News e-editions Tru7 Group – Tru7 Group is a diversified supplier to the construction demolition and agriculture industries. Their premium fleet has state-of-the-art safety technology and they make sure you have the right vehicle or operator for the job With service and sustainability core to their business RN Euston – RN Euston Limited has supplied steel framed buildings in East Anglia for over 40 years.  Established by Ray Euston the business has grown steadily over the years and now Ray works in partnership with his son Mark.  The company is based in Suffolk and work all over East Anglia where they have gained a reliable reputation Danny King © 7, Adam Ellis 5+1, Tom Brennan 6 The Ipswich ‘Tru7 Group’ Witches came from behind to win the East Anglian derby against King’s Lynn at Foxhall on Monday afternoon in the ROWE Motor Oil Premiership The home team went into the fixture at full strength and sitting top of the table with a 100% record whilst the Stars were looking for their first points on the road and were without the injured Ben Cook with rider replacement in use at number two it was the visitors who would start brightly in the derby in front of a big bank holiday crowd and they were threatening an upset as they held a six-point lead after seven races that was as good as it got for the Norfolk outfit as Ipswich rattled off eight consecutive heat advantages to win comfortably in the end and preserve their unbeaten start to 2025 Jan Kvěch won a shared heat one and another 3-3 followed in heat two as Nicolai Klindt took victory The visitors provided another race winner in heat three as Kvěch picked up three points again and with Richard Lawson third they edged ahead Klindt received a warning for moving at the start of heat four and in the re-run Emil Sayfutdinov got the first Ipswich win of the day in a 3-3 which left the visitors 11-13 in front The visitors extended their lead in heat five as Klindt won again in a 2-4 Danny King hit the deck at the start of heat six with all four riders called back as the skipper was checked over by the medical team In the re-run the home team pulled a couple of points back with Doyle taking the chequered flag after getting round Niels Kristian Iversen and King in third The Stars recorded the first maximum of the day in heat seven to go six points ahead King was first across the line in heat eight but Klindt managed to split the Witches forcing Jordan Jenkins to settle for a point in an Ipswich 4-2 which made it 22-26 overall Tom Brennan got his first win of the afternoon in heat nine as the Suffolk side pulled another two points back with Iversen holding off Adam Ellis for second It was level after heat 10 as Doyle won and Lawson edged out King on the run to the line for second The run of 4-2s continued in heat 11 meaning the hosts went ahead for the first time in the meeting after Sayfutdinov raced past Chris Harris for the three points Ritchie Hawkins made a reserve switch ahead of heat 12 with Dan Thompson coming in for Jenkins and he duly won the race with his partner Ellis following him home for a 5-1 that put Ipswich 39-33 ahead Another maximum followed in heat 13 courtesy of Sayfutdinov and Doyle as Rob Lyon brought in Kvěch as a tactical substitute in heat 14 The first staging of the race was stopped with Brennan falling and all four riders called back for a second attempt Kvěch made no impact at the back as Thompson picked up another win in the re-run in another heat advantage to the hosts The icing on the cake was a Doyle and Sayfutdinov maximum in the final race of the day as Ipswich celebrated a 13th consecutive win over their local rivals Ipswich ‘Tru7 Group’ Witches team manager Ritchie Hawkins reflects on Monday’s win over King’s Lynn… It was one meeting where the coin toss was significant After the heat seven break we really turned it around and stepped up a gear or two and I was really happy with how convincing and good the boys looked in the second half of the meeting “Track conditions were tricky and different; it is hard not to have a slick track when the weather has been so hot for a daytime meeting but it shows we have it in our locker to step up and look convincing in the second half “Jordan didn’t complain but you could see he is uncomfortable on the bike but I am really pleased he showed such commitment to ride through the pain barrier today and contribute important points to the team Danny took a knock in his crash and when I saw him on the deck part of me was worried he was done for the day which would have made our task even harder He stepped up and contributed really vital points after that so both of them showed true commitment which is what we are all about and it is what this team deserves for a bank holiday occasion It’s a local derby and you should be getting good crowds we needed everyone’s support today and the atmosphere was great once we kicked on We have a break from team action until a really tough test at Sheffield in 10 days but before then we have four boys in the British Final and we look forward to that.” Tru7 Group chose Doyle after he top scored with 12+2 RN Euston went for Thompson who scored nine from reserve Ipswich pick up another two points as they remain top of the table whilst King’s Lynn drop to sixth as the search for their first points away from home goes on The Ipswich ‘Tru7 Group’ Witches travel to Sheffield to take on the Tigers on Thursday 15th May in the ROWE Motor Oil Premiership A Painting Pixels product An inquest into the death of a woman on the A47 at Lynn last year has been set Margarita Korolkevic died aged 49 following a collision with a van at the end of the westbound slip road coming from Saddlebow in November She died at the scene, with officers issuing an appeal in a bid to establish who she was which saw them release photographs of her clothing and a recent hearing set a date of October 17 this year for the full inquest to take place The road was closed for several hours while emergency services attended the scene of Ms Korolkevic’s death, including paramedics and the air ambulance She was a pedestrian at the time of the incident and the van involved was a white Renault Trucks Master No criminal charges are believed to have been brought against the driver but Norfolk Police has been contacted for confirmation A 33-year-old accused of committing several outbuilding burglaries and stealing thousands of pounds worth of machinery will face trial appeared briefly at Lynn Magistrates’ Court on Thursday where it was confirmed he will face trial at Norwich Crown Court Hodgkins is accused of four counts of burglary other than dwelling in Downham The thefts were all thought to have taken place between Friday Hodgkins is accused of taking tools and machinery worth £10,000 from one unit and chainsaws worth £1,000 from another He is also accused of stealing tools from two other units worth £311 and £188 entered no plea at his appearance at the Lynn court but it was confirmed he will face trial at Norwich Crown Court on May 29 He was released on conditional bail with orders not to enter Norfolk A 19-year-old pub worker who does not have a driving licence was seen driving dangerously before crashing into a ditch was disqualified from driving when he appeared at Lynn Magistrates’ Court on Thursday In a previous hearing Nichols admitted driving without a licence or insurance as well as dangerous driving He also admitted having a quantity of cannabis in his possession Police saw Nichols driving poorly on the A47 on August 15 last year Nichols sped away from officers and forced numerous drivers off the road before crashing during the shocking incident Shortly after 11am on the date of the offences two officers patrolling the A47 received intelligence that Nichols was driving a Vauxhall Corsa while only holding a provisional licence They attempted to stop him near the Shell garage off the Pullover roundabout but he sped away in the direction of Wisbech forced another driver off the road and onto a grass verge - before doing the same to a number of other road users Another driver then had to make an emergency stop to avoid crashing into Nichols and the officers were forced to give up their pursuit on safety grounds another officer spotted Nichols’ vehicle approaching along Goose Lane at Marshland St James duty solicitor Andrew Cogan told the court that Nichols has learned a “valuable lesson” from his court appearance “He hasn’t driven since,” the solicitor said “He is totally remorseful for what he has done I am sure the probation service will be able to assist him to lead a better life.” Nichols was handed an 18-month community order which involves completing 120 hours of unpaid work and 10 rehabilitation activity days He was also disqualified from driving for 12 months and fined £100 Nichols will also pay a victim surcharge of £114 and court costs of £85 Home   Sport   Article As well as attracting serious runners out to smash records and notch up new personal best times the Bespak GEAR 10K in Lynn is also an important event for fundraisers and newcomers a free and non-affiliated social running group were among those taking part for the first time on Sunday A spokesperson said: “This is the first time we have attended the GEAR run as a group after forming last year and recently celebrating our first anniversary “There were 18 members who attended GEAR today with many achieving new personal bests There were varied paces ranging from finishing times of 39 minutes to just over an hour “Our signature colour is purple and so many of us wore our Dersingham Runners T-shirts vests and caps that arrived at the start of the year “Our members travelled from all over to take part in the GEAR run today locally and across counties the furthest away being Maidstone in Kent.” Members meet for longer group runs on Sundays currently gathering at 8.30am and looking to complete distances of 10K (6.2miles) But the most popular run is on Wednesday evenings when members enjoy shorter distances over 5K (3.1 miles) meeting at 6.15pm The meeting point for both is The Co-operative Food Store in Dersingham You can find out more about the group on Facebook (www.facebook.com/groups/929033341739771) Instagram and Strava and online https://dersinghamrunners.wixsite.com/runsocial Four Fenland Running Club members all broke the four-hour barrier at the recent London Marathon Athletes from the club took to the streets of the capital on what was one of the hottest weekends this year This failed to deter Carol Bowett from setting a personal best of 3:35:49 in the very challenging conditions with the other three athletes all clocking under four hours on the same day Ann Trett 3:46:37 and Jac Richards 4:45:17 Simon Prince took on the Tri de Walpole event This was his first tri event and sets him up nicely for a successful competitive future in the event Twenty-nine members participated in the Bespak Gear 10k race in King's Lynn The conditions were much cooler than in London the previous week lending itself to almost ideal running conditions until the wind strengthened by the 9:30 start time Eight Fenland Running Club members set PBs on the day with a further three recording course best times Fenland's first runner home was Sean Banks in an impressive time of 37:11 closely followed by Richard Agger in a time of 39:48 Other notable performances were those of Milissa Milham who took a huge chunk of her time off last year to set a PB of 48:21 while Zoe Thorton shaved a massive 12 minutes off her 10km time to set a new PB of 1:06:04 but the day previous ran his first ultra 50k in a time of 5:14:00 With that still in his legs proceeded to run a 52:43 10k less than 24 hrs later which in his own words was "a recovery run" The busy weekend didn't stop in King's Lynn with Fenland runner Simon Hamilton taking on the Euston Estates Half Marathon where he set a course best finishing 6/80 in a time of 1:43:16 The course is set in the Euston Estate and is mainly run off-road with only a few places where country lanes are used The course is well marshalled and sign-posted by the Run Breckland organisers King's Lynn make the short trip to rivals Ipswich tomorrow (2.15pm) for their first local derby clash of 2025 in the ROWE Motor Oil Premiership The PSH Environmental Stars have won their last two matches at home and they were particularly impressive last week in dismantling the Spires 59-31 at the Adrian Flux Arena But Monday’s meeting at Foxhall offers an entirely different challenge as they face a Witches side who have started the campaign in imperious form Ipswich were clear title favourites with arguably an even stronger side than that which started 2024 and this has been played out on track with a 100 per cent record so far in both league and KO Cup Despite having won at four away venues so far it’s their home results which have captured the most attention as the Witches have racked up massive scores of 67 So it all adds up to a serious test for the Stars but one they will face with the confidence of last week behind them as they look to spring a surprise New averages for May mean a change of riding order with Chris Harris shooting up from the reserve berth to take over the No.1 position whilst skipper Nicolai Klindt is now the man who could take the additional outings at reserve Guest options for the injured Ben Cook have reduced partly by the drop in his average and partly due a busy programme elsewhere on Bank Holiday Monday with Cook’s rides able to be taken by Jan Kvech and reserve duo Klindt and Ashton Boughen Manager Rob Lyon returns to take charge after missing the victory over Oxford when former club captain Simon Lambert stepped in Lyon said: “I was very pleased to see the result and performance last Monday It was a convincing win with everyone scoring well and that’s what this team is built to do at home “I’m confident we are more than capable of getting a result at Ipswich on the back of that performance but of course we respect their impressive start to the season so far.” A pensioner who suffered a “momentary lapse of concentration” crashed into the back of a stationary car while travelling at 50mph appeared at Lynn Magistrates’ Court on Thursday where she admitted causing serious injury by careless driving The court heard that five people were in the car she struck on the A47 at Lynn a woman in the car suffered serious injuries requiring her to have extensive dental work The woman also said in a victim impact statement that the collision has brought on more seizures from a pre-existing medical condition Prosecutors told the court that the two children in the car did not suffer any injuries when she ploughed her grey Peugeot into the other vehicle Corda said she suffered a “momentary lapse of concentration” and did not see that traffic had come to a standstill The woman who was injured as a result of the crash said that she now fears going out in a car and prefers to travel on her mobility scooter “The stress of this has caused me to have more seizures again Andrew Cogan said: “Thirty-eight years of unblemished driving - all of this had come to an end “She didn’t spot the jeep and ran into the rear end of it.” Corda was disqualified from driving for 12 months and was fined £200 She will also pay a victim surcharge of £80 and court costs of £85 Resurfacing works are set to begin on a busy town centre road often used by buses Residents of Portland Street in Lynn have previously complained about the quality of the road Norfolk County Council has now announced resurfacing works will begin on the road located between the town’s bus and train station the road will be closed for one night while the work takes place subject to weather conditions and construction delays The work will cost around £40,000 and will be carried out by the county council’s infrastructure department and its contractors The road will close at 6pm on May 11 and will reopen at 6.30am on Tuesday There will be no access for vehicles while it is shut Residents of Portland Street will be allowed to park their vehicles either on the roof or outside areas of the Vancouver Quarter car park overnight for free using their valid resident zone permit for Portland Street Business owners on Portland Street have previously complained about the quality of the road and put it down to the large number of buses using the street Roy Brain, of Calvert Brain and Fraulo, expressed his concerns to the Lynn News in March Pedestrian access will be maintained throughout A signed diversion route will be in place while the road is closed Home   Whats On   Article May the Fourth is the perfect day to announce the arrival of a wonderful exhibition of toys and memorabilia at Lynn Museum this summer Opening in time for the summer holidays on July 15 ‘May the Toys Be With You’ showcases one of the UK's finest collections of vintage Star Wars toys and original cinema posters It is a celebration of the now highly collectable vintage toy line and of the iconic design work and art of the movies said: “We are delighted to host this fantastic exhibition which is a must-see for fans of Star Wars “We look forward to welcoming visitors of all ages to this truly inter-generational show Those who grew up in the late 1970s and early 80s will remember how popular and exciting these toys were and can enjoy this lovely opportunity to share their childhood memories with a new generation.” the first Star Wars film broke box office records - but nobody could have predicted that the merchandising would end up earning more than the film itself Star Wars toys became the must-have playthings for an entire generation with an estimated 300million action figures sold between 1977 and 1985 The exhibition is not only a celebration of classic toys and collectables but also of the iconic design and art-work of the movies these fantastic creations have fired the imagination and made their mark on the cultural landscape since the first film was released more than 40 years ago The collection is owned by Star Wars devotee Matt Fox His collection is now one of the finest and most complete in the UK The exhibition runs from July 15 until May 31 Frustrations continue to mount over the closure of the West Lynn ferry - which has now been out of action for nearly four months West Norfolk Council has said it is now attempting to clear the “last fundamental hurdle” before it reopens The service was closed to passengers in mid-January for safety reasons after contractors undertaking routine maintenance work on one of the landings discovered a “significant structural issue” who represents West Lynn on the borough council says she has been “banging on the door” for weeks in a bid to see progress made it's King's Lynn’s ship of state,” she said Even temporary suspension of such a key public service in an area of need should never have happened “It's put cars back on the road and increased congestion “West Lynn - and Clenchwarton - are cut off and isolated without the ferry Longer-term solutions are being explored to protect against future ferry failures It represents an important link for people living in West Lynn and has been running for 800 years A borough council spokesperson said: “The rennie jetty continues to be the last fundamental hurdle to us moving forward at pace with the rectification works that will allow the ferry to re-open “We have in the last week had positive discussions with our specialist contractors and in house teams regarding short term mitigation measures which could allow us to move this forward “We are currently evaluating proposals for suggestions in the hope that they will mitigate some of the risks in the short term allowing more fundamental works to move forward.” press officer for the West Lynn Action Group also remains frustrated at the prolonged closure - and said residents are “furious” whereas if the train service is cancelled there is a bus replacement,” she added “People are being trained not to use the ferry so they are damaging a business just by it being closed A man refused to carry out a drugs test after police pulled him over for his poor driving admitted failing to provide a sample when he appeared at Lynn Magistrates’ Court on Thursday Wilson was seen driving a BMW down Loke Road in North Lynn while “swerving across the lines” He was pulled over by police and was asked to carry out a drug swipe as they could smell cannabis coming from the car he refused to do so - and was subsequently arrested and taken into police custody duty solicitor Andrew Cogan said: “It is a great shame for him he would not be facing any convictions today Mr Cogan said that Wilson did not carry out the test because he felt it was “unreliable” and will also pay a victim surcharge of £138 and court costs of £85 A 36-year-old who kicked and damaged a front door claimed he was trying to save a young family member from “paedophiles” to appear at the town’s magistrates’ court on Thursday He admitted causing criminal damage under the value of £5,000 as well as having cocaine and cannabis in his possession Castleton went to an address in Downham after hearing that the teenage family member was in the property Castleton was not arrested for the offence until April 14 when officers found that he had both the Class A and Class B drugs in his possession Castleton admitted kicking the door down - and said his reason was to “save the child from paedophiles” Castleton had a total of 88 previous offences to his name, many of which are for possession of drugs or for threatening behaviour. explained to the court that Castleton had received a photo from someone of the child “cuddled up” with an older boy He accepted kicking the door - he wanted to get the child out of the property,” Ms Johnson said Castleton breached a community order previously placed on him Magistrates opted to leave the order running and also handed him a 12-week prison sentence He was ordered to pay £770 in compensation to the Downham resident whose door he kicked A staff nurse who has notched up 40 years of dedicated service to the NHS retires this month began her career in January 1985 at Whipps Cross Hospital in London She completed her Registered General Nurse training in 1988 and two years later discovered her true calling in children’s nursing moving into paediatrics in 1990 - a field she has passionately served ever since Michelle specialised in paediatric oncology nursing holding positions at renowned institutions including Great Ormond Street Hospital and the Royal Marsden She later moved into community nursing in South London and worked with teams at Greenwich Lewisham and the Evelina London Children's Hospital where she continued to care for children with cancer and their families with dedication and compassion Michelle relocated to Norfolk to care for her father she found herself drawn back to nursing and joined the team at Lynn’s Queen Elizabeth Hospital in 2021 Michelle said: “I always knew I wanted to be a nurse – I think I was destined to I joined St John Ambulance when I was eight years old and stayed with them until I was 19 – straight from there I actually thought I’d hung up my uniform when I moved to Norfolk to care for dad I soon realised my heart was still in it and I felt invigorated to carry on “Joining the QEH was amazing – it’s like one big family I’m so pleased that I continued my nursing journey here in Norfolk.” Michelle is now looking forward to spending more time with her mum she is also looking forward to seeing the Pet Shop Boys perform at Sandringham this summer She also hopes to learn to play the guitar The hospital said the QEH team extends its “heartfelt thanks” to Michelle for her “incredible service and wishes her all the very best in retirement” Residents have voiced their displeasure at a landowner’s plans to block two footpaths which they have enjoyed for decades The patch of land has been used as a handy cut-through to reach the nearby school or hospital a place to escape in nature or somewhere to walk the dog the landowner - who lives on the other side of the world - is now looking to block off two footpaths that meander through the woodland is seeking to stop the public from entering Spring Wood in Gaywood He has submitted an appeal to Government officials to overturn a 2022 ruling that confirmed the two routes as a public right of way This has led to fresh fears among the community that the future of the woodland could be at risk after a decade of campaigning to keep it open to everyone Mr Tomlinson has not offered a clear reason as to why he is seeking to close the paths that it may be due to concerns he could be liable if someone is injured walking through the site A public inquiry has been scheduled for August this year when the Planning Inspectorate – the Government department which rules over footpath disputes – will make a decision Locals hope they can persuade officials the route has been used for decades enabling hospital employees and school children to avoid walking on a busy road Spring Wood gets its name from the natural spring located among the trees The woodland is within an area known as the Gaywood River valley a rare chalk stream that rises near Derby Fen before flowing out into The Wash It is sandwiched between two housing estates with Springwood High School to the west and the Queen Elizabeth Hospital to the east where a secret brethen the Sons of Reffley formed to venerate the chalybeate - rich in iron minerals - springs in the area for the rumoured healing powers of the water The mysterious clan even built a temple there while Spring Wood features a monument highlighting where the spring once bubbled forth Locals have said Mr Tomlinson bought the plot in the early 2000s for about £50,000 and speculated that he perhaps intended to build houses there but any attempts have failed to gain permission Neighbours have become very defensive of the trees Tree surgeons were stopped from carrying out council-approved work on some dead or damaged trees last year after police were called to the woods Residents worried that birds nesting in the trees could be harmed a tree surgeon who has completed work for Mr Tomlinson at Spring Wood has said he had to get councillor Jo Rust to speak to the community before carrying out work this month His firm has said it is working with an ecologist to ensure no birds are harmed Mr Platton sympathises with Mr Tomlinson’s plight He said: “He spent all that money on a piece of land and now it costs him a fortune for the upkeep for the public to use it.” Dozens of people have submitted evidence that they have used the route regularly for several years if people can prove a path has been used without interruption for 20 years it can be protected as a PROW under the legal maxim has lived next to Spring Wood for 35 years “People move here because of the trees and the birds that live there,” he said “It would be a real shame if it is blocked.” have lived in the neighbourhood for 20 years as it would be a hell of a long way to go all the way around People working at the hospital use it all the time.” said: “I would not recommend closing this off a district and county councillor for Gaywood has been campaigning to keep the woods open since 2016 He said: “People have used the woods since the estate was built in the 1980s “I began campaigning to protect the woods in 2016 and protecting it is one of the reasons I became a councillor “It is frustrating that he is trying to block it again.” Cllr Colwell has called on people to submit further evidence of people using the two footpaths through the woods to help bolster the case them open The two-day inquiry is due to be held on August 12 at the South Lynn Community Centre A 31-year-old decided the best thing to do was to run away from police in the middle of the night when they suspected him of drink-driving Liam Robinson appeared at Lynn Magistrates’ Court on Thursday where he admitted obstructing a police officer in the execution of their duty The court heard that in the early hours of November 16 last year police received reports leading them to believe that Robinson was drink-driving They tracked him down in Lynn and pulled him over He eventually made his way back to his parked vehicle but ran away again through residents’ gardens said that Robinson “didn’t see” any blue lights “He said he wanted to go for a jog,” the solicitor said “I think we have to accept he obstructed the police.” and ordered him to pay a £16 victim surcharge and court costs of £85 A 36-year-old who “came out with more injuries” than a police officer after an altercation found himself in court Jake Graham appeared at Lynn Magistrates’ Court on Thursday where he admitted obstructing a police officer from carrying out his duties The prosecutor said that on December 5 last year the officer had been making enquiries at Graham’s former address in relation to a “domestic incident” While the officer was carrying out an investigation Graham did not wish to do so and tried to leave and Graham tried to take the item of clothing off in an attempt to get away The policeman then grabbed hold of Graham’s arm as he felt “threatened” by the defendant’s behaviour Graham grabbed hold of the officer’s taser while involved in the brawl Graham was punched several times to the head told the court that these blows left Graham unconscious for around 15 seconds “He was shocked to see a police officer at his property and was asked to speak about a domestic-related incident,” the solicitor said “Mr Graham was not under arrest - he said this to the officer “The officer persistently held his clothing Graham was handed a 12-month conditional discharge He was ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £26 and court costs of £85 A 19-year-old thought he could slip past supermarket security when he tried to steal a bottle of lubricant was “egged on” by friends to steal the item He appeared at the town’s magistrates’ court on Thursday The court heard that the offence took place at Tesco on Lynn’s Hardwick Industrial Estate Gohn was seen on CCTV with two of his friends hanging around the health and wellbeing section of the supermarket He then approached the tills and only paid for a bag of sweets He concealed the bottle of lube on him and left without paying Andrew Cogan told the court that Gohn would not have committed the offence if he had not been with his friends at the time “I am sure he has learnt his lesson from this,” Mr Cogan said “The pals went in together and stole the items There were also two others who concealed items on them he wouldn’t have contemplated going to Tesco to steal the lube I’m not sure what he was going to do with it.” Ghon was fined £100 and ordered to pay a £40 victim surcharge and court costs of £85 many people have invested in the charming beach huts that line the shore at Heacham But the tide now seems to have turned for them with owners saying their beloved colourful chalets have become far from desirable – and are near-impossible to sell They have blamed extortionate rents imposed by “greedy” West Norfolk Council for taking the fun out of owning their beach huts which is threatening to tear the community apart the annual ground rent charges have risen by £200 to £730 a year which has left many debating whether to sell after the huts became unaffordable Those who have attempted to find a new owner have struggled to find anyone willing to take them on due to having to pay a £2,000 transfer fee Their plight has been exacerbated by pollution problems, leaving the coastal waters unsafe to swim in – another crisis that is affecting their desirability These factors combined have left beach hut owners stuck in a “vicious circle” of having to pay the high rents or give up the plot and hut entirely The row is threatening to tear apart friendships formed over decades the sites have been passed down among family members for multiple generations and have been visited by the same people for decades with visitors looking forward to seeing their friends at neighbouring huts during the summer months But the rising costs are threatening to erode this fraternity who has visited his family’s hut in Heacham since the 1980s said: “It has taken away the community there and the companionship built up over the years “They have destroyed something special through their greed.” added: “We feel incandescent and very cross.” Beach hut plots are being returned to the borough council due to people being unable to afford them and also failing to find a new owner Several sites have been left vacant for this season While huts across The Wash in Lincolnshire can fetch £20,000 and the upmarket chalets in Wells go for eye-watering sums in the region of £100,000 People have failed to sell them for £10,000 with one recently going to auction for just £6,000 people I have spoken to have said they would not touch them with a barge pole due to the high costs,” Mr Hall added “They are killing the goose that laid the golden egg,” he said North Norfolk District Council charges more than £900 for a five-year lease for its huts in Sheringham annual rent will set you back between £2,260 and £2,690 But Heacham’s hut owners argue that while cheaper they are still not getting value for money as they can only use them six months a year due to flooding risks They are also unable to swim there due to the pollution problems Heacham is one of about 40 beaches in England where the water quality has been rated as ‘poor’ by the Environment Agency determined through annual testing by the Environment Agency Signs warning bathers to avoid entering the water are dotted around the beach which has been deemed unsafe due to high levels of bacteria and other pollutants that can make people ill if ingested The problem has been blamed on sea birds feeding on the mudflats of The Wash although these claims are debated and a definitive consensus of the cause is yet to be reached Bans on swimming are adding to the hut owners’ frustrations Mr Hall said: “The council has said the prices are competitive with North Norfolk District Council can use them year-round and they have much better facilities whereas we have to travel to Hunstanton to even go swimming they said: ‘At least we have nice sunsets.'” The frustrated beach hut owners have complained frequently to the borough council - and officers and councillors have met with those concerned A spokeswoman for the authority has indicated there could be changes in the future - but they are yet to be confirmed and the details have not been revealed publicly She said: “While it is important to note that these are the conditions that all parties signed up to we acknowledge that during the ten-year period of the leases changing market circumstances mean that some of these conditions may not be as suitable as they were when agreed in 2016 “We are sympathetic to the position of the owners and intend to address these issues during renewal discussions in time for the leases to be renewed early next year.” locals are facing an anxious wait to find out if they will be able to once again swim in the sea A determination by the EA is expected later this year following summer testing Unbeaten young footballers from Lynn are being dubbed the 'invincibles' after completing a league and cup double in the space of a week King's Lynn Town's under-16 academy team haven't lost a game all season on their way to Junior Premier League and National League Cup success They are the only under-16 team to win every league match since the Junior Premier League was formed To be the national champions and to win every game in such a tough league against some of the top teams in England is fantastic "The lads have been brilliant all season and now we look forward to the tough task of taking them into men's football with Swaffham Town We will also be linked to King's Lynn Town but we topped that by winning all of our games "It then splits into a top-tier cup competition "To win every game in that against some really good sides takes some doing In yesterday's National Cup final against Woking at the Sixways Stadium in Worcester the game went to penalties after finishing 1-1 after normal time The young Linnets went on to win the game 8-7 from the spot saving two Woking penalties and scoring one himself A team of young hockey players is looking to make a difference in the community with a fundraising run Marshland High School’s Pink Ladies will be taking part in Lynn’s parkrun at The Walks in support of the Angles Theatre on Saturday The Wisbech drama company is volunteer-run and sees many of the students attend to take lessons It will be the eighth year that the Marshland squad has aided causes in the area they will have raised more than £25,000 overall “At a time when lots of media will point to negativity about our youngsters this group really is trying to crack that stereotype,” said head of PE Paul Swinburn the team has helped Fenland’s Women's Refuge “We are very proud of all the pupils who have ever taken part and you can see us run the event,” Paul added we will all be wearing our Pink Ladies hockey team strip.” Donations can be made here A dominant display from the Seals earned all three points over King’s Lynn Town on the final day of the regular National League North season Kurt Willoughby opened the scoring in the early stages of the contest with a powerful finish that beat Paul Jones in the home goal A header from Jack Bainbridge and a clever strike from Dylan Mottley-Henry made the points safe while other results confirmed a home play-off tie against Buxton at the Deva on Wednesday evening Calum McIntyre’s side stunned their opponents early on with a positive start that led to a brilliant finish from Willoughby The number nine latched on to an incisive pass from Dan Mooney before he slotted past Paul Jones in expert fashion a fantastic start to the final day of the Seals’ regular season Chester’s momentum continued and the lead was doubled just before the half-hour mark with another slick move Dylan Mottley-Henry twisted and turned down the left wing and delivered a pin-point cross which found Jack Bainbridge at the back post It was simple finish for Bainbridge that capped of a faultless opening 30 minutes The Linnets attempted to hit back in immediate fashion but Jonny Margetts miscued his effort from close-range and the ball rolled wide Ross Crane tested debutant Alex Brown after he found space in the box but his low shot was comfortable for the goalkeeper The afternoon got even better for the Seals on the stroke of half-time as an inviting ball from Jack Lambert found Mottley-Henry who added to his early assist with a clever finish that beat Jones and rolled into the bottom corner Willoughby almost bagged his second after the break but he fired just over after more positive work from Mottley-Henry who was a constant threat to the home back line throughout the contest Josh Hmami almost set up a golden chance for Margetts but the ball bobbled and the number ten failed to connect The hosts’ best chance came for Kyle McFadden who sent a powerful header towards the top corner but it was deflected behind for a corner off the head of Matty Warburton McFadden was a threat from corners and he connected again just a few minutes later but the effort looped into Brown’s hands The remaining minutes were controlled in comfortable fashion by the Seals who held out for a memorable final day victory in Norfolk are a community benefit society operating under the name of Chester Football Club and are regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority The club is fan owned and does not have any major shareholders A former nurse who previously worked at a town hospital is accused of having thousands of indecent images of children and a ‘paedophile manual’ appeared at the town’s magistrates’ court on Thursday He is accused of possessing 1,949 Category A and 11,083 Category C indecent images of children He has also been charged with possession of 163 prohibited images of children as well as 69 images of a person performing sexual acts on an animal The alleged offences date back to January 2023 A report by the Nursing and Midwifery Council states that Feary was an adult nurse at Lynn’s Queen Elizabeth Hospital and was suspended from his role on December 27 last year and magistrates decided their powers were insufficient to deal with the case He will instead return to Norwich Crown Court on May 29 Lifeboat crews rushed to check on a cruiser which was drifting at sea after running out of fuel - and had to tow it back to Lynn Volunteers from Hunstanton RNLI were already on board the Spirit of West Norfolk lifeboat when they were tasked by HM Coastguard at around 7pm last Wednesday They made their way ten miles or so across The Wash before locating the 32ft craft near the River Nene outfall at Sutton Bridge had set off from Lynn and had been making for Boston before getting into difficulty the crew decided that with the vessel out of fuel and drifting those on board were at risk and the safest option was to tow it back to Lynn After doing so and meeting Hunstanton Coastguard to hand over the vessel and its uninjured crew they then returned to their station shortly before midnight it was washed down and refuelled before being placed back on service runners of all ages and abilities will be lacing up to take on one of the region’s most well-loved running events the UK’s largest not-for-profit events company the Bespak Grand East Anglia Run (GEAR) 10K will kick off at 9.30am Participants will embark on the wonderfully scenic route through Lynn encompassing the River Ouse pathway and The Walks before looping back to where it all began the event aims to raise tens of thousands of pounds for both local and national charities Every entry offers a chance to support a chosen cause with participants encouraged to fundraise for a charity close to their heart or one of the event’s partner charities - including the 8:56 Foundation Runners and spectators alike will be treated to a vibrant atmosphere and volunteers will all play a part in creating an unforgettable celebration Each participant will receive a special goody bag filled with post-race treats and every finisher will be awarded a bespoke medal to mark their achievement said: “We are really looking forward to a great day for the GEAR 10K We wish all the participants the best of luck and hope everyone enjoys the day.” added: "We’re excited to be back in King's Lynn for the Bespak GEAR 10K filled with lots of personal achievements and big charity wins and we look forward to welcoming participants from all over the country “Whether you're taking part for a charity or for your personal challenge we hope everyone has a memorable and enjoyable race day." The main event will be bolstered with Mini GEAR a 1.9km course taking participants from the Tuesday Market Square at 11.45am up to Boal Street and looping back round to the Corn Exchange before crossing the line back at the square The event is sponsored and supported by Bespak General entries are still open, and those interested in participating can visit https://www.runforall.com/events/10k/gear-10k/ for more information and to sign up A town street will be shut to traffic while roadworks take place Work is due to start this Sunday (May 11) to surface dress a section of the A1078 John Kennedy Road in Lynn To allow the work to be carried out safely and swiftly it will be closed to through traffic on a few dates access to properties will be permitted throughout and cat’s eyes (road studs) are being renewed Road closures will only be in place for a few hours at a time on the following dates: • May 11: first surface dressing - daytime works • May 18: main surface dressing - daytime works • May 27: lining/road stud replacement - evening/overnight works A Norfolk County Council spokesperson said: “A fully signed diversion route will be in operation for the week “The county council thanks people for their patience while this essential road maintenance work is carried out.” The work is expected to cost approximately £38,000 and will be carried out by the council’s infrastructure department and its contractors A friendship group has provided £1,500 and food donations to help people afford essentials Lynn Oddfellows presented a cheque to The Purfleet Pantry on Wednesday at Gaywood Church Rooms having already collected and gifted food including tinned goods The donations were the result of fundraising held by the group which included book sales and raffles The Purfleet Pantry was the chosen charity of branch outgoing chairperson Sandy said: “The Purfleet Panty provides an invaluable service to some of the most vulnerable in our communities and I could think of no better cause to support You’ve made a hugely positive difference to people’s lives and I’m very proud to hand over this money on the behalf of everyone at King’s Lynn Oddfellows.” a social supermarket which offers everyday food essentials and furniture at affordable prices was launched in May 2023 by The Purfleet Trust in partnership with West Norfolk Council and Norfolk Community Foundation it serves residents from the town and surrounding areas including Downham Membership costs £3 a year and anyone is able to join its already 1,200 members To date it has provided essential support to around 2,500 adults and children said: “We are incredibly grateful for the generous donation from King’s Lynn Oddfellows This support will make a significant impact enabling us to continue purchasing high-quality fresh produce and maintaining affordable prices for our members “This helps families stretch their budgets further and ensures access to healthy “The Purfleet Resettlement Project and the Purfleet Pantry are dedicated to supporting the people of King’s Lynn and West Norfolk All contributions – whether financial or food donations – are used directly to assist individuals facing challenging and stressful circumstances.” Lynn Oddfellows is one of 96 nationwide branches that make up the Oddfellows friendly society one of the oldest and largest of its kind in the UK The Lynn group has around 390 mostly retired members The society aims to improve people’s lives through friendship and support Oddfellows members can access a variety of benefits including care and welfare support and a travel club and there are opportunities to volunteer Lynn Oddfellows hosts a range of affordable and accessible events in and around the town and West Norfolk which are open to all said: “There’s something for everyone here and we’re a really friendly bunch “Anyone interested in finding out more about us should get in touch with me or come down to one of our brilliant events Alison can be contacted via email at alison.schultz@oddfellows.co.uk or by calling 01553 776 030 More information about the Oddfellows can be found at www.oddfellows.co.uk A bus company will provide free travel to VE day events for veterans and armed forces personnel First Bus East is extending the offer in order to support the 80th anniversary of the event Eligible passengers can travel free by either wearing their military uniform or showing a valid service ID card to the driver This will allow them to travel to two free public events in Lynn today (Monday) and Thursday featuring commemorations and community activities and we’re very proud of their efforts and sacrifice “This is our way of saying thank you to them as well as honouring the men and women who choose to serve and protect the freedoms we now enjoy “We want to make bus travel to and from VE Day 80 events as easy as possible and I am pleased that our business can play our part in supporting and remembering those in military service past and present.” Police are appealing for witnesses after two people were injured in a fail-to-stop crash with a motorcycle The collision happened at around 10.50am this morning on Gayton Road in Lynn after a motocross bike mounted the pavement and struck two women The two pedestrians suffered significant grazing but are not thought to have sustained any serious injuries The motorcyclist failed to stop at the scene and rode off along Gayton Road in the direction of Fairstead Emergency services remain at the scene and the road is closed Officers are keen to hear from witnesses or anyone with dashcam or doorbell footage which captures the motorcyclist at any point before or after the incident Anyone with information or footage which could help the investigation is asked to contact Norfolk Police by phoning 101 and quoting incident number 141 of May 1 BUY YOUR MATCH DAY TICKETS HERE 🎟️ At Hope & Glory Sportswear we provide three measurements for all our garments (see illustrations above) Actual chest width: This is the the measurement across the front of the shirt from just underneath the armpit when laid flat Actual chest size: This refers to the actual measurement around the garment just underneath the armpit itself when worn – not your chest size Chest to fit size: This refers to the size of the shirt wearers chest Measuring Your Ideal “Actual Chest Width”.Find one of your existing t shirts or football shirts that know fits as you like and measure it from armpit to armpit This is what we refer to as the ‘actual chest width’ of our garments How to Measure Your Chest.To measure your chest size run a fabric tape measure under your arms and fit it around the fullest part of your chest It’s important to have the tape measure parallel to the ground sagging or twisted which distorts the measurement.Take note of the measurement at the point where the tape crosses Men.If you want your shirt to be a tight fit then you should select the actual garment chest size that would be 5cm (2″) bigger than your chest size If you want your shirt to be a loose fit then you should select the actual garment chest size that would be 10cm (4″) bigger than your chest size PRO-FIT Men.Our Pro-Fit shirts are designed to be a “slim fit” garment They are much slimmer fitting in all areas Ladies.Our ladies shirts are all shaped for a ‘ladies fit’ – this means they taper slightly around you mid section to give a comfortable fit around the chest We advise you select the actual garment chest size that is 8cm (3″) bigger than your chest size All ladies differ – the fit will vary depending on your preference Junior.We advise juniors select the actual garment chest size that is around 8-10cm(3-4″) bigger than the child’s chest size for a comfortable fit For any further questions please contact us CHORLEY came out on top in the Vanarama National League North playoff eliminator on Tuesday evening Mark Ellis’s 84th goal the difference between the two sides on the night but once the Magpies settled into the match Following an outswinging cross from Adam Blakeman Mark Ellis rose above the rest and saw his header cleared off the line by Josh Hmami just ten minutes into the game the ball fall kindly to Blakeman on the edge of the box who whipped it low and around the Linnets players but Paul Jones did well to make a fine stop which Scott Wilson met and flicked onto the back post with Ellis a whisker away from putting the ball in the back of the net a looping ball saw Ellis attempt a high flick header Jones eventually gathered after dropping it on the first attempt That would be the final chance of the half for the Magpies Chorley came out strong in the opening stages the visitors came close after a goalmouth scramble saw King's Lynn hit the post through Hmami from close range Chorley replied with a perfectly weighted pass by Courtney Senior which sent Tom Carr in one-on-one with Jones but the goalkeeper came out on top this time a moment of magic; Blakeman playing a smart ball from a free-kick to Kole Hall but Mark Ellis was there at the far-post to tap home the rebound but Chorley held firm to earn their place in the semi-finals away at Scunthorpe United on Saturday King's Lynn’s Chris Harris will storm up from reserve to No.1 when they return to Premiership action at local rivals Ipswich on Bank Holiday Monday Harris has been the stand-out performer in the early weeks of the campaign and has surpassed expectations even though he was always expected to pile up the points in the lower order of the team But he’s also been winning big races against top opposition and that should stand him in good stead for the new challenge of leading off at No.1 Harris says he’s satisfied overall with the way things have been going personally and for the team as a whole who have come through a rocky period earlier in the month Lynn suffered heavy away defeats at Belle Vue and Sheffield both real stronghold venues for the home sides and that followed an unlucky home loss to the Aces But they’ve bounced back with a narrow win over Leicester – who could well be direct rivals for a play-off place - and then Monday’s thumping 59-31 victory against Oxford where the strength of the Stars team really came to the fore Harris said: “It’s been a good start to the season and King’s Lynn is always a track I’ve enjoyed “When the Kjng’s Lynn riders are dialled in here it is hard for the away teams so I’m just glad that I’m on the home side of the pits now “King’s Lynn have had a lot of injury problems over the years and they’ve been hit again with Ben (Cook) so we hope he’s back soon “But on the whole it’s been a good start for us and that’s why they built the team the way they have with being solid all the way through The trip to Ipswich on Monday (2.15pm start) throws up a particularly difficult task given that the Witches have been completely dominant in of their home matches so far and the Stars will do well to find any chink in their armoury With Cook still on the sidelines and likely to be throughout the month of May Lynn are expected to operate rider replacement at Foxhall with captain Nicolai Klindt taking over from Harris at reserve Lynn’s hospital has been recognised for a successful recruitment process which reaffirmed its dedication to research The Queen Elizabeth Hospital has successfully enrolled five patients for global clinical trials on heart failure progressive condition that affects around 920,000 people in the UK with approximately 200,000 new diagnoses each year preventions and treatments of heart failure is vital - and advances from clinical trials have already helped improve millions of lives The QEH is committed to delivering research and contributing to the improvement of patient outcomes innovation and development at the trust is continuously looking at new studies it became one of 15 UK sites that are actively participating in a major heart failure trial The trial is providing patients with access to an investigatory treatment while playing a critical role in the global effort to tackle heart failure the QEH has led the way in patient recruitment said: “We are incredibly proud to be recognised as the UK’s leading recruiter in this global heart failure clinical trial “This achievement highlights the outstanding dedication of our research and innovation team “Their hard work has been key to our success especially as a smaller hospital competing with larger centres “We look forward to building on this success and continuing to offer innovative treatment options through future research opportunities.” added: “Recruiting five patients is a fantastic achievement for the cardiology team at the QEH as it gives patients the opportunity to be involved in research with new medications something that the trust has not previously delivered “I would like to thank all of the patients who are taking part in this study and all research participants within the trust.” added: “We are delighted to be able to offer our patients the chance to take part in vital research such as this where possible.” The Ipswich ‘Tru7 Group’ Witches host the King’s Lynn Stars at Foxhall Stadium on Monday 5th May in a ROWE Motor Oil Premiership R1 fixture Tru7 Group – Tru7 Group is a diversified supplier to the construction Their premium fleet has state-of-the-art safety technology RN Euston – RN Euston Limited has supplied steel framed buildings in East Anglia for over 40 years Established by Ray Euston the business has grown steadily over the years and now Ray works in partnership with his son Mark The company is based in Suffolk and work all over East Anglia where they have gained a reliable reputation Tickets are available to purchase in advance here and on the gate and are priced at £24 for adults and £22 for concessions (65+) & students (21 & under) Tickets for children aged 6-16 are £1 whilst children 5 & under go free Official programmes are priced at £3.50 and are available at the stadium Car parking is free for all supporters. Debit and credit card payments are accepted The Witches host the first East Anglian derby of the season on Monday afternoon as they take on the King’s Lynn Stars at Foxhall in the ROWE Motor Oil Premiership Ipswich go into the fixture in perfect form having won all seven fixtures raced in 2025 a run that sees them top of the early league table The Suffolk side have hit at least 60 points in all three home fixtures so far this season but their local rivals will be determined to put a stop to that run on derby day don’t fix it’ is very much the mantra from team manager Ritchie Hawkins at the moment and the riding order stays the same for an eighth fixture in a row The bank holiday derbies are the most highly anticipated on the fixture list for many supporters and it promises to be a big crowd at Foxhall on Monday afternoon with the Witches looking to get one over on their Norfolk rivals and continue their fine start to the campaign Ipswich ‘Tru7 Group’ Witches team manager Ritchie Hawkins gives us his pre-match thoughts… “Back together after 10 days off and the season has gone perfectly so far so we can’t wait to get back on track Bank holiday meetings at Ipswich are always a great atmosphere with a big crowd and the weather looks brilliant It’s a local derby and the atmosphere is always brilliant in these meetings and I’m sure everyone involved in the club is really looking forward to this one everyone in the team already knows how important these meetings are to everyone These boys have got an outstanding record in recent years against King’s Lynn and the way things are going we will be looking to carry that on this year “We have got seven riders who love being part of the club and they are all in on our values Everyone in the pits is working together to achieve our goals That in itself is enough and breeds the loyalty and commitment we want and I don’t think anyone can question that we have had that over the last few seasons “We say every year that the daytime bank holiday meetings are tricky for us and that is mainly down to it being different preparing the track for an evening meeting Track conditions are normally slightly different which can catch us out and maybe even things up a bit and take a bit of that home advantage away I know in our last meeting here on a bank holiday we dealt with that superbly well and with the experience we have I would like to think it won’t be too much of a factor and it will be something we handle well.” The Stars have found life tough in the top-flight in recent years and haven’t made the play-offs since 2018 The new campaign started brightly with home and away success against Oxford in the Knockout Cup to set up a semi-final clash against the Witches later in the season their start to the league season has been somewhat trickier with three defeats from five outings so far including two heavy defeats on the road There are some fresh faces in the King’s Lynn side for 2025 with Chris Harris Ben Cook and Ashton Boughen replacing Ben Basso Harris has been piling up the points from reserve so far this year but now finds himself at number one in the new set of averages with captain Nicolai Klindt dropping to reserve Rider replacement is in operation at number two for Ben Cook who has a broken radius and scaphoid Ipswich last welcomed King’s Lynn to Foxhall in August of 2024 and it was a thumping 57-33 victory for the home side The visitors were without three of their regular side whilst the Witches had Scott Nicholls guesting for Jason Doyle The Norfolk strugglers took a shock early lead and were level after six heats but it was one way traffic from there as Ipswich eased to yet another win against their local rivals picking up the aggregate bonus point in the process Emil Sayfutdinov top scored with a faultless 12-point maximum The Iron will host the winners of Eliminator A (Chorley v King's Lynn Town) on Saturday 3pm kick-off for a place in the Vanarama National League North play-off final Ticket details will be confirmed in due course once all relevant parties have liaised with each other we use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information Consenting to these technologies will allow us to process data such as browsing behaviour or unique IDs on this site.  Bologna and Beyond28 April 20258 Min ReadEvery racing driver has that one story about their first time in a go-kart Testing the pedals to check that you’re sitting comfortably ready to feel the speed and vibration of the engine behind you with your body just centimetres from the tarmac a timeline mirrored by life in the Mercedes-AMG F1 family George Russell's racing life changed in December 2016. On the verge of stepping away from single-seater racing and turning to Touring Cars, he returns home from a training ride on cold and muddy English winter day and takes a bath. A few moments later, the phone rings. Mercedes F1 Driver Development Advisor Gwen Lagrue is on the line. "I panicked, but answered," recalls George. "I was doing everything I could not to make the water move around me! That was the very first phone call I had regarding joining Mercedes. "A short while later I had my first meeting with Toto, Ron Meadows, and my manager. Gwen was there, too. "It felt like the beginning of my journey to F1." The journey up to that point started at age seven, inspired by watching his brother Benji at local go-kart tracks near his hometown, King's Lynn in England. But it was George who soared highest of the siblings. Go-karting success followed, and it wasn't long before single-seaters came calling. In his first season out of karts, George claimed the BRDC Formula 4 championship (now GB3) in the United Kingdom, and at the end of the season took a pole and race win in a Formula Renault Eurocup race in Jerez - just his second event in the series. Titles at GP3 and Formula 2 levels in consecutive seasons after joining Mercedes was enough to earn a place on the F1 grid for 2019 "They gave me every opportunity to fulfil my potential and perform," George adds "I probably didn't realise how important that was at the time I feel incredibly fortunate that Mercedes picked me up when they did." That connection to the early days remains in 2025 even with George now in his seventh season of Formula 1 "I still have a very close relationship with George to this day," explains Gwen "He's someone I rate very highly as a driver but also as a person and I will be always there to help him racing-wise but also on a personal side." Aptly, Kimi Antonelli's Mercedes story began with a phone call in a car. At 12 years old, he wasn't behind the wheel, but father Marco was. "It was really cool, I was in the car with my dad and we suddenly got the call from Toto asking me to join the team," says Kimi. "To share that moment with my Dad is something I will remember forever." Kimi cut his karting teeth in Bologna, not far from Imola - the home of the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix. Gwen remembers watching Kimi mix it with those in superior machinery on the go-kart track. "He wasn't winning when we first watched him, he was P3, P4, P5. He was still doing mega even without the right materials," Gwen says. Kimi didn't leave many crumbs for those lining up alongside him to sweep up In his first season as a Mercedes junior (aged 12) Kimi won the WSK Euro Series and Super Master Series titles at OK Junior category he also finished runner-up in the FIA European Karting Championship and finished P5 in the World Championship Back-to-back European Championship titles followed at OK level with Kimi claiming four titles in two seasons - Italian and German F4 in 2022 and Formula Regional Middle East and Regional in 2023 "I don't think I would be here right now without the team," says Kimi when you know you need to push yourself to become better I am not just saying it because I am in it but it is one of the best junior programmes." "It's about you as a human being Mercedes have always been there trying to make me feel better and help me to improve." We use cookies to improve your experience. By viewing our content you are accepting the use of cookies. Read about cookies we use For the 818th time the King’s Lynn Mart has come to town The Mayor of King’s Lynn & West Norfolk officially opened the annual fair at midday on 14 February 2025 Cabinet Member for People and Communities at the borough council Watch video of the opening of the Mart below Following the official opening dignitaries from all over Norfolk and Cambridgeshire had a ride on the dodgems before the whole fair was opened to all After its traditional Valentine's Day opening on Friday the fair will run until Saturday 22 February Children's Day will be held on Monday 17 February Only enquiries relating to feedback about our website will be responded to If you need help or advice about one of our services, please contact us We will only use this email address to respond to any issues raised 2025 © Borough Council of King's Lynn & West Norfolk Many towns and villages across West Norfolk are busy preparing community events to mark this month’s VE Day anniversary This year marks 80 years since the Victory in Europe Day which celebrates the formal acceptance by the Allies of the Second World War of Germany's unconditional surrender on Tuesday We have put together a list of all of the different events happening across the area that you can join in with to mark this special historic occasion… North Wootton is kick-starting the celebrations with a scarecrow trail competition taking place from today to May 10 which will be displayed in front gardens throughout the village the village will be raising the VE Day 80 Flag at 9am outside the village hall residents are invited to party like it’s 1945 with a street-style event at the village hall from 11am until 5.30pm Walpole St Peter Church is hosting VE Day celebrations and an exhibition daily from 10am-4pm from today until Sunday Visitors can expect to see a collection of local and national information stories and pictures from VE Day to commemorate the end of the war in Europe St Mary's Church in Southery is putting on a flowers and memorabilia event to celebrate the anniversary It will be taking place each day from today until Monday from 11am-4pm A free street party will be happening on Windsor Road in Lynn on Sunday starting at 12.30pm until 4.30pm with live music There will be a VIP table for those who were around at the actual VE Day allowing them to bring along memorabilia and photos to share One lady who is 94 years old has some fantastic stories and photos to share Bank Holiday Monday will feature a street party atmosphere on King’s Staithe Square in Lynn and a relaxed day of live nostalgic and contemporary music on stage From 11am until 4pm there will be performances from Lynn Ukulele Club and Sarah Mai There will be classic wartime vehicles parked on the square and free family activities from 5pm including spitfire kits to build and colour live music from Marham Military Wives Choir and Ashlea Lauren and a civic procession will take place – entertainment will draw to a close at 9.45pm Hunstanton will play host to a range of events over a few days will be the raising of the VE Day flag at the Cenotaph At 9.30pm will be the lighting of the beacon on The Green May 10 at 2pm will be a VE Day gala at the town hall - and from 10am-4pm a St Edmunds spring fair will be taking place there is a parade from the United Services followed by a service at 11.30am at the Cenotaph Down the High Street from midday will be a street party There will be music at the Spinney from 2nd Sunset playing 40’s music throughout the afternoon and entertainment in the High Street A victory gala has been organised to commemorate the 80th anniversary at Hunstanton Town Hall on Saturday On the day there will be The West Norfolk Singers This event is in support of The Royal British Legion There will be a grand raffle with many prizes up for grabs and tickets are £10 each and £7 for concession They are available from ‘By The Book’ on the town High Street.