Four out of the five originalboat figureheads, dating back to the 1950s, have returned to their rightful home of Great Yarmouth’s Venetian Waterways, after being lovingly restored by local restoration expert Kelvin Thatcher.
The figureheads – made of mahogany and in the shape of various animal heads – were added to the gondolas which were used to take families around the Waterways site between the late 1950s and 1980s.The work undertaken was of a delicate nature due to the condition and age of the wood, with many of the boat heads rotten and missing parts, with one boat head damaged beyond repair.
Now returned to their original beauty, the figureheads have been placed on the most Northern island of the recently restoredVenetian Waterways as standalone pieces, where they can be viewed by those who visit the park to stop and relax for a while, to take a ride on the Boating Lake or to enjoy exploring the plant life.
Listening posts have also been recently installed onsite which play recordings of bird sounds and stories. The posts, two of which can be found on the Waterways and one at the Boating Lake, are part of the project which was match funded by the National Lottery through the Heritage Lottery Fund and Big Lottery Fund.
Michelle Burdett, Head of Inward Investment at Great Yarmouth Borough Council, said: “It’s exciting to have the restored boat heads returning to the Waterways and displayed throughout, as they are really interesting pieces of work to look at with a lot of history.
“Now the boat heads are to stay on site permanently, we are working with our partners to bring visitors back to the Waterways for events, such as the upcoming Fire on The Water extravaganza, led by Out There Arts, for them to be enjoyed by residents and visitors alike.”
Free bus passes are being offered to Ukrainians being hosted by families in Great Yarmouth, thanks to a tie up between the local council and First Bus.
Great Yarmouth Borough Council leader Carl Smith heard first hand from families staying in the town how difficulties with transport was making it difficult for them to settle in and asked First Bus if they could help.
Now thanks to their generosity, Ukrainian guests will now be able to apply for a free one month pass for travel across the borough, and as far out as Norwich or Lowestoft.
Head of operations and engineering Chris Speed has donated an initial 20 passes for the scheme, which is being coordinated by the council.
One of the first families to benefit from the passes will be Mariana Peda and her two children Anastasiia and Vitalii. They are currently staying with hosts Sheila Daniels and Brian Huggins in Bradwell, having arrived from Sokal in west Ukraine around a month ago.
Work to create a new library, university and learning centre in the heart of Great Yarmouth has stepped up a gear thanks to a £3.5m partnership with the University of Suffolk and East Coast College.
Plans were unveiled in 2020 for a new education and community hub in the former Palmers department store in Great Yarmouth Market Place, including an enhanced Norfolk County Council public library. Last year Great Yarmouth Borough Council bought the building and began initial planning for the new centre.
Now East Coast College and the University of Suffolk have formally committed to the scheme, with a £3.5m contribution that will see the college teach degree level courses at the new centre, accredited by the university. The University of East Anglia is also backing the project, with plans to offer remote learning facilities for its students, alongside professional development courses.
Residents and visitors to the borough are being invited to stretch their legs and delve into the rich past of Great Yarmouth to explore its history as a seaside resort, fishing port and market town.
Great Yarmouth’s official heritage guides are offering nine walks to explore the borough’s beautiful historic buildings, admire architecture and hear some colourful stories of local characters.
All walks are written and designed by Great Yarmouth Borough Council’s heritage guides, who guide participants off the beaten track and out into the local area to discover more about what went before in Great Yarmouth.
A reusable cup scheme has been launched today as part of a drive for a Norfolk resort’s greenest ever holiday season.
Cafes and restaurants in Hemsby, near Great Yarmouth, will offer customers a reusable cup from today to help put an end to single use disposable takeaway cups.
Tea and coffee drinkers will be encouraged to borrow a ‘Hemsby Cup’ in return for a £2 deposit, use and then return back to any participating café to get their money back.
The launch at Richardson’s Yacht Club on Beach Road heard how each cup can be used over 1,000 times and is fully recyclable. Nine businesses in the village have signed up to the scheme, which is free for businesses to participate in.
Norfolk’s newest leisure centre is now recruiting for its top team as plans gather pace for its opening this summer.
The new £26m Marina Centre on Great Yarmouth’s seafront will boast a six-lane swimming pool, learner pool and leisure water with flumes; along with a gym, sports hall, indoor climbing zone, community spaces and a café.
With only a few months to go until its planned opening in late summer, an exciting recruitment campaign is underway to find some outstanding individuals who will play a crucial role in the opening of the new centre and providing excellent customer service to the residents and visitors.
The centre will be operated by Freedom Leisure - one of the most successful and growing not for profit leisure and cultural trusts in the UK - on behalf of Great Yarmouth Borough Council.