Summary

  • Updates for Norfolk

  1. Triathlete defends 200-mile lockdown ridepublished at 18:36 British Summer Time 30 March 2020

    Joe Skipper said with only one exercise outing a day allowed, he "better make it count".

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  2. College donates personal protection equipment to hospital and policepublished at 17:47 British Summer Time 30 March 2020

    A Norfolk and Suffolk college has donated thousands of items of personal protection equipment to its local hospital and police.

    East Coast College, which is based in Great Yarmouth and Lowestoft, dropped off masks, disposable aprons and gloves to the James Paget Hospital in Gorleston and Norfolk Police.

    It said the items would have been used by students on a variety of courses.

    "We will continue to support our local community during these unprecedented times," it tweeted.

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  3. Stall for feeding homeless removedpublished at 17:25 British Summer Time 30 March 2020

    Stall at the Haymarket, NorwichImage source, Google

    A stall which was used by volunteer groups handing out food to homeless people has been removed.

    Norwich City Council said it had taken down the covered stall on the Haymarket opposite Primark, following advice on social distancing during the Coronavirus outbreak.

    "We’re not planning to bring our stall back," it added.

    "The expert medical guidance on social distancing has highlighted the importance of best practice around food provision for the most vulnerable.

    "This is about making sure we get food to people safely, rather than bringing people to food, and we are working positively with a number of groups involved in providing food in this way."

    It said it was working with organisations to engage with rough sleepers, secure temporary accommodation and deliver food to people directly.

    Some volunteer groups criticised the decision on social media, as reported in the Eastern Daily Press, external.

    Norwich homeless food stallImage source, The People's Picnic
  4. What the papers are saying in Norfolkpublished at 17:22 British Summer Time 30 March 2020

    Here's how the newspapers are reporting the coronavirus pandemic...

  5. Doorstep flowers 'a kind gesture in tough times'published at 13:50 British Summer Time 30 March 2020

    OrchidsImage source, Residents' photos

    A "thoughtful" garden centre worker has been thanked by his neighbours for leaving flowers on their doorstep.

    David Barton, who works at Sprowston Garden Centre near Norwich, saved pot plants from going to waste while the business was closed during lockdown.

    Last week, he put them outside front doors on his cul-de-sac in Sprowston, and was thanked on a community Facebook page.

    "I can’t thank [in person] the lovely man who just delivered this beautiful flower to my door," said one neighbour.

    "Such a kind gesture in these tough times."

    "It has certainly put a smile on my face," said another.

    Mr Barton said: "With the situation at the moment there would not have been adequate staff to care for the houseplants.

    "We decided to distribute to the local community so people could enjoy them while they were looking their best and spread some happiness in this uncertain time."

  6. Hope for couple who've left coronavirus cruise shippublished at 13:28 British Summer Time 30 March 2020

    Pete Cooper
    BBC News

    It is hoped a couple from south Norfolk will be able to get refuge in the US after four people died of suspected coronavirus on their cruise ship.

    David and Heather Haycox from Brooke were transferred from the contaminated vessel Zaandam close to Panama over the weekend.

    It is hoped their new liner will be allowed to dock in America, after numerous countries turned away their original cruise ship.

    ZaandamImage source, Reuters

    The couple's daughter, Sami Haycox, said: "The next big thing is to be lobbying America to let the boat dock so they can come home from there but we don't know if that will happen."

  7. 'The sun will shine again' says Canaries bosspublished at 12:31 British Summer Time 30 March 2020

    Norwich City manager Daniel Farke has posted a message on Twitter to Canaries fans.

    In he says "the sun will shine again" and asks supports to "look after each other and stay healthy".

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  8. James Paget University Hospital confirms coronavirus deathpublished at 12:10 British Summer Time 30 March 2020

    James Paget University Hospital has announced that a patient with coronvirus died on Sunday.

    It said the man, in his 80s, had underlying health conditions.

    His family had been informed, said a spokesman for the hospital, which is in Gorleston-on-Sea, Norfolk.

    James Paget University Hospital
  9. Youth football team combines toilet rolls with Stormzypublished at 10:31 British Summer Time 30 March 2020

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    Normally thousands of people all ages are playing football matches at the weekend.

    Covid-19 has put a stop to that, so how do you keep the young footballers’ team spirit alive?

    Norfolk youth side Stoke United FC came up with the idea of a video, featuring a Stormzy soundtrack, to keep the team practising.

    Chairman and coach Rob Ward said: "We wanted to do something for their well-being, to make sure they’re still connected, and they were still playing the game which they obviously miss.

    "Whilst it’s not the same, we thought it was probably the next best thing."

    Stoke United FC, based in Stoke Holy Cross near Norwich, is an under-eleven side in the Norfolk Combined Youth Football League, external.

  10. What a self-isolating medieval mystic can teach uspublished at 00:07 British Summer Time 30 March 2020

    Julian of Norwich, who spent her life isolated in prayer, is more relevant than ever, a historian says.

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  11. Sharing countryside beauty during self-isolationpublished at 10:26 British Summer Time 29 March 2020

    Adam Williams
    BBC England

    Norfolk countrysideImage source, Brad Damms

    A photographer is sharing his images on social media in a bid to help those self-isolating "see the beauty of the countryside".

    Brad Damms, from Norfolk, has been posting, external landscape and wildlife images daily.

    He says he hopes that, for people who can't leave the house, his photos will "lift spirits and take their mind off our current situation".

    See a selection of his images here.

  12. Keeping your garden flourishing during lockdownpublished at 09:23 Greenwich Mean Time 28 March 2020

    What plants and animals can we expect to see at the moment? And how can we help everything flourish?

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  13. Charity supporting youngsters could close due to coronaviruspublished at 17:13 Greenwich Mean Time 27 March 2020

    Local Democracy Reporting Service

    A Norwich charity supporting thousands of vulnerable young people is fighting for survival after losing funding due to the spread of the coronavirus.

    OPEN Norwich, external has postponed all events at its Bank Plain venue, meaning the organisation’s Youth Trust could lose its funding from next month.

    Open NorwichImage source, Google

    Chief executive Laura Rycroft has warned OPEN could soon face the "difficult decision" to close the service for good.

    Its lottery funding runs out at the end of April, and Mrs Rycroft said the timing "couldn’t be any worse".

    The youth service costs OPEN about £25,000 a month to run and offers support to about 3,000 vulnerable young people a year.

    Mrs Rycroft said although the government has offered support for business, charities risked falling through the cracks.

    The Treasury has been approached for comment.

  14. Advertising slump 'threat' to EDP and Evening Newspublished at 14:16 Greenwich Mean Time 27 March 2020

    Nic Rigby
    BBC News

    A drop in advertising revenue resulting from the coronavirus lockdown has put a major newspaper group's future in jeopardy, a senior manager has warned.

    Archant's main building in Norwich

    Tim Youngman, the head of marketing for Archant, external - which publishes the Eastern Daily Press, Norwich Evening News, East Anglian Daily Times and Ipswich Star, said the lack of advertising was a "threat".

    "We are a mainly advertising-funded business and if we don't get that advertising revenue unfortunately the future looks bleak not just for us but for newspapers," he said.

    "We want to support those local businesses that are forced to close but are also asking larger businesses not in jeopardy to continue to support us."

    He said newspapers were playing a key role in supporting the community during the coronavirus lockdown.

  15. Cheers all round as the East says thanks to NHSpublished at 12:57 Greenwich Mean Time 27 March 2020

    There was clapping, cheering, pots clanging and car horns honking as people across the East of England gave their thanks to the NHS.

    Many people took part in the social media campaign on Thursday night, where people across the UK applauded the work of the health service treating coronavirus patients.

  16. University of East Anglia graduation ceremonies cancelledpublished at 09:56 Greenwich Mean Time 27 March 2020

    Local Democracy Reporting Service

    The University of East Anglia has been forced to cancel its final year students' graduation ceremonies due to coronavirus.

    In an email, the vice chancellor, Professor David Richardson, said it was with "great sadness" they had taken the decision to cancel the ceremonies, due to take place 15-22 July.

    He added: "I want to assure you this decision has not been taken lightly."

    University of East AngliaImage source, N CHADWICK/GEOGRAPH

    Exams and teaching have been moved online and students who meet degree requirements will receive their certificates by post.

    Chris Matthews, 22, an English and creative writing student, said he understood why the decision had been taken: "People’s safety is the priority in this pandemic."

    He added that he was "gutted" to miss out on the chance to celebrate.

    Fellow student Jessica Barrett, studying English Literature, said: "The cancellation is devastating news for final year students."

    A petition calling on the university to guarantee final year students a graduation received more than 500 signatures in its first hour.

  17. Library's singalong an online hitpublished at 17:13 Greenwich Mean Time 26 March 2020

    Adam and Hannah performing Bounce and RhymeImage source, Norfolk Libraries and Information Service

    A nursery rhyme singalong by staff at a Norfolk library has proved an online hit with parents and children around the UK.

    A rousing performance of Heads, Shoulders, Knees and Toes; Five Little Monkeys; Wind the Bobbin Up and other pre-school favourites was broadcast on Facebook on Tuesday morning. The video has since racked up more than 20,000 views online.

    Librarians Adam and Hannah, who host weekly singalongs at Norfolk and Norwich Millennium Library, said: "We know you can't come to us, so we're bringing our Bounce and Rhyme to you."

    A mum from Surrey commented: "Thank you for making us giggle and providing some happiness during this crazy time."

    "Loving this from Somerset," said another. Others tuned in from Wales and Scotland.

    The library is also providing a daily storytime online and a weekly Lego club.

    Margaret Dewsbury, cabinet member for communities at Norfolk County Council, said: “We’ve even had viewers logging on from other parts of the country and the response so far has been wonderful, showing just how brilliant and well-loved these activities are.”

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  18. Coronavirus: A wedding, an engagement and an injured tailpublished at 16:39 Greenwich Mean Time 26 March 2020

    A last minute wedding, an engagement in lockdown and a dog that was so happy it hurt - some of the lighter moments in the last few days.