Radio Car Travelogue 16 - 20 April 2012

People in Norfolk are being urged to take part in a huge study to try to find a cure for Parkinsons disease. Mark Whitworth was diagnosed two years ago when he was just 38. A one-time boxer he noticed when he began to get slower. He's worked really hard to come to terms with his condition.

The hosepipe ban is in place and for towns like Sheringham, it means no floral decorations in the town. But it won't be Norfolk In Gloom - Joan Thame, chair of Sheringham in Bloom is looking for alternatives. Here she is standing in the rain (!) by one of the hanging basket posts in the town centre.

There was a lot happening on Angel Road yesterday. First the local stores were robbed. A man threatened staff with a knife before cutting the cable to the till and running outside where he took the contents and ran off towards Constitution Hill. Any information to Norwich CID on 101. Later that day just down the road two people were rescued from a burning flat. At Rackheath Industrial Estate they're just finishing the latest building called 'The Cube' because it is. It's also very envirnmentally friendly. They've also taken on an apprentice who'll be trained in all kinds of construction work. Shaun Catterall is the contracts manager.

We had a call to the station aout a lost dog. David Farman (here with his wife Debbie and the dogs) breeds wire haired pointers and one of the young ones is Harley who ran off at such a pace when he spotted a skylark that he yanked the five metre training lead from Davids grasp. He then continued running. Friends and neighbours helped in the search but Harley turned up safe and sound the next morning as though nothing was wrong!

These objectors to the proposed NDR (Northern Distributor Road) think everything is wrong about the scheme. Left is Stewart Lindsay from the campaign group SNUB (Stop Norwich Urbanisation) and Mike Burrows who runs a cycle design shop on Rackheath Industrial Estate

Radio Car Travelogue 9 - 13 April 2012

Bank Holiday Monday and Norfolks hidden gems. I was asked where that might be. From Wroxham Bridge, take the Bure upriver towards Coltishall. There's a single mooring at Belaugh and a great ghost story about the church on the hill. Meanwhile, down the road at Wroxham Barns they're ready for the holiday crowds despite a grey drizzly day. The raptors are on display. Here's Director Ian Russell with the bird handlers.

More problems at Meadow Close in Cromer. The sheltered housing residents have had problems with the lift not working. Now they've endured six days without heating. Victory Housing Trust supplied fan heaters but it's no substitute for a hot water supply. Things should be back to normal now. Spokesperson was Eddie Woods.

I've returned to Garboldisham where 16 months ago this cottage was destroyed by fire. In a "Thatched Roof" special we heard about the devastation and how there can be some benefits of rebuilding a Grade II listed building. I've been back to the archives to show the before and after!

Radio Car Travelogue 2 - 6 April 2012

Back in the saddle after a fortnights R&R. The hosepipe ban is upon us a Doreen Medler runs a company that supplies turf. They're allowed to water it but don't have to as it's despatched soon after arriving from Essex. However, her customers are cancelling orders because THEY can't water it after it's laid! Plenty of water at Cromer where the converted toilet block has been transformed into these smart units. Ben Kewell will run Glide Surf School from one side and on the other will be the North Norfolk Surf Life-Saving Club. It's on the Promenade near the pier.

Mary Portas has £100k to give to towns across the country for regeneration. Six in Norfolk shortlisted are Thetford, Diss, Great Yarmouth, Hunstanton and two that I visited. First in Aylsham with Hamish Melville from Broadland DC and Chiar of Business & Enterprise Deborah Blake. They're hoping to be one of the two picked. Another is North Walsham. The Atrium is a purpose built fabulous facility that I never knew about. Look at the theatre! It's run by April Vogel who hopes to get funding that will exploit its full potential.

With the hosepipe ban coming into effect 5th April, here's Barbara Lockwood whose bungalow was modified by her late husband who diverted all the gutter downpipes to feed the front and rear garden to maximise any rain we might get. Meanwhile, Paul Nobel at Highway Garden Centre just can't get any more water butts. The recent run on them has meant getting more stock. Stock that won't arrive in time to quench demand.

Finally, a fire at a thatched cottage on Bullacebush Lane Blofield left the building with no roof and water damage. Fire officer Dean Howes told how the alarm had been raised at 11pm but at 8am they were still damping down hot spots.

It's Easter and Pastor Ian Savory shows me the wooden cross fastened to the wall outside Oak Grove Chapel. On Sunday it'll be taken down and put inside the church for the service.

SEE next weeks Travelogue about a previous thatch fire renovation.

Radio Car Travelogue 12 - 16 March 2012

A bit of fun to kick off the week. To raise money for Sport Aid, Phil Owen and Ashley Wilson from Swinton Insurance in Norwich are doing a sponsored jail break. Their two female counterparts were given a 20 minute lead. 1. Off they go! 2. Broadcasting from the radio car at the station. 3. Jumping the barrier (not really!) 4. Missing the London train.

At Carrow RoadPeter Waters Editor of the EDP and Chris Scargill from Larkin Gowen join 150 of the county's biggest manufacturers to talk about tourism and the forthcoming season and what can be done to boost the industry.

Then at Thorpe St.Andrew I went to the home of Sue and Graham Alison. At the top of the garden next to the Oaklands Hotel there's an application to build a coms tower for 3G & 4G. Last night the town council rejected the plan but it's now up to Broadland District Council to decide. We were joined by neighbour Geoff Heath who's convcerned about health issues over such masts and Marcus Piercy who owns the land said he had no intention of letting the mast be built on his land even if it was approved. L-R Graham, Geoff, Marcus and Sue.

Hammerton Court officially opens today 14th March. £13m for the building that promises to revolutionise caring for people with advanced demetia. Left, Deputy Manager Jackie Johnson and Maggie Wheeler chair of Norfolk & Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust. A really fantastic facility let's hope it lives up to their dreams.

Frogs breeding in the Vinegar Pond on Mousehold Heath are being disturbed by dogs wading into the shallow water and children throwing stones. Colin Jacobs has organised volunteers to patrol the pool whilst the spawn develops.

It's BBC School Report day to get young people to make their own radio and tv programmes. At City Academy Gen & Dylan delivered a live news headlines at 0845 into the Breakfast Show.

Norfolk has it's own rival to Cheltenham. Fakenham racecourse is open today first race at 2.30pm. Clerk of the Course David Hunter is upbeat about attendance especially as they've brought in a big screen so that punters can watch what's happening at Cheltenham at the same time as the Fakenham Silver Cup race. At Pott Row I met marketing manager Ben Sandle - Sandles Car Supermarket is huge ere but most trade these days for the family run firm come through the internet. They travel around the country buying up 1-4 year old fleet cars then bring them to Pott Row for a clean and brush up.

Radio Car Travelogue 5 - 9 March 2012

The new Cromer Hospital opened its doors on Saturday. At present just the Minor Injuries Unit is operational but over the next fortnight the transfer from the old building will be completed and the old one pulled down. Pictured is Helen Lloyd, Operations Manager, the glass atrium in front of the new hospital and the curtains which have become a talking point!

With the price of fuel rising to almost £1.50 a litre, Dennis Cutvill is paying the price for living near Mileham where the nearest pump means a round trip of 16 miles!

Meanwhile, down the road at Whissonsett, Brenda Mason, Bernie Barker, Carol Porter and Ann English are fed up the the two street lights which are on constantly. After complaining because they weren't on at night they found that now they won't go OFF! We're looking into it! Ian Gillies at Bowthorpe showed me the light outside his mothers house which has been on 24/7 for the past TEN years! Another we're persuing to get switched off. Meanwhile, at City Hall the men are in to install 144 solar panels onthe roof. Council Leader Brenda Arthur says it'll generate something like 36Kw and will save the council seven and a half thousand pounds a year pay for itself in twenty years.

The sun has sent us a 'magnetic wave' today which might affect satellites and sat navs but this view from Mousehold Heath across the city shows no signs of any adverse affects! Down on Riverside, Lucy Hogg Director of WEETU explained why men, women and children will be on the Juian Bridge from midday to 1pm to celebrate International Women's Day.

9 year old Amber Atkins has cerebral palsy but has a smile for everyone. When Amber needed a new chair the NHS couldn't supply on that was suitable but mum Lyn found a charity that was prepared to put up the £11,000 needed. What a chair too. Amber put it through its' paces for me and her disposition is just like a ray of sunshine. Must mention her 4 year old sister Milly too who declined to be photographed!

At the UEA I went to the Environmental Sciences lab with Katy Owen. She's come up with a special poster for "Set For Britain" S - science E - Engineering T- technology. She'll present it at the House of Commons and if she wins the cash prize up for grabs she'll use it to further her career in marine sciences.