The National Blood Transfusion Service needs more donors. Their next session in Fakenham is on 18th December at Fakenham Community Centre in Oak Street.

There will be two sessions – the first from 10.30am to 12.30pm and another from 2pm to 4.30pm.

They advise you to make an appointment rather than just turn up, so give them a call on 0300 123 2323 to book in.

Thanks to Irma, Donor Relations Assistant in Norwich, for getting in touch.

It was looking pretty busy in the town centre this morning, with more visitors being planned for later. The Farmers’ Market seemed like it was thriving, with lots of people buying stuff. The Craft Fair in the parish church was in full swing too – lots of stalls and a good stream of customers as well.

Later this afternoon, the market place will host more stalls, rides and performers in the lead-up to the Christmas lights switch-on at 5pm. I’m informed Santa’s grotto will be there as well. It’s all go, isn’t it?

Edit: This post took all of three minutes to appear in a Google search!!!

Fakenham’s Christmas lights get switched on next Saturday, 28th November. The lights have been extended onto Norwich Street and Bridge Street this year and new regulations mean that energy-saving LED lighting is now being used.

In the photo, you can see Kings and Barnhams‘ Peter Hamilton at work installing lights across Norwich Street last Thursday afternoon. The Fakenham electrical company install and then maintain the lights right through the festive period.

It’s official then. Christmas is coming – feeling excited yet?

Previous years’ attendance records were completely ’smoked’ at last night’s Firework Display at Fakenham Racecourse. It was a brilliant sight to behold as well, with thousands of pounds’ worth of fireworks making up the display – which must have made a serious impression on the audience.

A massive 5,500 people attended, a figure which was obviously boosted by the favourable weather (and the fact that money was being raised for the ‘Help The Heroes’ campaign). Well done to the Fakenham Chamber of Trade, volunteers, North Norfolk Radio, the Light Dragoons from Swanton Morley barracks and all the others who made the evening one to remember. A special mention goes to John Lingwood of Lawnwise & Leisure  who certainly did a great job with the pyrotechnics!

Hmmm… 5,500 in the audience. Not bad for a town with fewer than 8,000 inhabitants, eh?

Tomorrow sees the annual Firework Display at Fakenham Racecourse. The Chamber of Trade will be running the show, aided as always by the presenters of North Norfolk Radio. Gates will open at 5.00pm for the funfair and the main display will be at 6.30pm. Tickets on the gate are £5 per person (walking) and £15 per car (max 5 persons).

Kickstart Fakenham are organizing an Autumn Tidy Up on Saturday 14th November. Meet up at 10am in the Market Square, where you’ll get your litter-pickers and possibly some natty fluorescent tabards! We attended the last one which was a good fun couple of hours. Bring some friends and have a laugh whilst doing some useful clearing up. Maybe this time we’ll have a side-bet on who collects the weirdest bit of junk!