We’re looking forward to our New Year’s Eve supper and disco in just over a week’s time, but there are a few points that we should make. Ticket sales are now closed as we have reached the number that we feel is safe in the hall, given the current situation with the new Omicron variant of Covid. The progress of the virus is being closely monitored by the Government and it is possible that regulations could be introduced which impact on the event, so check here on our News Blog for the latest situation.

NHS Vaccine Passport and Lateral Flow Testing

For the safety of all attendees at the disco we shall be asking those who have the NHS vaccine passport to show it on entry to the hall. The passport is part of the NHS smartphone app, which is available free for both iPhone and Google Android phones. If you do not have the vaccine passport we would recommend that you take at least one lateral flow Covid test before attending. Covid testing kits are available from pharmacies and other outlets.

There will be other precautions taken at the event, to maximise ventilation and to reduce any risk of infection. With your cooperation we’re sure that it will be a safe and enjoyable evening!

We’ve got some great Christmas and New Year themed events coming up over December. Don’t miss our History of the Mince Pie next week, followed by carols on the 22nd December and our New Year’s Eve disco on, of course, New Year’s Eve! We look forward to seeing you!

Tuesday 14th December 7.30pm – Village Voice Live – The History of the Mince Pie (with samples!) Tickets £5 on the door.

Wednesday 22nd December 5.00pm – Carol Singing with musical accompaniment and light refreshments – Free, but donations to the Centre will be very welcome. Weather permitting this will be an outdoor event, so dress warmly!

Friday 31st December 8.30pm – New Year’s Eve Disco and Supper – Tickets £25 from Dersingham Post Office or tel: 01485 540271. Must be bought in advance, no on the door ticket sales.

We’ve got plenty of good things happening at the Village Centre over the coming weeks. You can see the details from the posters, but here is a brief rundown on what we have planned. We look forward to seeing you!

Tuesday 30th November 7.30pm – Village Cinema – “Peanut Butter Falcon”. Tickets £6 on the door.

Tuesday 14th December 7.30pm – Village Voice Live – The History of the Mince Pie (with samples!) Tickets £5 on the door.

Wednesday 22nd December 5.00pm – Carol Singing with musical accompaniment and light refreshments – Free, but donations to the Centre will be very welcome.

Friday 31st December 8.30pm – New Year’s Eve Disco and Supper – Tickets £25 from Dersingham Post Office or tel: 01485 540271. Must be bought in advance, no on the door ticket sales.

The Village Centre will be hosting our annual Christmas Fair on Sunday 21st November, from 12.00noon until 5.00pm. A mixture of local businesses and crafters all in one place, giving you the ideal opportunity to do some Christmas Shopping locally. We have some delightful stalls with a wide variety of products such as Cards, Signs, Wax Melts, Perfume, Paintings, Fused Glass ,Gift Boxes, Scarves and Knitted items.
The volunteers at the Village Centre will also be providing a café in the hub serving Tea and Cake to raise funds for the centre.
Free Parking and Free Entry.

The Christmas Fair is organised by Alex Dixon of Fade to Grey, so if you want any more information please contact her direct via her Facebook page FadetoGreyNorfolk or phone 07981 294052.

Yes, it’s that time of the year, it’s Ceilidh time! After a break during the pandemic there’s a chance  to swing your partner with our annual Ceilidh or barn dance. This year it is on Saturday 30th October at 7.00pm.

As before, music will be provided by the well known Norfolk Ceilidh band Whirligig and a hot supper is also included in the ticket price of £12.50. Our bar will of course be open for the purchase of drinks.

Tickets must be bought in advance, as numbers are limited for your safety and enjoyment. There will be no on-the-door ticket sales.

You can buy tickets from Dersingham Post Office, or telephone 01485 540271. We all look forward to a great evening!

After a lengthy break caused by the various lockdowns we are glad to announce that our monthly illustrated talks, Village Voice Live will be returning to the Centre on Tuesday 12th October.

This first event, a talk by Norfolk Wildlife Trust’s Ash Murray, will be followed by other talks providing that this initial event is well supported, so come along for an interesting evening all about the Fen, Common and Springs of the local area!

Tickets will be sold on the door and cost just £5 which includes a raffle ticket and refreshments. That must be good value! Ash’s talk will commence at 7.30pm.

Yvonne Fuller BEM will be running a series of flower arranging workshops during the autumn, commencing with a demonstration/taster evening on Wednesday 15th September at 7.00pm. This will be followed by seven sessions on alternate Wednesdays, from 22nd September to 22nd December.

The taster evening costs £5 and the following course costs £20 for registration plus £5 per session. If you sign up on the evening of the taster session your registration fee will be discounted to £17.

Yvonne says “it will be fun while you learn” so why not come along to the demonstration/taster and sign up!

Don’t forget to put the weekend of the 4th – 5th September in your diary or in your online calendar, as that is the weekend of Dersingham Open Gardens. The participating gardens will be open on both days from 11.00am until 5.00pm.

We have many “old-favourites” open and some new gardens to explore. Some of the gardens belong to local artists, who will have their studios open. Tickets will be on sale at £4 in advance at Dersingham Post Office, or £5 on the day at the Village Centre. From the Centre you will also be able to pick up your programme and list of the gardens. There will be refreshments on sale at the Centre from 10.30 on both days. All proceeds from the event will be divided between St Nicholas Church and the Village Centre.

Last year’s event was highly successful despite moving from spring to late summer and the gardeners look forward to welcoming even more visitors this year!

Despite various hiccups from Government regulations we are gradually moving towards normal operation. This is a roundup of events and activities that are taking place or restarting over the next weeks and months. We hope to see you at some of them!

If you have any questions about our events please email us at contact@dersinghamvillagecentre.org.uk

Coffee Shop resumes on Thursday 5th August 9.30am – 12.30pm. From the 10th September there will be a Friday coffee shop too.

Friendship Lunches resume on Tuesday 3rd August. Booking essential, phone 01485 540644.

Dersingham Open Gardens on Saturday and Sunday 4th – 5th September. Over a dozen open gardens, some with art studios too. Tickets and Refreshments at the Centre. More details later.

Tea Dances resume on Friday 24th September 2.00pm – 4.00pm.

Village Cinema resumes on Tuesday 28th September 7.30pm with The Keeper (15).

Tennis Club Disco and Supper. Friday 1st October 7.00pm. More information from 01485 540271.

Ceilidh and Supper. Saturday 30th October 7.00pm. More information from 01485 540271.

There is some more information on our poster, see below.

Our carol singalong on the evening of December 19th turned out to be a lovely event, complete with the ‘star of Bethlehem’ visible just above the horizon! The star is actually the great conjunction of the planets Jupiter and Saturn, which currently appear almost as one, all very exciting.

The music to accompany this spectacle of the night sky was provided by an excellent group of singers with keyboard accompaniment, organised by Village Centre Trustee David Collingham.  Naturally those assembled in the Centre car park were eager to add their own voices, so there were enthusiastic versions of many popular carols and Christmas songs. To fuel the singers there was mulled wine, mince pies and sausage rolls, provided by Centre volunteers.

All in all a great evening and we hope to repeat the event in a year’s time, when hopefully there will not have to be so much emphasis on social distancing.

Stay safe and well everybody. You can see some photos of the event below. Happy Christmas and a Healthy New Year!