A word from Kate and Anita: "Seeing as we’re spending
so much time asking people in Watton and Wayland to tell us about
themselves, it seemed only right that we should have somewhere for
you to find out about us and what we’re up to!
"So this is our very own uncensored Norfolk
Voices diary. It’s no Samuel Pepys – and no Bridget Jones either
– but we’ll do our best to "keep it real" (as one great performer
once said), as well interesting and entertaining along the way.
Happy reading!"
Sunday 15 June Entry from Kate:
The big day is here and I can't believe the sun is shining. I hope
this doesn't mean I've used up my weather wildcard for this year,
because I'd really like it to be sunny on my wedding day as well!
Had to get to Watton before the High Street was
closed to traffic, and once we arrived our feet hardly touched the
ground. The Battle of the Bands was a huge success and one of the
judges, Elli Chapman from Creative Arts East, wants to make it a
regular event. Read
more about the Battle of the Bands
The Voices balloons threatened to take over the carnival. |
The winners were Averman - described by the judges
as "a knockout band". The carnival organisers reckon around 4,000
people visited the carnival and I can well believe it. 15 members
of staff from Radio Norfolk came to help, and you could hardly move
for the white Voices balloons they were giving out.
Entry from Anita: Phew, what a day!
Absolutely boiling and haven't stopped from a moment! Luckily it
was excellent team work because there was so much to do. We had
some really experienced staff from the station there and they played
a big part. (Kate and I soon realised that we couldn't be everywhere
at once!)
Nicci Holliday, the 91Èȱ¬'s project manager for Voices
even made an appearance! I don't know that I was much use to her
as we were rushing around but I think she enjoyed herself! However,
the stars of the day were our three Watton presenters Rebecca, Tim
and Dave.
Julian Sturdy films the new radio presenters. |
They co-presented a two-hour live programme from
the High Street. They are complete newcomers to radio and had only
had a minimal amount of practice beforehand.
Our breakfast presenter, Graham Barnard, was there
to hold their hands and the rest of the team made sure they didn't
die on-air. In fact, they were a real hit and coped with the nerves
of with presenting live radio at the same time as being filmed by
our television colleague Julian Sturdy.
The best bit was seeing their reaction at the end
- they were so chuffed they gave each other a big hug! Watch the Watton Carnival
slideshow
Saturday 14 June
Entry from Kate: Only had to go into work for a couple of hours
to make final adjustments to tomorrow's programme and print scripts.
Made much more stressful when the printer ran out and we discovered
the stationery cupboard was locked and no one had a key. Ho hum.
My colleague and friend Marilyn Rust is coming
over for a BBQ tonight to discuss the Battle of the Bands, which
I've asked her to compere tomorrow as I won't have enough time.
Talking rock over ribs - love it.
Friday 13 June Entry from Kate:
Friday the 13th. Unlucky for some. But not, thankfully, for us.
My day started at 7.35am with a live on the future of RAF Watton.
Anita was just about to leave for her OB when I got in.
Roy Waller interviews Kate. |
Spent the morning making last minute adjustments
to my OB, then everything almost went horribly wrong when my lift
to Watton didn't show up (he'd got lost on his way back from Yarmouth).
But made it just on time and everything went beautifully.
I actually had very little to do once Roy was on-air so just relaxed
on a blanket in the blazing sunshine.
Entry from Anita: What a morning! Set off
at 7.30am with our presenter Louise Priest, Jo from the Action Desk
and Gary Standley our Social Action Producer. We were bound for
Saham Toney as the OB was all about what it's like living in the
villages around Watton.
Louise Priest asks a young guest some questions. |
The hotel was amazing and we felt like we were
in our own luxury house in the middle of the countryside. The family
who own it made us really welcome and the guests were fantastic
- such a range of unusual stories.
From the man who made the marquee that was at Zoe
Ball's wedding, to the chef who cooked food for top judges in London,
and the schoolchildren who ended the programme with a traditional
French song. The weather was boiling hot too and we had our own
live baroque music on the lawn - very cultured!
Entry from Anita: A couple of hours in work
today turned out to be a fair few. Still, I don't mind because after
tomorrow things should get easier!
Thursday 12 June
Entry from Anita: Editing Rebecca Hill's package for tomorrow.
She is another of our volunteer presenters. The package is about
her trip to Watton's twin town of Weeze in Germany. She's got some
nice material and the script sounds great. Just need to find some
funky music and it will be done.
The running order is all in place for tomorrow.
We are having a look at village life with Radio Norfolk's Morning
Mix in Saham Toney. The Broom Hall Country Hotel is putting us up
for the morning and we've got about 25 guests turning up! Should
be a really good day.
Wednesday 11 June
Entry from Kate: Just going home at 9pm. Lots still to do for
the Long Weekend in Watton but Anita and I are very organised this
time. We've done enough OBs and Voices events to know what's what.
Let's hope it all pays off.
Monday 9 June
Entry from Kate: Early start as I had to get to Watton for the
assembly at Wayland Community High School to launch the Battle of
the Bands I foolishly decided to organise a few days ago.
Ken Godfrey surveys some wreckage of a warplane. |
Good reception from the kids, although they were
much more excited that Chris Rankin, who plays Percy Weasley in
the Harry Potter films, was going to be at the carnival.
Then on to see Ken Godfrey, who's one of the guests
for a Roy Waller OB we're doing at Watton airfield. Ken has some
amazing things in his garden, including the wreckage of a warplane
and a German bomb.
Entry from Anita: Busy morning. Went to
meet Dave Scragg, our volunteer from Watton who is co-presenting
the carnival OB at the weekend. He is going to pre-record a feature
today for our Morning Mix OB on Friday.
He is going on the trail of Pingo Ponds in Thompson
with an expert from the Norfolk Wildlife Trust. He is sooo excited
about the weekend! Am trying hard to be enthusiastic at the same
time as worrying about how much there is still to do!
Friday 6 June
Entry from Kate: Had a sneaky day off today to do wedding things
with my sister, Vicky. Ordered flowers, had practice hair and make-up,
etc. Last day off, nay last minute off, before the big push towards
our Long Weekend in Watton. I'm tired just thinking about it!
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