Originally published in the North Norfolk News. Restored from the surviving column copy, with light typo corrections. Prices, predictions and opinions reflect the time. Unrelated passages have been omitted in this curated web edition.
As you read this newspaper column you will no doubt be reeling from the effects of New Yearâs Eve. For the youth they will, of course, live up to their stereotypical expectations by getting drunk at a house party or spending much of the night on a kerb in the drinking districts of north Norfolk. The elderly will also feel full of regret, as slowly it dawns on them how appalling Jools Holland and Elton John were on the telly box the night before.
As we kiss goodbye to 2008 and welcome in 2009 itâs time for the most memorable moments of the year that wasâ¦
This week heralds the end of the Woolworths after several months of turmoil. I witnessed one shop last week that had the same feel of a Primark, the clothes store, where it is a common sight to see middle-aged women battling over a bargain.
The Sheringham store is where I purchased my first mobile phone and CD player, and where I spent the vouchers I would get for Christmas. However, towards my teenage years the store became less significant in my life as there were more opportunities to get their products cheaper in Norwich and online. The chain had lost its prominence on the high streets nationwide but it still served its purpose in north Norfolk where very few brand names exist.
Anglia News is also on its last legs with a mass axing of presenters expected to take place in the next month. Stephen Lee, affectionately known as âtin tinâ amongst our household for his hair, took voluntary redundancy in 2008 and Clare Weller is to be replaced with Becky Jago who once presented Newsround for the BBC. Oh and by the way, thereâs still no word on whether Emma Hutchinson has picked up a new coat in the salesâ¦
2008 also marked the end of an era for Radio Broadland which this week will become âHeart Norfolkâ as part of a scheme to bring its sister stations in the UK together. The station that was once Norfolkâs answer to Radio 1 will now mostly consist of Z-List star presenters broadcasting from across the country.
One of the most memorable moments of 2008 will be the year Britain lost its humour, and thatâs not because I finished my stint for this newspaper! No, it was the year of âSachsgateâ in which Russell Brand and Jonathan Ross were criticised for their phone calls to Andrew Sachs. This led to an outpour of complaints and comments in every letters page across the country, and Jeremy Clarkson even made the top headline on our local news for a comment he made.
But 2008 wasnât all doom and gloomâ¦
Those that had taken a dislike to the face of Norwich â The Puppet Man â were in for a treat when he resigned because of the credit crunch. The fans were in a state of mourning as he declared that heâd be moving to London, but the whole thing was short lived when he returned to work shortly after. Rumours that it was a huge publicity stunt have been unconfirmedâ¦
These were just some of the highlights and lowlights of 2008 for me, but what will 2009 bring? Happy New Year!