A star studded evening of players from the first team and former Canery’s joined Delia Smith, Michael Wynn–Jones and Paul Lambert along with other special guests at the awards dinner to mark the end of season.  The team have received huge support from the fans this year, while they have fought to stay in the Premiership and they have achieved it, in their first season of being back in the league.

Much to the bookies disappointment, Norwich had been picked to go down, but against all odds they have stayed up and achieved a very respectable 12th position in the league table.

The Norfolk Lounge decorated with bunting and balloons in green and yellow left the guests in no doubt of the team’s colours.

The awards were presented in the usual reverse order with each player answering questions on their highs and not so many lows of the season.
In third position was David Fox – Midfielder
In second position was John Ruddy – Goalkeeper
And in first position was Grant Holt – Striker and Captain

Nigel Cook, Anglian Home Improvements presenting Grant Holt with the Barry Butler Memorial Trophy

Nigel Cook, HR Director said “how very proud Anglian are to have been associated with NCFC for a number of years.  Through the good times and even the more challenging times Anglian has been there to support this great football club in the heart of Norwich.

These past 3 years have been an incredible journey of success for the players, the management and the fans. But for one individual this journey has been truly amazing.  Setting a Club record for being the only player to achieve ‘player of the season’ for 3 successive years”        Nigel Cook said it gave  him great pleasure to award the Barry Butler Memorial Trophy to the magnificent Mr. Grant Holt……….”

Delia Smith took to the stage to present the final award for the evening which was the Players Player of the Year award, this was presented to John Ruddy.

The winners were all thrilled at being selected for their awards and very honoured at being part of the team for the season.

Between courses the guests mingled to get their favourite players autographs and pictures making it a very enjoyable evening for all.

Image sourced from: rossendale.gov.uk

17 organisations which include the likes of Campaign to Protect Rural England and the Federation of Master Buildings, have signed a letter that has been written to Chancellor George Osborne, which describes the disruption that has been caused to planned building projects and the threats it poses to the future of the UK’s historic buildings, due to the Budget measures.

GGF Chief Executive, Nigel Rees said “The GGF has been campaigning for several years on the VAT reduction of home improvement products and refurbishment work, and has been fighting for energy efficient glazing to be reduced to 5% as per other energy efficient products.”

“At present, the glass and glazing industry like the overall construction industry, is being taxed unfairly. Given our stance on VAT and our continuous campaigning we had no hesitation in signing up to the campaign to keep the zero VAT rating for work undertaken on listed buildings.” he added.

Already, projects are being cancelled or curtailed within the construction industry due to the detrimental effect of the VAT increase. The trade organisations have urged the Government to reconsider their decision so it will prevent a further decline within the industry.

Chief Executive of The Heritage Alliance, Kate Pugh commented “The 20% increase in VAT will make it a great deal harder for the charitable and private sector to carry out their responsibilities for looking after our heritage on behalf of the nation.”

She added “The decision is entirely at odds with the Government’s assertions elsewhere that it is committed to promoting the reuse of historic buildings to support economic growth. All of the organisations that have signed this letter will be responding to the consultation in order to challenge the Governments justification for this change and we would urge others to do the same.”

Nigel Rees added “The GGF will continue to work with other trade organisations and relevant third parties in lobbying Government to make VAT fairer across all areas of the industry to the benefit of our Members and their customers.”

Dr Thurley made some very bold statements in his article, which has spurred the GGF Deputy CEO, Giles Willson, to jump to the defence of uPVC windows. He began by arguing that uPVC windows have a life expectancy of over 40 years, and can last a lifetime if they are properly maintained. He continued to defend the double glazing industry stating how uPVC can be recycled at least 10 times, in objection to Dr Thurley’s statement that this type of window ‘damages the planet’. The GGF have gone on to write a letter to Dr Thurley to counter his misleading claims about uPVC windows, also informing the Financial Times of the misinformation, offering guidance and evidence on the manufacturing of glass and glazing.

At Anglian Home Improvements, we believe that we can produce some stunning windows that will not only compliment your classic house, but it will improve its efficiency too, helping you update your period building and reducing your energy bills. A lot of people may think that you cannot recreate the original look and feel of a period building with uPVC, because the style, design and colouring will never be the same. Well, we disagree, as we offer a wide range of different styles, including sash windows in both uPVC and wood. If you had windows with cottage bars, these are also available, retaining the true charm of your lovely home. The windows do not have to be the traditional white either as we have 4 different colours to match your homes distinctive vibe.

In some conservation areas or certain listed buildings, maybe you don’t want to replace the windows, but you are simply looking to improve their efficiency as you want to maintain the current heritage of the building. If so, secondary glazing is an option you should probably take a look at. It consists of a 4mm thick piece of glass within extruded, recycled aluminium alloy frames, which prevent draughts, noise pollution and heat loss. They fit onto your current windows, improving the efficiency without ruining the looks of the current windows.

As much as we appreciate a gorgeous, old, wonderfully crafted home, we understand the requirement to make them comfortable enough to live. We also understand that in some cases there are restrictions on some areas of conservation where uPVC cannot be used at all, so it is always best to check with your local council before carrying out any structural improvements.

Images sourced from: Ecohome.net

According to Servicemagic.co.uk website, 44% of the UK’s annual carbon emissions come from building and construction work, with WRAP (Waste and Resources Action Programme) saying that we use 420 million tonnes of materials each year.

However, a new trend has started to occur that is making home improvements not only cheaper, but more eco-friendly too. It’s using reclaimed building materials which are recycling household products,  anything from wood flooring to old fireplaces and roof tiles.

Image sourced from: Salvo.co.uk

Frequent examples of using reclaimed building materials are shown on the Channel 4 programme Grand Designs, which my partner and I watch frequently to pick up on tips and ideas for our own house.

Recently, architect George Clarke spoke at this year’s Ideal Home Show saying “Rather than putting in renewable technology like solar panels, often the cheapest way to make your home eco-friendly is to reuse items no one wants anymore. What I really like about architecture is the mix of the old and new.”

What are reclaimed materials?

Reclaimed materials come in all shapes and sizes which have been taken from one project and reused on another. They can be used for their original purpose or can be modified to meet their new consumer needs – with some items you can get rather creative. Many stores and yards across the country are gathering these materials and selling them at a great discount. 16th Century Salvage Yard is great example of where you can pick up some real gems!

Image sourced from: 16th Century Salvage Yard

According to the Sustainable Build Company, currently only 1% of available reclaimed materials are used in building projects in the UK, a real shame given that construction materials make up 122 million tonnes of waste a year! That’s a third of the UK’s overall total waste! On Llama Developments blog site, they have stated that “the embodied costs associated with extraction, production, manufacture and transportation of building materials are immense. Using reclaimed materials can significantly reduce these environmental impacts, and save up to 95% of the embodied costs by preventing unnecessary production of new materials, and reducing the amount of waste in landfill.”

So what kind of materials can be reclaimed?

• Glass
• Lighting
• Radiators
• Taps and bathroom fixtures (I have a couple of these in my own bathroom as they were 50% cheaper than buying from a direct retailer)
• Bricks
• Slate roof tiles
• Concrete tiles
• Furniture (Gumtree is a great source to use when looking for these types of items)
• Staircases
• Wooden beams, cladding and flooring (This is a great example of reclaimed materials, especially for converted barns)
• Steel columns, lintels, fencing & beams

What are the benefits of using reclaimed building materials?

First off, using reclaimed materials is eco-friendly – In environmental terms, reclaimed timber, brick, roof slates and clay roof tiles are rated as an A+ by the Code of Sustainable Homes.

Secondly, reclaimed materials can save you money – In most cases reclaimed materials can be cheaper than buying new ones, although this is not always the case as sometimes not only does character cost more, but due to the recession salvaging these types of materials has become more popular, and as you know if something becomes popular, the price starts to soar.

Lastly, reclaimed materials can add character/ historical value – This one is fairly obvious, especially if you specialize in these types of renovation projects and of course watch plenty of home improvement programmes such as myself.

If you are more of a traditionalist than a modernist, using reclaimed materials can provide a unique style and character, especially if you are renovating an historical or period property. But if your household is slightly more modern, then using reclaimed materials should be done carefully otherwise you run the risk of having your house looking disjointed.

Image sourced from: Trendir.com

Have you converted your home by using reclaimed materials? We would love to see some pictures and examples of them being used! If you would like to share your reclaimed materials examples with us then please email them to blog@angliangroup.com and we will feature them in our next blog!

But Bobby on a Bike founder, Neil Smith,  with his friends Rob Bryan and Jeff Cribb wanted to add a twist to this years 10th Anniversary ride.  They will be attempting to do the 400 mile ride in “one hit”.

Most people would have trouble keeping their eyes open for that long without cycling that many miles at the same time, but they are hoping that the non stop ride will take them 26 –  30 hours….. that’s less than two days!

The journey will start from the relatively flat county of  Suffolk,  through the rolling countryside of the Cotswolds and Wye Valley to the very hilly and mountainous countryside of mid Wales, heading eventually to the rugged coast at Borth, near Aberystwyth.

2012 will be the 5th ‘May ride’ and the 10th Anniversary Ride for Bobby on a Bike.

Neil Smith centre with some of the Bobby on a Bike riders for 2012

The riders will start and finish at RNLI stations on either side of the country and the exact route they will be following will be issued to the riders daily.   For those of you just wanting a rough guide it will be as follows:-

Day 1 – May 27th – Aldeburgh RNLI to Comberton, nr Cambridge – 95 miles
Day 2  - May 28th – Comberton to Stratford Upon Avon – 105 miles
Day 3 – May 29th – Stratford Upon Avon to Three Cocks, Wales – 89 miles
Day 4 – May 30th – Three Cocks to Borth RNLI – 89 miles

Neil is no stranger to challenges, previously he has completed two trips from Canada to Mexico,  crossed the USA from Coast to Coast and last but not least four ‘May Rides ‘ in the UK.

Neil, Rob Bryan and Jeff Cribb will assist with support on the first day of the May ride, then return to the start, where, at 6.00a.m. on Day 2 they will begin their non-stop ride from Aldeburgh in Suffolk to Borth on the Welsh coast.

As this year is the 10th Anniversary of Bobby on a Bike and not wanting to take anything away from the riders taking part in the challenge, Neil explained that he needed to provide himself with a challenge which will exceed anything he has done before;  he knows he can ride the May Ride. What he doesn’t know is, if he can do it in one go.”

We hope that if you see the riders on route from one side of the country to the other that you will give them your support and the encouragement they so richly deserve!

With this season’s shows all straining at the leash to get started, I’d recommend having a look at The Great British Home Show from the 31 May – 4 June at Glow, Bluewater in Kent.

The exhibition is on for five days, and will show-case up-to-date styles and ranges to suit all homes and budgets.

The event will coincide with the Jubilee bank holiday weekend when it is hoped that people will be in the mood to refresh their homes after all the bad weather we have been experiencing recently.
The show is all under one roof and will give the visitor the opportunity to look for that special piece of furniture that will fit into their life.

As Suzanne suggests in her book, if you are looking for some new furniture,  always try to choose something that you have a good feeling about and that you will be happy to have  as one of your key pieces to keep for a life time.

Choosing the right furniture shows your style and personality and will be a pleasure to live with.

Whether it’s a piece of furniture that has been handed down by your family or a special find at an auction or shop, you’ll never tire of the right piece.  Some pieces catch your eye and even when you have decided they are too expensive, they sometimes  niggle at the back of your brain until you have negotiated with yourself over the price and can justify why you want to buy it…………of course it will look good in your home!

There’s also a great reason to visit, because if ou book early you can get up to 65% off the price of your tickets to the show by clicking here

Last year’s show coverage on the BBC was presented by Alan Titchmarsh and other celebrity gardeners. Not only did the coverage include the many brilliantly designed gardens in all their splendour but also showed the behind the scenes work that went into setting up the show and dismantling of the event at the end of a very busy week in Chelsea.

This year the show will be covered over 13 episodes on the BBC with the usual mix of celebrity presenters.  Chelsea is viewed by millions of people either in person or on TV and is a great source of inspiration to those people looking to improve their gardening knowledge.

Following on from the flower show Alan Titchmarsh has a new TV series showing at the end of June, called ‘Love your Garden’ which will be co-presented with David Domoney, TV personality and garden designer.

David is no stranger to the gardening and TV world, having had award winning gardens at both Chelsea and the Hampton Court flower show.

Anglian Home Improvements were proud to be sponsors of ‘The Naked Garden’ which was designed by David and  awarded a Silver Medal at the Hampton Court flower show in 2011.

David Domoney and the Dutchess of Cornwall viewing the award winning ‘Naked Garden’

Most recently David has inspired us all with his infectious enthusiasm to get gardening, during his recent TV programme ‘Garden ER‘.

We shall be watching and waiting for David’s next exciting presentation of landscapes and features during the ‘Love your Garden’ series starting at the end of June.

We are giving you the opportunity to win £5,000 worth of energy efficient windows to help you save money on your energy bills for next winter.

By swapping single glazed, inefficient windows for energy efficient windows you could save yourself up to 18% of your yearly energy bill……. what a saving that would be!

If you would like the chance to enter the competition simply go to the click here on to the web site and answer the following  question :-

The Jubliee is celebrating how many years of the Queen’s reign?

Follow the details to the bottom of the page and complete the answer on the form.  The terms and conditions for the completion can be seen on the page.

Heart FM will pick a winner at random from all the correct entries received when the competition closes at 23.59 on Sunday 27th May 2012.
If you would like to find out more call Anglian Home Improvements on 0800 500 600.

The Great British Home Show runs from Thursday 31st  May – Monday 4th June at Glow Centre, Bluewater.

If you book your tickets early you can get up to 65% off the ticket price to the show by quoting ‘anglian1′ and clicking here

Good luck with your entry!

Anglian Home Improvements was started in 1966 by George Williams, under the trading name Anglian Windows. It was born in Britain and began trading from Norwich, opening its first showroom in 1969, in the town of Ipswich.

Since then the company has come on leaps and bounds and now produces market leading products, all of which are Made in Britain. The Norwich factory produces its own uPVC extrusions for use exclusively in Anglian products. We are the only company in Britain that produces its own uPVC extrusions, which are then used in our windows, doors and conservatories designed and built specifically for your home. We are proud to offer products that are Made in Britain, made with precision and made with care to ensure the perfect fit for in your home – isn’t that something worth shouting about?

In this current economic climate many countries are supporting their own local companies, factories, and manufacturers to help lift their communities, and we’d like to hope the British people will do likewise. As the article states, David Cameron cannot just tell everyone to Buy British, when half our exports go to the EU, but he can encourage people to buy products produced in the UK. It is not just about British companies, but about buying from any company that is in production in the UK, therefore helping boost the British economy and helping us out of this recession. Believe it or not, the UK is one of the biggest manufacturers in the world, so buying goods that are made in Britain is easier than you might think.

As of next year John Lewis will be putting a Union Jack logo onto each of its British products to show support to British manufacturing. British produced goods are very popular in the food and catering industry, which has seen campaigns to support local farming become a great success in increasing the market.

So, when it comes to choosing your next home improvement company; think about where the products are made, how much money you can save, and how long they are going to last. If you were to install Anglian’s A-rated EcoGain windows, you would be buying a product that is made in Britain, one that will save you money for years to come and one that has a 10 year guarantee, giving you peace of mind that nothing will go wrong.

Anglian home Improvements are the headline sponsors for the Great British Home Show this year too, which is being held at Glow, Bluewater on 31st May – 4th June.

Anglian Home Improvements, made in Britain, made with care, made to last.

The position they were hoping to achieve in the league was 17th place or above to avoid relegation in their first year back in the premiership and with only one game to go they hope to keep their 13th  position,  not unlucky at all!

What a season it has been with the support of the many fans from all over the world, the club and many assistants, this dream has been achieved.

The club takes great pride in being able to thank the fans for their support during the season and one event that the fans can get close to the players is the End of  Season Players Awards Dinner which is to be held at the club on Monday 14th May 2012.

Presentation from last years event with Grant Holt receiving a trophy from Ben Flatt and Andy Brown of Anglian Home Improvements.

Which players do you think will receive the awards this year?

Why not let us know who you think it will be?