PRESS RELEASE FROM FOND - Friends of Norfolk Dialect


A new organisation devoted to the promotion, preservation and study of the
Norfolk dialect has been formed.

Known as FOND - Friends Of Norfolk Dialect - this new body was established
at a public meeting held recently at Yaxham Village Hall, near East Dereham,
where nearly 50 people from all parts of the county came together to agree a
constitution, set up an organising committee and decide on future action.

This gathering followed an earlier one at the same venue when a packed hall
voiced unanimous support for the formation of such a society.

The new committee is headed by Norfolk champion Keith Skipper, and with him
are Martin Kirby (vice-chairman), Tony Clarke (secretary), Brenda Bizzell
(membership secretary), Janet Woodhouse (treasurer) and committee members
Vera Youngman, Terry Davy, Cohn Burleigh and Peter Brooks.

Norfolk man Peter Trudgill, Professor of Linguistics at Lausanne University
in Switzerland, was elected FOND' s first President. He said: "The Norfolk
dialect is a vital means of helping to preserve Norfolk values, culture and
a way of life."

Keith Skipper said: "We are delighted at the level of interest being shown.
The true Norfolk dialect must be preserved. Our activities will combine the
serious and light-hearted. We hope to be meeting in different venues
throughout the county and invite everyone with an interest in their home or
adopted county to join us.

"There is so much we can do including vital work with schools and ensuring
television and film producers have no excuses for misrepresenting this
county's dialect."

Anyone interested in joining FOND should contact membership secretary Brenda
Bizzell at Walnut Tree House, Forncett St Peter, Norwich, NR16 IHR. Cost of
membership is £5 single and £8 double; children under the age of 18 will be
admitted free.

22nd October 1999