A former bishop snipped a red ribbon around a copy of Hindringham, Standing Out in North Norfolk at its launch at a packed village hall on Sunday to complete a labour of love by its compilers.

A former bishop snipped a red ribbon around a copy of Hindringham, Standing Out in North Norfolk at its launch at a packed village hall on Sunday to complete a labour of love by its compilers.

Tony Foottit, as vicar from 1964-72, gets several mentions in the large format, 160-page hardback book which contains over 300 old photographs, maps, drawings and illustrations. He went on to become Bishop of Lynn.

It is the work of Hindringham History Group members. In 2002 the group staged a history weekend in the village. It was an overwhelming success, bringing the community together. The group held an even more ambitious history event, for a week, in 2006, and in their book the group sets down in permanent form some of the information and photographs amassed for those two events.

Those contributing to the writing of the book were Monica Edmonds, Ann Ellis, Guy Hewitt, John Rodgers and Philip West.

At Sunday's launch, village-born Mr West said: “It is your book. It is from your information, your help, assistance and photographs that we have been able to put together this volume.”

He said hundreds of hours had been spent on its preparation and he particularly thanked John Rodgers and Guy and Jackie Hewitt - “newcomers and foreigners who had embraced the village since they moved in” for their work.

Mr Foottit said; It is a wonderful achievement and I congratulate everyone involved. We move about too much these days and it is important we know something about our roots and what has gone before us.”

Hindingham, Standing Out in North Norfolk is priced at �19.99 (�2.95 p&p) and is one of Halsgrove's Community History Series. It can be obtained from Halsgrove Direct, Halsgrove House, Ryelands Industrial Estate, Bagley Road, Wellington, Somerset TA21 9PZ (Tel 01823 653777, fax 01823 216796), email: sales@halsgrove.com, website www.halsgrove.com