East Dereham has seen many changes in the last 100 years - and most not for the better.  Following the Second World War the town was built up by various entrepeneurs.  Subsequently East Dereham established a reputation second to none for light industry.  Companies such as Hobbies, Jentique, Metamec, Dreiboltz and Crane Freuhauf kept the people of East Dereham employed and relatively prosperous.

The downturn in the town's fortunes began in 1979 and the various recessions that followed worsened the situation. Takeovers and buyouts saw an end to reliable employment.  One of the most pressing concerns of the population was that of youth unemployment.  As more and more emphasis was placed on "service" industries, manufacturing was more and more seen as a low priority.  To some it seemed as if the only employment on offer involved the wearing of a paper hat and  the insertion of a burger into a  bun - and all for the lowest of wages and non-existant job security.  The very lesson that East Dereham had taught in the post-war period - that manufacturing is the only secure means to lasting prosperity - appeared to have been forgotten, or worse ignored.  The damage that this short-sighted attitude caused will take a generation to rectify.

of Norfolk

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