Steeple Morden village newsletter

Editors: David & Karen Brown 15 Hay Street, Steeple Morden, Telephone 01763 853793 Steve & Alison Dyche 8 Hay Street, Steeple Morden, Telephone 01763 853038

Email: newsletter@steeplemorden.org

Village Diary for December If you want your event published here please contact the Editors.

Thurs 1st Dec Over 60’s Xmas Lunch (pg 5) th Sat 10 Dec Traidcraft (in SM church 10:30-noon) th The Nativity (pg 2) Sun 18 Dec

PARISH COUNCIL NEWSLETTER

Future Events: Sat 14th Jan 2012 Traidcraft (in SM church 10:30-noon) Sat 28th Jan 2012 Murder Mystery Evening (pg 7) 2nd to 5th Jun 2012 Flower Festival (pg 2)

DECEMBER 2011 (Special paper Edition) From the Editors Well, it is the last Newsletter of 2011 and how time has flown!

This month delivers a special paper version of the Newsletter to your door. As you will see from the article to the right, there is an update about the distribution of the Newsletter, plus more information can be found in the Parish Council Meeting notes on page 3.

With the festive season fast approaching it is good to reflect on family life and, hopefully, the gathering of these family units over Christmas time.

If you get a few moments over the Christmas break, please take the time to read through the Newsletter, there is lots of useful information included this month.

We are sure that the community spirit will ensure that we all see each other at some point

Important Newsletter Distribution: The PC have decided that, to save your money and to help with the environment, the Newsletter will continue to be available electronically for each edition on the Village Website and via e-mail subscription (www.steeplemorden.org) with 50 paper copies in the Post Office.

However, a full paper distribution to all households in the Parish will be made on an occasional basis (probably 3 times a year). during the festivities whether that be at the church services, Waggon & Horses or snowballing on the rec. (perhaps!).

The Newsletter team would like to thank you all for your support this year and we hope to continue to get the same and more support in 2012 and onwards.

On a final note, we would all like to wish you and your families a very merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Best Wishes Alison, David, Karen & Steve.

Don’t forget you can view this issue and back issues of the Newsletter online at www.steeplemorden.org and also subscribe to the monthly e-mail copy of the Newsletter. Lets 1 save money and trees!

Church Services For December SS Peter and Paul Church Steeple Morden

Guilden Morden Congregational Church

The Church of SS Peter and Paul in Steeple Morden is one of six churches within the Shingay Group. A full programme of monthly services for the whole group is published monthly in the Prospect Magazine, circulated free to all householders.

December 4th (Advent 2) 8.30am Parish Communion (Prayer Book) December 11th (Advent 3) 10.45am Mattins (Prayer Book) December 18th (Advent 4) 10am Nativity Service December 24th (Christmas Eve) 4.30pm Carol Service 11.30pm Group Midnight Communion at Steeple Morden December 25th (Christmas Day) 9.45am Parish Communion On the first and second Sundays of the month, when there is no Family Service at Steeple Morden, there is usually a Family Service suitable for children at one of the other five churches in the Group to which all are welcome.

Saturday 3rd December: 7.30pm Festive Folk Night – fancy dress optional – come sing and play festive folk carols, recite festive poems.

Sunday 4th December: Seasonal Sunday Supplement (might even have mince pies!)

Sunday 11th December: 10.30am Morning Prayer Sunday 18th December: Joint Service in the Chapel 10.30am Christmas Eve: Service of Carols and Readings 5pm Sunday 25th December, Christmas Day: Short Service of carols and fun! 10am All are invited to our Services and Social events, a warm welcome awaits you.

Fionnaigh, the new Minister, can be contacted on 07867666574/07895 076058/01767677680 or fionnaighal@hotmail.com Please let her know if anyone is housebound or ill and would like a visit.

Check out our website: http://www.guildenmordencongregationalchurch. com/

Full details of these can be found in "Prospect" magazine

An important and exciting date for your diaries SUNDAY 18 DECEMBER at 10.00am Steeple Morden Church Nativity Service for Children and by the Children The story of the birth of Jesus told in a simple way, with children’s participation and traditional carols Children, please come dressed as an angel, a shepherd or a king and bring along your parents, grandparents, aunties, uncles and friends.

You are all welcome to stay for refreshments afterwards

Please Help! Musicians needed in Steeple Morden.

Sadly, two of our older Morden Metronomes, who play at the monthly Family Service in Steeple Church, are leaving at Christmas, owing to other commitments.

We would welcome some new players, from about grade 3 level, and more advanced players, to join the group. It is a good opportunity for young players, who do not have to be regular attendees at church, to gain valuable experience of playing in an informal group, If you are interested or have any queries, please phone Rose Dickinson, 852138, or even come to the nativity on 18th December and Carol Service on 24th December to listen to the Metronomes.

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Flower Festival Jubilee Weekend 2nd to 5th June 2012

NEWS FROM YOUR PARISH COUNCIL The full PC meets on the second Monday of the month in the Cricket Pavilion at 7.30pm.

The meeting is listed every month in the Village Post Office window, on the Notice Board at the Recreation Ground, and in Odsey near the station.

A copy of the full minutes from Council Meetings may be obtained by contacting the Parish Clerk, Sally Walmesley, Redwood Lodge, South Street, Litlington, Royston SG8 0QR. Telephone 01763 852137 or e-mail sally.walmesley@btinternet.com. Minutes can also be viewed on the Steeple Morden Village Website www.steeplemorden.org and the Village Post Office.

Discussion on agenda items at the November PC meeting included the following: • Cllr John Brocklehurst gave a short update on the progress of the Odsey Car Park, although, in the absence of County Cllr Linda Oliver these details were not a full update. The County Officer involved in the discussions about the car park has said that a census of the people parking on the verges is needed, asking them if they are willing to pay. In addition, Cllr John Brocklehurst collected 82 registration numbers of cars parked on the verges in Odsey and a locality check with the police confirmed that the majority were from villages in the immediate area.

• District Cllr Cicely Murfitt gave a short report on a number of items: a new company has been engaged to deliver the magazine (see item below), the government is in consultation for changes to the licensing law which would remove the need for an entertainment license for venues with fewer than 5,000 guests – which Cllr Murfitt is deeply concerned about and has sent a letter to Andrew Lansley MP expressing this.

• The Councillors reviewed a planning application for a single storey dwelling at 11 Church Farm Lane.

There were a number of concerns, so the application was refused with several items to be raised with District Council Planning.

• The Parish Council was advised that the intended presentation at the December PC meeting by the planning applicants for the Horse and Groom on the A505 was to be postponed to January.

• Cllr John Jarman reported on the Village Hall. A detailed quote is to be reviewed at the next Village Hall Meeting for the proposed extension. The Councillor also raised a great concern over the lack of interest from the Parish to fill the role of Village Hall Committee secretary. They are struggling massively with resources and really need another person to help.

• The Newsletter Distribution was discussed, at length. 168 people have subscribed to the e-mail Newsletter. There had been no complaints about the Newsletter becoming an electronic copy, although, when asked, most people prefer a paper copy. In continuing with an electronic version the PC saves £1,000 a year from the precept. After much debate, the PC decided to continue with an electronic monthly Newsletter (50 paper copies in the Post Office) but to have an occasional paper copy sent to every household in the parish.

• It was agreed that the Cowslip Day will be held on 21st April 2012, subject to an working party being set up to ensure a successful day and a fair division of workload for those involved.

• The Parish Council Quality Status is due for renewal in March 2012. The number of man hours and process required to achieve the status is very high, so Cllr Traverse-Healy has been tasked with determining the difference between having the Quality Status or not so that the PC can evaluate whether the benefits make it worth the effort.

• Cllr Angus Alexander commented that the phone box on Hay Street now has a phone installed, although the phone has not been connected.

•

Cllr Traverse-Healy suggested that sad passing away of Chris Metz be noted and also his past efforts and stalwart help within the Parish.

The next edition of the South Cambs. Magazine is being delivered now. You should have received yours by 15th December. I know of several houses that are frequently missed. However, SCDC has engaged a new delivery company who promise to deliver to absolutely every house including what I call the "far-flung" properties outside the immediate village outline which are often missed.

All delivery queries should be sent to PDC, 01904 606 300 Email customerservice@teampdc.co.uk 3 or if you prefer contact me on 01763 852 526.

Cicely Murfitt, SCDC Cllr for the Mordens Ward

Steeple Morden Parish Council LIST OF COUNCILLORS AS AT 10th MAY 2010

The Village Wheelchair There is a manual wheelchair available for short term use by anyone in the village.

For more information and availability please contact Trish at the Post Office.

CLLR J BROCKLEHURST (Chairman) Pennard House, Station Road, Odsey 01462 742856

MOBILE LIBRARY

CLLR T TURNER (Vice Chairman) 2 Railway Cottages, Odsey 01462 742276 CLLR A ALEXANDER 21B Cheyney Street, Steeple Morden 01763 852753 CLLR J CLAYTON Cheyney Bury, Steeple Morden 01763 852203 CLLR J HOBBS 51 Hay Street, Steeple Morden 01763 852902 CLLR J JARMAN 74 Station Road, Steeple Morden 01763 852275 CLLR S NORTON Two Trees, 40 Hay Street, Steeple Morden 01763 853130 CLLR B SPALL 16 Woodland Grange, 66 Hay Street, Steeple Morden. 01763 852864 CLLR S TRAVERSE-HEALY 46 Station Road, Steeple Morden 01763 853843 DISTRICT CLLR MRS MURFITT 01763 852526 COUNTY CLLR MRS OLIVER 01767 650430

Emily Matthews From home to home, and heart to heart, from one place to another The warmth and joy of Christmas, brings us closer to each other.

Wednesday 7th

The Mobile Library stops in the village every month on a Wednesday.

It stops at Russell Close between 10.10am and 10.55am.

The calling date for December is: December 2011.

WAGGON & HORSES PETANQUE TEAM SUCCESS I have been running a Petanque Team from the Waggon & Horses for 19 years, and this year we have won Division 2 of the Central Cambs League and have only lost one game all season. Next year we will be going into Division 1 of the Central Cambs League.

Congratulations to all the team and many thanks to everyone who has supported us.

Ginger Prentice

SAVE THE CHILDREN QUIZ NIGHT The Committee would like to thank everyone who supported the Quiz Night back in October.

We had a very successful and fun evening, and raised £420 for the charity through ticket sales and a raffle.

We really appreciate the turnout and in return hope everyone enjoys the events.

With our thanks again.

The Save The Children Committee, The Mordens Branch

Don’t forget you can view this issue and back issues of the Newsletter online at www.steeplemorden.org and also subscribe to the monthly e-mail copy of the Newsletter. Lets save money and trees!

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RE-ABLEMENT Re-ablement is a new service provided by the county council and its NHS partners. It enables people who require short term care and support following an illness or operation to live in their own homes and to regain or maintain their independence. There is no cost for Re-ablement whilst people are participating in the programme.

If you or someone you care for requires social care support following an illness or operation, this would traditionally have been provided by a care assistant providing direct care to the person in need.

Since September 2010 a new service, re-ablement, has been providing support to enable older people who have poor physical or mental health following illness or an operation to live in their own homes.

Re-ablement programmes can last for as little as a few days and generally don’t exceed six weeks. The ethos of reablement is to encourage people to do things for themselves rather than having things done for them. There is no charge to the individual as long as they are participating in the programme.

Re-ablement is now being offered to a wider client group including new service users with a physical disability and new occupational therapy referrals. Future development of the service will look at assisting older people who already have a care package but due to illness or physical issues may now require a higher level of support.

You can find out more about re-ablement at www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/social Amanda Davies Communications Officer, Quality and Transformation Team , Cambridgeshire County Council Adult Social Care

MORDENS AND LITLINGTON MOBILE WARDEN SCHEME VACANCY FOR WARDEN Due to the retirement of the present incumbent we are inviting applications for the position of Warden. Applicants must be able to demonstrate experience of caring for the elderly.

The Warden will be required to cover the three villages of Steeple Morden, Guilden Morden and Litlington. The position is permanent and part time - ten hours per week.

Queens Diamond Jubilee Celebrations 2012 A local parishioner has suggested that the parish host an event in 2012 to celebrate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.

The official celebrations are taking place on 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th June.

Monday June 4th (a Bank Holiday) appears to be the best day to hold a local event.

If you have any suggestions for the type of event that could be held and/or if you would like to be involved in organising the event, we would like to hear from you. Please contact any member of the Parish Council, either by e-mail or phone – their contact details can be found on page 4.

Steeple Morden Over 60’s Club

The duties involve contacting each of our members (currently 21) on a daily basis by telephone and on a weekly basis by personal visit. The daily phone call is to ensure our members are safe and not in need of any immediate assistance and the weekly visit is to help members with any issues that are troubling them and to liaise with government agencies where appropriate.

We meet on the first Thursday each month at 2.30pm at the village hall Steeple Morden. New members always welcome, we do have wonderful cakes and a lovely cup of tea.

The ideal candidate will have a friendly disposition and have a genuine interest in caring for our elderly members who in many cases are disabled, housebound and living on their own.

Please contact Ann Thorp 01763 852848 for any further information.

In the first instance please apply in writing, enclosing your CV to: Mrs Debbie Brown, Glebe House, South Street, Litlington, SG8 0QR.

1st December

Christmas Lunch – Bushel & Strike, Ashwell

I hope this has wetted your appetite, to come and join us.

Visitors Welcome £1

Charles Dickens It was always said of him, that he knew how to keep Christmas well, if any man alive possessed the knowledge. May that be truly said of us, and all of us!

And so, as Tiny Tim observed, God Bless Us, Every One!

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Contact Names, Numbers and E-Mail Addresses for Organisations and Groups in the Village The purpose of the list is to give initial points of contact for people and their families who are new to the village or who want to join some leisure activity. If you run an organisation or group that you think should be represented in the list please contact the Editor.

Organisation

Contact Name

Phone Number

E-mail

SM Newsletter Editors

David & Karen Brown Steve & Alison Dyche Richard Lloyd The Principal Genesta Harris Fionnaigh Reid Diane Knight Keith Austin Debbie Fisher Ann Clarke Annabel Barrett

01763 853793

newsletter@steeplemorden.org

01763 853038

newsletter@steeplemorden.org

01763 852474 01763 242344 01763 852305 07867 666574 01763 853073 01763 852023 01763 852811 07756 291899 01763 853169 07952 100208 or 01763 852888

office@steeplemorden.cambs.sch.uk

SM Newsletter Editors Primary School Village College SS Peter & Paul Church GM Cong. Church SM Village Hall Bookings Scouts, Cubs & Beavers Brownies Guides Allotment Society Smarties Pre-School and Out of School Club

Cricket Club Football Club Bowls Club Tennis Club Waggon & Horses Morden Players Over 60s Club Luncheon Club Royal British Legion RBL (Women’s Section) Mothers Union Mobile Wardens Scheme WI Mordens & Abington Piggots Conservatives Neighbourhood Watch Social Car Scheme

Fraser Daws Brian Sarll Danny Sheehan George Goddard Sandra Lloyd MT Cherasse Ann Thorp Debbie Fisher Roger Lane Tricia Covington Anne McShane Brian Spall Dorothea Pitt Irma Mundy

01763 07918 01763 01763 01763 01763 01763 01763 01763 01763 01763 01763 01763 01763

853008 166468 853101 852287 852829 852720 852848 852811 853984 852982 853977 852864 852893 852178

Roy Newbury Angela Dodd

01763 852241 01763 852952

No e-mail fionnaighhal@hotmail.com Viguersk@aol.com keith.austin@tesco.net debbie-fisher@hotmail.co.uk elainewhittington@talktalk.net david@morganpup.plus.com Pre-School: preschool@steeplemorden.cambs.sch.uk Out of School Club: outofschool@steeplemorden.cambs.sch.uk fraser.daws@virgin.net

steeplemordentennis@yahoo.co.uk info@thewaggonandhorses.net morden.players@msn.com annthorp35@yahoo.com debbie-fisher@hotmail.co.uk roger.lane@ramus-solutions.com anne.r.a.mcshane@btinternet.com

Cambs Police: www.cambs.police.uk

If the contact details need to be amended please let the Editor know, so that the list can be as accurate as possible at all times. A list of local useful numbers can be found on the village website (www.steeplemorden.org) and more general useful numbers can be found on the inside back page of The Listing.

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WHY PAY WHEN YOU DON’T HAVE TO Each month at Trading Standards we receive enquiries about things people have paid for that they could have got for free. In this article, we give advice on where you may be able to save unnecessary expense.

Warranties and Guarantees When you buy goods, whether on their own (like a washing machine) or as part of a larger piece of work (such as a new bathroom installation), by law those goods must be of “satisfactory quality” and be “fit for their purpose”. They must be of a standard that a person would expect, bearing in mind the price paid, and be free from minor defects, be as described, and last a reasonable length of time for a product of that type. So if, for instance, the normal life of a washing machine is 5 years and yours stops working after two years due to a defect, you may be able to claim for a repair or replacement from the business you bought it from. This is the case regardless of whether you bought a warranty or guarantee. So consider carefully whether a warranty gives you anything extra.

Claiming from your debit card or credit card If you are in dispute with a trader, instead of taking them to court, find out whether your bank may be able to help you. If you paid for something on a debit card and there turns out to be problems with the purchase, many banks offer a ‘chargeback’ scheme where they refund you. Furthermore, if you pay for something worth over £100 and pay for at least some of it on your credit card, the credit card company is equally as responsible as the business that breaks its contract with you. So, if your holiday isn’t as it was described, if your new dining table arrives damaged, or if your new TV breaks down soon after purchase, you can insist that your credit card provider helps you if the shop won’t. This is even the case if you have paid off the amount you put on your credit card.

Personal Protection Insurance We have received a number of reports about companies offering to claim compensation for the mis-selling of personal protection insurance on residents’ behalf, whether in relation to a loan, mortgage or credit card. This is actually something you can do yourself. The Financial Ombudsman has produced a leaflet which is available on www.financialombudsman.org.uk on how to make the complaint yourself. If you don’t have access to the internet, you can contact the Financial Ombudsman for advice over the telephone on 0800 0234567.

European Health Insurance cards Even though some companies sell them, you can actually obtain a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) free of charge which entitles you to medical treatment that becomes necessary, at a reduced cost or sometimes free, when visiting a country in the European Union, Norway, Switzerland, Iceland and Liechtenstein. This is limited to treatment provided under the state scheme and you will need to produce your EHIC card. Visit www.ehic.org.uk to find out more and apply.

Legal advice There are many sources of free legal advice available to residents. Trading Standards, in partnership with Consumer Direct, offers advice to residents on issues with businesses. Visit www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/consumer to see how we can help you or call us on 0845 4040506. The Citizens Advice Bureaux offer advice on a wide range of issues including debt, benefits, employment, housing and family issues. Visit www.citizensadvice.org.uk or call 08444 111 444. Also, many people can get free legal advice under their home insurance policies; check yours to see if you can get assistance.

present a Pantomime Murder Mystery . . . . in aid of Steeple Morden church!

The Sleeping Beauty Assassination Steeple Morden Village Hall - January 28th 7.15pm for 7.30pm It’s the opening night of 'The Miss Terry Players‘ annual pantomime. The cast aren't prepared, the lines aren't learnt, and some members of the cast don’t even seem sure what pantomime they are performing. Things can’t get even worse. Or could they?

For one member of the cast, the pantomime story is going to take a wicked twist. Oh no! It isn't? Oh yes it is!

Come and enjoy a fine three course meal as you watch the opening night of the pantomime. . . and be prepared to do some solving should anything go badly wrong! Tickets just £15, available from Rose (01763 852138) or Anne (01763 853490). Please bring your own glasses and drinks 7

News from Smarties Pre-School This term we have been extremely busy, playing & learning at the same time.

To learn about autumn, we picked apples from a tree, washed, chopped & made them into apple crumbles.

We made leaf collages & hedgehogs with paper straw spikes. We scooped out pumpkins for Halloween & are now using the seeds for our bird feeders. We used more apples to make toffee apples & we made parkin for Bonfire Night. We have also planted bulbs in our garden to (hopefully!) give us some lovely colour in the spring.

We have explored various festivals such as Yom Kippur, Sukkot, Harvest Festival & Thanksgiving. Our special visitor Dina helped us to understand more about the Hindu festival of Diwali & we tried on costumes made from bright & colourful materials.

Our older children have scoured the village for shapes all around us & made photographic records of what we found. They have also been looking at the shapes of footprints left in sand that we laid out around our food tray, & trying to match them to those in our ‘Nature’ information book.

The older children have also designed & made safety signs for the setting & have thought about what kind words we ought to use at Smarties. The younger children bathed, fed & put our babies (dolls) to bed, after which we pushed them in their toy buggies up to the park for a play. This has helped us all to think about caring for others. In keeping with this theme of caring, we also used our toy shopping baskets & trolleys to push our Harvest Festival food collection to the Village Hall, to present to the Over 60’s Lunch Club. Tricia & Sue came in on Armistice Day to help us to think about others who may have lost a loved one. Finally, we held our annual car wash for Children in Need, so Pudsey can use the money we raised to buy things for children who might not have the use of a lovely new building or lots of toys to play with.

We are now in the run up to Christmas – our Dads have joined us one Saturday to make Christmas crafts, we have designed & made cards & tea towels to sell to raise funds, & we are practicing hard for our Christmas concert.

Merry Christmas to all from the children at the Pre-School.

Debbie Littlefair, Pre-School Leader 8

County Council and local updates from County Councillor Linda Oliver - do phone or email with concerns or need for information: Tel: 01767 650430 email: Linda.oliver@cambridgeshire.gov.uk Non-emergency number for police has changed: it is now 101. The old number 0345 456 4564 will continue for another 12 months. 101 is a national number and it will link in to the local police contact centre.

Policing and local crime: comparative figures demonstrate that crime is low again for this three months period. This underpins the overall indication that this area is one of the safest areas in the country in which to live.

Ancestry: Ancestry Library Edition is a leading online genealogy resource, with more than 5 billion names in over 4000 collections. It allows people to search census returns, birth, marriage and death records, passenger lists, and much, much more.

Access to Ancestry Library Edition is available free of charge in Cambridgeshire Libraries.

A free workshop will take place at Central Library, Cambridge, on Thursday 15th December at 2.30 pm and will last one hour. The session is open to anyone aged 16+. To reserve a place email Your.Library@cambridgeshire.gov.uk call 0345 045 5225, or ask any member of staff in Central Library.

This workshop has been made possible by the generous support of volunteers from ProQuest, an information firm central to serious research and the distributor of Ancestry Library Edition.

The Stepping Stones Children’s Centre in Brook Road, Bassingbourn has been officially opened. It has an activity room, a health room and outdoor play area for children. The other part of the building provides new facilities for the Pre-school, breakfast club and out of school club. Children’s Centres offer easier access for families of children under five to health, family support and drop-in activities, along with information about local childcare, early education, specialist services for under 5’s and help with finding jobs and training.

E-books update - currently publishers are uncertain of their approach to the lending of e-books by public libraries. However, Cambridgeshire County Council has 217 titles available for download – but not to a Kindle. Access is via the website and using your library card Rigid plastics recycling: Cambridgeshire residents can now recycle rigid plastics as part of a new recycling scheme being launched across all nine Household Recycling Centres. An earlier trial netted nearly 27 tonnes of rigid plastics in three months. All the rigid plastics collected were sent for recycling to a local company.

Included are corrugated pipe, buckets, dustbins, water butts, garden furniture, plant pots and non-electrical children's toys. However, materials such as plastic bottles, yoghurt pots, ice cream tubs, PVC pipes and UPVC door and window frames are not suitable.

Reporting potholes and requests for other highways repairs: the following is the weblink for the reporting of potholes. There is a map where the precise location of the problem can be marked up. An email receipt for your report is provided and it is possible for you to track progress. The link is within the Highways Reporting section of the County Council website. It is indeed an excellent system. http://www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/transport/roads/reportingafault.htm Alternatively phone the Highways Team on: 0345 045 5212 Trading Standards officers are reminding traders and customers about the provision of the seven days cancellation period when customers enter into contracts in their homes. This law was brought in to overcome issues such as intimidation through high pressure selling and allowing customers more time to consider their purchases.

For example: Trading Standards has seen an increase in queries from residents about ‘cold callers’ selling energy saving schemes, particularly loft insulation and solar energy. Below they offer some advice: - obtain three quotes to ensure the price and projected savings are competitive and realistic. Arrange a technical survey, rather than a sales visit, so the quote is accurate, and ensure all quotes are in writing, detailing what’s included. Once you’ve chosen your installer read the contract carefully and ensure their claims about savings and maintenance costs are included before signing so that you have evidence of what you were told Solar Energy - before you start it’s worth taking a look at the information provided by the Energy Saving Trust on www.energysavingtrust.org.uk or speaking to an advisor on 0800 512012.

For supplier/installer information, the Microgeneration Certification Scheme can provide a list of members online or by calling 0207 0901082 The Trading Standards service is running a countywide educational campaign to ensure all traders in the county know what is required of them, and that consumers don't suffer because of traders’ lack of awareness.

Finally, Trading Standards officers recently seized thousands of pieces of fake designer clothing, fashion and music items in raids on fraudulent traders operating in Cambridgeshire The items, had they been genuine, would have been worth around £50,000.

Guided Busway: journey numbers of 430,000 for the first two months of operation. The bus operators continue to add more buses to cope with the demand. It has proven to be such a success further development of the scheme is now being encouraged.

Information on local services and events: just enter your postcode on the County Council website. The ‘My Cambridgeshire’ mapping facility has been launched on the County Council's website to make it easier for residents to find a range of local information and services, near their homes. Residents can click on www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk and put in their address or postcode to find out where their local County Council run services are and how to contact them but also information on local services provided by partner agencies, such as the NHS and District and City Councils. Many local events are also listed.

Facebook – www.facebook.com/CambridgeshireCC. Twitter – www.twitter.com/CambsCC. Cambridgeshire County Council – www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk 9

Exciting new opportunity for community volunteers - Community Champions to work alongside Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service (CFRS) is launching a pilot scheme in South Cambridgeshire to encourage residents to carry out safety checks on their homes. The scheme is innovative in that it will rely on local volunteers to liaise with the community on its behalf.

CFRS is now looking for people who live in the South Cambridgeshire area to volunteer to become ‘Community Champions’.

Community Champions will be trained to speak to local community groups about home fire safety and escape plans, and to refer those people who are unable to carry out a check of their own home to CFRS for additional support.

Champions will also attend community events and take part in CFRS’s public consultation activity.

Cambridgeshire ACRE is running this pilot scheme on behalf of CFRS. We believe that our strong links with South Cambridgeshire parishes means we are well placed to generate a good level of support for the scheme and we would encourage anyone looking for an opportunity to take on a more active role in their community to consider becoming a Community Champion.

More information on the scheme can be found on the website or by calling me and, if you have any queries, you can contact me at Cambridgeshire ACRE on 01353 865037. Please note I normally work Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.

I’d be grateful if you could promote this initiative on your website and/or newsletter. Let’s work together to make South Cambridgeshire a safer place to live.

Lynda Bubb CFRS Community Champion Scheme Co-ordinator, Cambridgeshire ACRE Direct Line: 01353 865037, Mobile: 07850 671114 Main Switchboard: 01353 860850 Visit our websites www.cambsacre.org.uk & www.cambridgeshirelink.org.uk

MUMA Mother’s Union Mothers Active

URGENTLY REQUIRED Village Hall Committee – Secretary - A desperate appeal!

The Village Hall Committee run the village hall and ensure it meets the appropriate standards to suit the needs of the community.

The committee meets once a month and are urgently seeking a Secretary.

Main responsibilities are to take and publish the meeting minutes taking up roughly 2-3 hours, 4 times a year – someone must be able to spare this time!

If we do not find a willing volunteer the future of the running of the village hall is in serious threat.

If you are interested please contact John Jarman on 852275.

ASHWELL CHARITY CHRISTMAS CARD SHOP In case you are not aware, Ashwell has had a

Motherhood is a difficult but rewarding job…a relentless, tiring and frustrating job…a job that can leave you in despair or the heights of happiness…a job that can fill you with pride or fear, anger or overpowering love…a job full of power and pain…a job with overwhelming responsibility and influence.

Come and share your story, cry your tears, laugh with friends, find love and support.

A group for any mother whether you are with or without partner or husband, whether you are in paid work or at home, whether you have found faith or not, whether your children are pre-school, primary, secondary, adult or left home…this group is here for you.

Friday mornings during term time: 9am-11am, 68 Hay Street, Steeple Morden.

Starting 11th November 2011. Creche available.

Contact Annie Urquhart 01763 853829, annie.urquhart@btopenworld.com Or Rose Dickinson 01763 852138 rose@samaroph.net

Charity Christmas Card shop open for the festive period for the last 17 years and has raised in excess of £50,000. All proceeds from the shop are passed directly to the charities….this is in contrast to supermarket purchases where in the region of 5-10% of the price is passed onto the charities. Please feel free to come and browse in the shop where payment is by cash or cheques – cash preferred if possible. This year we open on Saturday

15th October and will then be open

every Saturday from 10-1 and Sunday afternoons from 2-4.30 until Sunday 18th December. The shop is located opposite the Village Stores on the corner with Bear Lane. WE LOOK FORWARD TO WELCOMING YOU AT THE SHOP. 10

Steeple Morden Football Club – Fixtures and Results Steeple Morden Football Club Fixtures December 2011 Matches begin at 2.00pm unless indicated otherwise Saturday 3rd Dec

1st Team NO GAME Reserves HOME to Great Chishill

Saturday 10th Dec

1st Team AWAY to Hardwick A Reserves AWAY to Cambourne Rovers Res

Saturday 17th Dec

1st Team NO GAME Reserves AWAY to Mott MacDonald

Both Teams play in the Cambridgeshire BIS League, the 1st team in Div 3A & the Reserves in Div 5B

BIS Div 3A Recent Results nd

22 Oct 29th Oct 5th Nov 12th Nov 19th Nov

Away to Wilbraham 3-2 Away to Fulbourn Institute ‘A’ 3-1 Home to Cottenham Utd 5-0 (Cup) Home to Wilbraham 3-1 Home to Eaton Socon A 3-1

COMBERTON RAMBLERS Join our friendly group for wonderful walks Comberton Ramblers’ Association walks an average of 5-6 miles every fortnight on a Sunday morning. We are a very friendly group who totally enjoy the lead walks in our beautiful countryside. There’s time to take a rest break if needed or to simply stop and enjoy the view or visit places of interest along the way.

Our members come from many local villages and from within Cambridge itself.

Go on, give us a try, you’ll have the benefit of an exhilarating walk plus the companionship of a group of like-minded people.

Membership is £7.50 per person for the year and people under 18 are free.

For more information and a further list of our walks, please contact the Secretary, Eileen Marsh on 01223 262940 or email marsh.eileen@gmail.com www.combertonramblers.org.uk Autumn Programme 2011 Start time - All walks start at *** 10:15 *** unless noted 11/12/11

BIS Div 5B Reserves Recent Results

Wimpole 5.5 miles.Undulating farmland dotted with small woods.

Meet at The Hardwick Arms.

Tel 01223 208802. Carvery which is very good.

22nd Oct 29th Oct 5th Nov 12th Nov

Home to Mott MacDonald 0-1 Home to Buckden Res 1-3 Away to Castle Camps 4-0 (Cup) Away to Haslingfield 3-2

November News Well another quiet month on the allotment supplemented by the forced abstinence of a well-earned holiday.

Before we went away we tried to get some preparation done towards the winter. Rhubarb was mulched as was the Asparagus, though this was still not cut down due to the continuing mild weather. Indeed what we thought would be our last weeding session until the spring proved a false dawn as this unseasonable weather meant a smattering of weeds greeted us on our return.

And as for the over-wintering onions, some of them are already sprouting 3-4 inches high, and being my first time I’m not sure if this is supposed to happen, so I am actually praying for cold weather, otherwise we might be eating fresh onions in January! Still I am sure I am not alone in the gardening fraternity to be hoping for a return to more normal seasons after this topsy-turvy weather year…

While we were away a ‘work –team’ cleared some of the communal areas of weeds, and this was the first in a move to try and add some permanence to the site. We have a work plan for 2012 which will hopefully see more substantial paths and possibly parking area by the end of the year, aligned of course with a couple of social events.

On a more practical note the allotment committee chairman, Dominic, who did sterling work in getting the allotments off the ground (excuse the pun) has been seconded to work abroad for 18 months from January. He wants to keep his allotment options open when he returns so if there is anyone out there, or any village group, who would like to take on an allotment please get in touch, bearing in mind this will only be on a temporary basis while Dominic is away.

Now I guess it is back to the weeding, in November…!

Steve Dyche steve_dyche@yahoo.co.uk 11

Opening Hours Monday – Thursday 17.00 – 22.00 Friday 17.00 – 21.00 Weekend Private Hire Only Bank Holidays Closed

Where Fitness Comes First...

We would like to wish all our customers a Very Merry Christmas and a Healthy New Year Get Fit for the Festivities!

With Christmas fast approaching, why not let us help you lose some pounds before the Christmas Break? We have loads of classes to keep you fit and healthy, including Cardio Box, Freestyle Yoga Fitness, Indoor Cycling, Circuit Training and 20:20:20 Fitness. Looking for something different to buy your loved ones this year? Then how about a Fitness Pass (£29.00 per month) or Indoor Cycling Discount Ticket (£40.00 for 12 sessions)?

If you prefer your exercise involving a racket or ball, then we offer a range of activities in our sports hall and outdoor astro-turf pitch, including badminton, short tennis, football, netball and cricket. Activities are priced from £7.00 per hour per court.

Party Time!

Looking to book a birthday or Christmas party? Then your search is over! We have the facilities here for a fun-packed event with a variety of activities for your guests to enjoy, including trampolining (always a popular choice), football and traditional parties.

Surface for all Weathers We do still have outdoor courts for hire, whatever the weather. And with the football season well underway, it’s a good idea to hire our modern, airy sports hall or floodlit synthetic pitch to keep your team on winning ways! (Limited spaces still available) Strictly Come Dancing Looking for the ideal location to practice your latest dance moves? Then why not hire our spacious fully-mirrored dance studio. Prices from £25.00 per hour.

Exercise Timetable:

Cardio-Box (Tuesday 19.15 – 20.15) – high energy boxing class

20-20-20 Workout (Wednesday 19.15 – 20.15) – 3 in 1 exercise class (cardio, strength and stretching), ideal for those who are limited for time

Freestyle Fitness Yoga (Wednesday 20.15 – 21.15) - fitness program incorporating stretch, strength & Yoga postures

Zumba (Thursdays 19.00 – 20.00) - Latin-inspired dance-fitness program that blends a cardio based workout with sculpting exercises designed to tone the entire body

Circuits (Fridays 18.00 – 19.00) - a combination of cardiovascular and resistance training. Ideal for all levels of fitness

Indoor Cycling (various sessions & times available) - focuses on improving aerobic fitness as well as toning legs and bum.

Great for losing weight and suitable for any level of fitness For further information on how you can keep fit and have fun at our facility, please visit our website at www.bassingbournsportscentre.co.uk or come in and visit us. We look forward to welcoming you.

Bassingbourn Sports Centre South End, Bassingbourn, Nr Royston, Hertfordshire, SG8 5NJ 01763 242344 / www.bassingbournsportscentre.co.uk

The Newsletter is printed by: Hales Printers, 23 Jarman Way, Royston, Hertfordshire. SG8 5HW. 01763 243195. www.halesprinters.com

Don’t forget you can view this issue and back issues of the Newsletter online at www.steeplemorden.org and also subscribe to the monthly e-mail copy of the Newsletter.

Lets save money and trees!

Contributions sent to the editors prior to the newsletter deadline will normally be printed in the next available edition. The deadline for the January edition is 12 noon on Saturday 17th December.

Contact details for the editors are at the top of the first page of the Newsletter

STEEPLE MORDEN VILLAGE HALL The Steeple Morden Village Hall is available for hiring for parties, wedding receptions, club and social activities.

It comprises: Tables, Seating for 120, Bar, Kitchen, Cooker, Fridge, Crockery, Stage, Parking.

For bookings and prices please contact: Diane Knight 33 Cheyney Street, Steeple Morden, SG8 0LR Tel 01763 853073 email: Viguersk@aol.com 12