Alcon june 14

VILLAGER The

Issue 27 - June 2014

and Town

Life

LOCAL NEWS • LOCAL PEOPLE • LOCAL SERVICES • LOCAL CHARITIES • LOCAL PRODUCTS

Inside this issue

Donkey Derby in Eltisley

Bromswold Bike Fest

Win £25

in our Prize Crossword

Bringing Local Business to Local People in Alconbury, Grafham, Kimbolton, Riseley, The Stukeleys and all surrounding areas every month

ur Yo EE y FRcop

2

Please mention The Villager and Town Life when responding to adverts

Contents Plotting a Vegetable Garden

16

VILLAGER The

Issue 27 - June 2014

and Town

Life

LOCAL NEWS • LOCAL PEOPLE • LOCAL SERVICES • LOCAL CHARITIES • LOCAL PRODUCTS

Inside this issue

Donkey Derby in Eltisley

Bromswold Bike Fest

Win £25

in our Prize Crossword

Bringing Local Business to Local People in Alconbury, Grafham, Kimbolton, Riseley, The Stukeleys and all surrounding areas every month

r

u E Ey FRcop

Yo

The Only Way Down...............................................18 A New Village Shop................................................20 A Transformation at Alconbury Weald....................21 Child Safety Week..................................................22 Puzzle Page............................................................24 What’s On...............................................................26 Prize Crossword......................................................28

Avoid Those Holiday Scams......................................4

Competition Winners.............................................30

Real Live Donkey Racing..........................................6

Skydiving in Australia

Cambridge Open Studios..........................................8

18

The Bromswold Bike Fest.......................................10 Make Divorce Quick And Simple.............................12 Go On, Treat Yourself..............................................15 Plotting a Vegetable Garden..................................16

7,000 copies delivered free of charge in the following areas: Abbots Ripton, Alconbury, Brington, Buckworth, Bythorn, Catworth, Covington, Dillington, Grafham, Great Staughton, Hail Weston, Keyston, Kimbolton, Kings Ripton, Leighton Bromswold, Little Staughton, Lower Dean, Molesworth, Old Weston, Perry, Pertenhall, Riseley, Shelton, Stonley, Stow Longa, Swineshead, The Stukeleys, Tillbrook, Upper Dean (We also have over 150 distribution points, including pubs, garages, most shops, post offices, Supermarket Chains in all of the above as well as in Huntingdon, Lt Staughton, Grafham Water Visitor Centre’s and Kimbolton)

Editor - Catherine Rose Editorial - Jonathan Vernon-Smith, Catherine Rose, Melanie Ridley, Tamara Glanvill, Pippa Greenwood, and Tony Larkins Advertising Sales - Justine Miller- 07905 063211 justine@villagermag.com Photography - Gina Sanders and Catherine Rose Design and Artwork - Design 9 Tel 07762 969460

Publishers Villager Publications Ltd 24 Market Square, Potton, Bedfordshire SG19 2NP Tel: 01767 261122 nigel@villagermag.com www.villagermag.com Disclaimer - All adverts and editorial are printed in good faith, however, Villager Publications Ltd can not take any responsibility for the content of the adverts, the services provided by the advertisers or any statements given in the editorial. No part of this publication may be reproduced or stored without the express permission of the publisher.

Three Counties Radio

Avoid those Holiday Scams

By Jonathan Vernon-Smith

With the holiday season almost upon us, I thought this month would be a good time for me to warn you about some of the most common holiday related scams that sadly people fall for year after year.

It’s seems a basic start, but only book holidays with good reputable companies THAT YOU’VE HEARD OF! It never ceases to amaze me how many people simply google ‘Cheap holiday’ and then part with hundreds of pounds on some website that may or may not be genuine. Always do your research to make sure you are paying a proper UK based company with a good reputation. It’s also advisable to use a company that is both a member of ABTA and ATOL for your protection.

Having booked your holiday with a genuine company, the next mistake some people make is to purchase their travel insurance from scamsters rather than a bona fide company. Again use a quality British insurer that will actually answer the phone if you find yourself in need of making a claim from the poolside in Faliraki.

Whilst you’re organising your health protection for your holiday, you should be aware that applying for your EHIC European health insurance card (which provides you with free or reduced health care in European countries) SHOULD be FREE! There are lots of websites out there that will charge you a fee for applying for the card on your behalf. Apply directly with the NHS or the post office and avoid be being ripped off!

If you’re like me, you’ll probably hire a car while away. There are of course various scams to watch out for with hire cars. Only ever use good, recommended firms, avoid the dodgy little backstreet hire car company that charges half the price of anyone else. You’ll probably find out why they’re so cheap when the wheels fall off.

One very important thing to watch out for when hiring a car abroad is that you ensure you have signed paperwork from the hire car company to confirm the condition of the car. Very often people drop off their hire car in a rush to get their flight home and don’t insist on this. It is imperative! I have known several people (sometimes using well-known companies) who have returned to the UK, checked their credit card, only to find a £500 charge for ‘damage’ to the car. Trying to prove that you didn’t cause it, when you’re no longer in the country and with no paperwork to support your argument, will be a nightmare.

The final holiday scams you MUST be aware of regard the dreaded ‘Timeshares’ or ‘Holiday Clubs’. I lose track of the number of times I’ve dealt with complaints from consumers on my radio programme about these.

Picture the scene: You’re strolling down the seafront, all bronzed and relaxed when a lovely, attractive (probably British) person approaches you and offers you either an invitation to an event or a scratch card that will provide you with the invite. Your guard is down as you’re on holiday so you agree. You’ll then be whisked off to a luxury venue, plied with pinot grigio and then forced to endure a hard sell on the advantages of joining their club. Sadly I have known even the most forceful, confident, savvy consumers get caught like this and the results have been awful.

Very often timeshare and holiday club contracts are difficult (and in some cases impossible) to get out of. What many people also fail to recognise is that these holiday club memberships are sometimes to be passed down to your children, meaning many years of misery not only for you, but for your family when you’ve died!

My advice is that when approached by anyone offering you something ‘for free’, particularly when your guard is down on holiday – KEEP WALKING!

Jonathan Vernon-Smith not only offers you his consumer advice here but you can listen to The JVS Show tackling your consumer problems every weekday morning from 9am.

4

Please mention The Villager and Town Life when responding to adverts

IF YOU’RE REALLY INTO PLANTS & POTS Collect a YOU REALLY SHOULD FREE bag of compost BE IN TO US! when you

spend over £20 with this advert! *

We are a traditional, friendly garden centre specialising in...

*50 litre RRP £3.95

Specimen trees & shrubs Conifers & bamboo Home grown bedding Pots and planters

QUALITY

VALUE

VARIETY

PARKHALL

OR GIVE US A SCAN

GARDEN CENTRE WE ARE EASY TO FIND Mon-Sat 9am-6pm Sun 10am-4pm Come into Somersham, turn into Parkhall Road (opposite the band stand), follow road over hump back bridge for half a mile into the countryside

Tel 01487 840397 www parkhallgardencentre.co.uk Sat Nav Somersham PE28 3HW *This voucher cannot be used in conjunction with any other offers

To advertise in The Villager and Townlife please call 01767 261122

5

Local News

Real Live Donkey Racing On a Village Green?

The normally quiet Cambridgeshire village of Eltisley will again be running a Donkey Derby on the 12th July with many more attractions added including a full size ox roast and an aerobatic air display. The whole event takes place on the village green with visitors expected from far and wide for what promises to be a great family day out. The event will be free to attend and there will be free parking.

The day will start at 1pm and the donkey races will be taking place all afternoon with a “tote” betting system in place for people that think they can spot a winner! For those that want to be even more involved on the day, the event’s website (www.eltisleydonkeyderby.co.uk) has details of how to apply to be a rider or driver

6

in one of the races as well as details of how to sponsor a donkey.

Alongside the donkey derby there will be a village fete running all afternoon with traditional stalls and free attractions. There will be teas and cakes on offer as well as the rare spectacle of a full size ox roast. Donkey rides and a children’s play area will also be set up for the day.

Once the donkey racing and village fete has closed down the evening’s big event will start at 6pm. A Live Music Stage will be set up on the village green featuring local bands from the surrounding area.

For more details go to: www.eltisleydonkeyderby.co.uk

Please mention The Villager and Town Life when responding to adverts

Visit our new community www.beds-local.co.uk

7

Local News

Cambridge Open Studios 2014 5th-6th, 12th-13th, 19th-20th and 26th-27th July

One of the oldest open studio events in the country, dating back to the 1960s, this year’s Cambridge Open Studios takes place over the four weekends of July - 5/6, 12/13, 19/20 and 26/27 – when 272 artists throughout Cambridgeshire will open their doors to members of the public completely free. The weekends are designed to give people the opportunity to speak with artists about their work, or even see works in progress and discover their techniques. Artists will include painters, sculptors, jewellers, potters, glassworkers, blacksmiths, photographers, illustrators, those who work with textiles and many more. The open studios initiative covers the whole county of Cambridgeshire and includes villages as well as the city itself. Participating studios will be open from 11am-6pm but visitors should check the website www.camopenstudios.co.uk in advance. Free yellow guide books are distributed throughout Cambridgeshire during the preceding months and are available at local libraries, galleries, tourist information shops. Entry is free to all studios. You can also follow COS on Twitter @ CamOpenStudios and Facebook. Below are list of participating artists who are local to Bourn, Comberton, Grantchester, Trumpington, Toft, Hardwick and surrounding villages.

Alicja Zimnickas Artist and interior designer 4 Winchmore Drive, Trumpington, Cambridge, CB2 9LW T: 07963 175508 E: alzimni@gmail.com www.zimnickas.com Nature-inspired paintings – full of light, positive atmosphere and harmony.

Easy parking. Weekends 1, 2 Elspeth Owen Ceramics and mixed media - working studio The Pavilion, Broadway, Grantchester, Cambridge, CB3 9NQ T: 07796 057746 E: elspethowen@gmail.com www.imaginedcorners.net Walk, cycle or punt from Cambridge to Elspeth’s workshop and garden, where she produces work in clay, wood, words, photography, dust and weather! Weekends 2 ,3

Tina Bone Painter 18 Harbour Avenue, Comberton, Cambridge, CB23 7DD 01223 262962 tina.bone@tinabonedtp.co.uk www.tinabonedtp.co.uk Natural history and botanical illustration, illuminated lettering with gold leaf.

Commissions – any subject. Email or phone all year for appointments.

Weekends 1, 3, 4 Karen Faulkner-Dunkley Silver and gold jeweller Grantchester Village Hall, High Street, Grantchester, Cambridge, CB3 9NG T: 01353 777176 E: karen@kfdjewellery.co.uk www.kfdjewellery.co.uk Elegant jewellery in silver and gold. Designed with Passion. Given with Love.

Worn with Style. Weekends 1, 2 Sue Moult Watercolour painter Grantchester Village Hall, High Street, Grantchester, Cambridge, CB3 9NG sue@suemoultwatercolours.co.uk www.suemoultwatercolours.co.uk Sensitive watercolour landscapes of Cambridge, East Anglia and southern Europe. Figurative still life studies.

Greetings cards. Weekends 1, 2

8

Mishtu Austin Batik and mixed media Grantchester Village Hall, High Street, Grantchester, Cambridge, CB3 9NG T: 07584 304577 E: mishtu.austin@gmail.com Silk batik paintings, colourful collages and ink bleach paintings. Also decorative painted ceramics and handmade cards. Weekend 3 John McGill Mixed media, sculpture Wheelchair access The Berern, Comberton Road, Toft, Cambridge, CB23 2RY 01223 263950 john.mcgill@camopenstudios.co.uk John uses metaphor, changing the familiar into something new by searching the “rubbish tips of art history for abandoned ideas”. Weekends 3, 4, Derek Moss Bronze, stone, wood The Berern, Comberton Road, Toft, Cambridge, CB23 2RY moss923@btinternet.com www.derekmossart.com Abstract and representational sculpture in traditional materials. Many exhibits are responses to Derek’s activities and observations in the Outer Hebrides.

Weekends 3, 4

Please mention The Villager and Town Life when responding to adverts

To advertise in The Villager and Townlife please call 01767 261122

9

Local News

The Bromswold Bike Fest A Cycling Festival for Everyone

2014 is an important year for cycling in Cambridgeshire when arguably one of the greatest sporting events, the third leg of this year’s Tour de France starts in the city of Cambridge on Monday 7th July. In honour of this fact a group of keen cyclists from Leighton Bromswold has organised a ‘Tour de West Cambridgeshire’ which takes place on Saturday 14th June. And the Bike Fest has already been awarded a Cycle Legacy Grant by Cambridgeshire County Council – an initiative set up to promote groups inspired by the famous race to organise their own cycle-linked events. The county council’s vision is for cycling to be promoted as an attractive and practical alternative to driving and an enjoyable, safe and healthy activity in its own right.

Being relatively flat and with an extensive cycle route network, the lovely county of Cambridgeshire is one of the best places in the country to ‘get on your bike’.

Leighton Bromswold itself is situated in the west of the county and in the heart of the Cambridgeshire Wolds – a less well known and very attractive part of Cambridgeshire with quiet country lanes and an undulating landscape of fields and woodland interspersed by historic small villages.

The aim of the Bike Fest is to get as many people as possible from Leighton Bromswold and the surrounding area to ride one of five cycle routes which are two, eight, fifteen, twenty-five and fifty miles respectively. So whether you are new to cycling, a family group or a keen cyclist, there is a route for everyone.

And it’s not just about cycling – the bike fest is also about fun, food and entertainment. The cycle routes will start and finish at The Green Man pub in Leighton Bromswold which will act as an entertainment hub throughout the day

10

and evening with fete-style games, beer, jazz and blues music, burgers and refreshments in the courtyard garden. It is hoped that all cyclists will be back by around 4pm.

In addition to encouraging people to discover the local countryside and enjoy health benefits by cycling, Bromswold Bike Fest will raise money for Macmillan Cancer Support, Samuel Pepys Special Needs School in St Neots and Holly Ward at Hinchingbrooke Hospital. There is no official entry fee to participate but the suggested donation to help raise money for these causes is £5 per person or £10 for a family group. You can also get friends and family to sponsor you online through JustGiving.com/Bromswoldbikefest.

For more information and to register please visit www.bbf2014.co.uk or call organiser Carol Greed on 01480 891568.

Please mention The Villager and Town Life when responding to adverts

®

safelocaltrades.com Recommended & Appro ed

Not sure who to trust?

Need a recommendation?

...see our recommended list, with local feedback WINNER

The award-winning Best New Business Idea www.safelocaltrades.com 2008 is your trusted local website, providing you with a register of highly recommended tried and tested tradesmen in your area. All members are interviewed, criminal record checked, vetted and approved, have agreed to abide by a Service Charter and are monitored on an on-going basis, giving you complete peace of mind. of

Improve Your Well Being!

Need Motivation?

Personal Training /Pilates On a one-to-one basis or in small groups

Our aim is to protect YOU from cowboy and rogue traders. in association with …

The safest and most beneficial way to exercise is with a personal trainer

FIND CONFIDENCE LOSE WEIGHT TONE & TIGHTEN FEEL GOOD

Peterborough Neighbourhood and Home Watch

KEEP SUPPLE - DELAY AGEING To find out more or to arrange a FREE consultation contact: Penny Hales Tel: 01933 317047 or 07956 558386 www.tightassets.co.uk pa.tightassets@btinternet.com

Looking out for the community

Just go to …

www.safelocaltrades.com or phone 0800 014 1832

The safest way to source a local tradesman Visit our new community www.beds-local.co.uk

11

Family Law

Make Divorce Quick and Simple

By Tamara Glanvill Solicitor at Woolley & Co Bedford www.family-lawfirm.co.uk

Quick and simple divorce: that’s the wish of Sir James Munby, England’s most senior family law judge. He has caused a bit of a stir by suggesting consenting couples should be able to divorce easily and simply - not involving the Courts by signing the necessary documents at a Register Office - cementing the fact that it is often seen as simply an administrative matter rather than a matter for the courts, in much the same way as you would register a marriage, birth or death.

Currently, seeking a divorce involves a petition being lodged with the Court and the matter ultimately going before a Judge for approval, even if it is not contested.

Quickie divorce?

Not so fast

Whilst I can see some merit in removing a divorce from the court system in some circumstances, for instance, where both parties agree and where there are no children, but I do feel this is still fraught with risk. Entering into marriage creates a legal unity that brings with it legal obligations and responsibilities. A husband or wife therefore, could unwittingly lose the chance of acquiring certain financial benefits if the marriage is then dissolved, such as the death in service benefits under a spouse’s pension. In my view it is always essential to seek legal advice before considering divorce so you are fully aware of what you may be losing out on as a result.

If this shake up of the divorce law were to be introduced, then I would hope that parties will be given time to take on board legal advice before going ahead. Whilst therefore we may not need to involve the Court, divorcing couples should involve a divorce solicitor. The fallout of doing it alone is a problem we are encountering on some levels already, with couples divorcing online without any advice at all, especially if they then remarry.

12

Remove fault in divorce?

Yes please

It is a frequently held belief that couples can already opt for a “quickie divorce”. The reality is there is no such thing. Currently, a standard undefended divorce takes between four and five months and you still need to include a reason for the breakdown of the marriage. This leads us on to talk about fault in divorce,(something which presumably any new divorce system which can operate without the courts would embrace).

Currently, there is no provision in this country to simply file for a divorce because both parties consent unless they have been separated for at least two years. It seems archaic and unnecessary that couples have to make allegations of adultery or unreasonable behaviour if they want to divorce before being separated for two years, so I fully support the introduction of a no-fault divorce, where the only ground should be “irretrievable breakdown”. Many in the family law sector have been calling for this for many years now and it seems to me that this would be an improvement to the system for the industry and clients alike, before considering moving some divorces out of courts altogether.

If you would like 30 minutes consultation to discuss your case please call Tamara Glanvill on 0845 680 2136 or email tamara.glanvill@family-lawfirm.co.uk to arrange a meeting or call.

Please mention The Villager and Town Life when responding to adverts

Are you in pain?

Chiropractic so often the answer • Back, Hip and Leg Pain • Headaches, Migraines • Cranial Therapy • Sinuses • Neck, Arm and Shoulder Pain • Muscle Ligament and Tendon Injuries • Paediatric Care

Brampton Chiropractic Clinic 84 High Street, Brampton PE28 4TH DR NEIL BROE, DC and Assoc

01480 436435

10% discount on initial visit www.neilbroechiropractor.co.uk BUPA and PPP registered Also at: Manor Lodge, Barham Road, Buckworth PE28 5AQ Tel 01480 891539 Registered with the General Chiropractic Council Members of the British Chiropractic Association Over 30 years experience

Relationship at breaking point?

Caring, confidential legal advice about: • Divorce & separation • Cohabitation

• Financial settlements • Child contact & residence

Visit www.family-lawfirm.co.uk or email tamara.glanvill@family-lawfirm.co.uk Local meetings arranged at a time and place to suit you.

FREE

half hour telephone appointment

Call locally based family and divorce specialist Tamara Glanvill on 0845 680 2136 (local rate) Woolley & Co is a member of the Law Society and authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority

Head office: Warwick Enterprise Park, Wellesbourne, Warwick. CV35 9EF

To advertise in The Villager and Townlife1 please call 01767 261122 W&Co_TamaraAd131.93mm07.13.indd

13 15/07/2013 14:57

14

Please mention The Villager and Town Life when responding to adverts

Beacon Wealth

Go On, Treat Yourself

By Tony Larkins

I had an interesting conversation today whilst reviewing the finances of a client, whom I started advising after the loss of her husband.

She is an intelligent woman who retired a few years ago and who has been left financially secure for the rest of her life. This by itself is not unusual of the clients we advise.

The conversation revolved around investment return and the level of income taken from the investments.

Investment returns have reduced of late due to the problems in the Ukraine, the valuations of certain technology and property company shares.

Returns remain positive and above benchmark, however, not as rewarding as during certain parts of last year. But overall, she was more than happy and returns were far better than the alternative of bank deposits or cash ISAs. The main concern she had was over her level of expenditure. The majority of my clients, wealthy or not (and it is all relative), have been brought up as I was. If you want something, you save for it, and therefore money has real value.

The idea of buying things just because you can is an alien concept – do not get me wrong, this is not what I am advocating. However, what I do advocate is that you know the type of life you want, how much it

Visit our new community www.beds-local.co.uk

Tony Larkins CFP APFS Managing Director IFA Chartered and Certified Financial Planner

costs, and if you can afford it - you should.

There are a lot of people who plan to do so much in their life once the inconvenience of work is out of the way, but who go on to contract a debilitating illness that curtails their plans and those of a partner.

So, do not put off til tomorrow what you can do today.

Going back to the start of this article, the interesting part of our conversation was when my client said, “I often think of you sitting on my shoulder, when I am considering buying something, and all I hear is – go on buy it” she said she often feels that she needs permission.

Now, at over six feet tall – I do not suggest I sit on anyone’s shoulder, but most of us have an inner voice that tells us what we really want to hear.

If your investments are the most suitable for your needs, and you feel confident their prolonged management will continue to meet your needs – do you not think you deserve the best life available? If you can, go on treat yourself.

You should always seek qualified advice from an IFA, preferably a Certified (CFP) or Chartered Financial PlannerCM (APFS). If you have a financial question, e-mail: tlarkins@beaconwealth.co.uk

15

Gardening

Plotting a vegetable garden Even the smallest garden can find space to grow vegetables. Start now and you can enjoy delicious home-grown salads all summer long.

Producing useful quantities of your own vegetables doesn’t take up as much space as you might imagine. There’s a lot you can plant out or grow from seed right now that will give you some super-tasty, succulent, and topquality salads in just a few weeks’ time. And salad leaves grown in ornamental pots can be as decorative as they are nutritious.

Before you get sowing or planting, choose the right containers. Big ones are easier to maintain than small ones; and of course bigger pots mean more produce. Go for something of at least 30cm (12in) in diameter, larger if possible.

As salad crops tend to be pretty shortterm there’s no need to spend a fortune on compost. Ideally choose a good-quality multipurpose compost, but you can get perfectly acceptable results with the contents of a growing-bag. I find the quality of the compost in these isn’t all that brilliant, but for the time you need it – and provided you keep it wellfertilised – it’ll be adequate.

If you grow your own salad leaves you can get precisely the mix you like best. There are plenty of eye-catching lettuces such as the frilly Lollo, either a gorgeous bright-green standard Lollo a burgundy-tinged Lollo Rosso or a mixture of both. Treat them as cut-andcome-again crops, snipping off the leaves as you want them but not cutting into to the base, then they’ll put out new shoots and keep cropping for longer.

Baby beet leaves are a popular salad ingredient, too. Choose a variety like Bull’s Blood for the prettiest leaves or grow any of 16

the standard varieties, and you’ll also get a great-tasting root crop later on. I generally harvest the young leaves a few at a time but let the plant produce a root too.

There are still plenty of tomato plants in the shops now, but hunt carefully to find the ones that are still in top condition. If you choose an outdoor variety it can be grown in a pot on its own, and if you have a big enough container you can grow some other salad ingredients around the edge of the container.

If you’re after some fire in your cooking, a chilli pepper thrives in a pot in a warm and very sheltered spot as do sweet peppers.

Fresh herbs can make a salad more interesting too. Choose your favourites and either grow them in a dedicated herb pot with extra grit in the compost for good drainage, or even consider popping a few in with your main crops.

Vegetables, like most plants, do best in a relatively warm spot with plenty of sun, so site your containers carefully. You want them to be easily accessible from the kitchen, but it’s more important to ensure they’re sheltered from the wind yet still get enough sun.

You may prefer to raise some of your crops in pots and grow them on a bit before planting them out. The garden containers will always be full and looking their best, even while you’re harvesting them. The new plantings will very quickly blend in with the old, and all summer long you’ll have a garden that’s as pleasing to the eye as it is to the tastebuds.

Visit Pippa’s website, www. pippagreenwood.com, for ‘Grow Your Own with Pippa Greenwood’, the AskPippa Q&A service, Nemaslug, natural pest controls, and lots more.

Please mention The Villager and Town Life when responding to adverts

By Pippa Greenwood

To advertise in The Villager and Townlife please call 01767 261122

17

Travelogue

The Only Way Down...

By Melanie Ridley

When we began our travels along the east coast of Australia at the beginning of February, April 20th seemed like a distant date in the calendar. This would be the day I would fulfil one of the top three on my bucket list: a skydive!

Not only was I going to be jumping out of a plane, but I was booked to do the highest skydive in Australia. I would be falling 14,000 feet with a free fall of 60 seconds, whilst taking in views of the Great Barrier Reef before safely landing on the beach.

During the days and months leading up to this day, I hadn’t felt nervous. This may have been due to two reasons: one being I believed it would be easy to back out and the other being that my brain was struggling to comprehend what was actually going to happen.

Upon arrival at the office, I sat with my eight fellow jumpers waiting to be called. When the time came we all went downstairs where we were met by the gentlemen who we would be trusting with our lives. Putting your life in someone else’s hands is always a daunting prospect but speaking to the expert I was about to jump with and learning he had completed over 2,000 sky dives helped put my mind at ease.

Once we were secured into our harnesses, we were lead to a shuttle bus which then took us to the runway where our tiny plane was waiting. During the ascent everyone in the plane was fairly quiet

18

apart from the professionals and you could feel the tense and anxious atmosphere.

I was fourth to jump and watching the three people jump before me and disappear as they were sucked into gravity’s pull made my heart race. The only thing that was keeping me calm was thinking that hypothetically I was about to endure something similar to the Big Dipper at the fairground. As I stood poised and ready to jump out of the plane, or I should say before being given a helping hand out of the plane, the last words I heard were “1...2...3... Banana!”

The adrenaline that pumps through your body as you free fall for 60 seconds through the sky is beyond measurable and, as one fellow skydiver described, it was incredible “to feel the cold mist of a cloud on my face”.

When the free fall was over and my parachute opened, a large sense of relief rushed over my body. The view as we paraglided down towards Mission Beach was truly breathtaking. I could see parts of the Great Barrier Reef on one side, and on the other I could see the four mile beach which I would shortly be landing on.

When my feet safely touched the ground, I knew one of my greatest experiences was sadly over.

Please mention The Villager and Town Life when responding to adverts

Hill House Grade II listed building Rooms with beamed ceilings Close to Grafham Water

We are all living longer but, unless blessed with good health, there comes a time when many people have to accept they need a little looking after.

At ADR Care Homes we pride ourselves in providing a home from home.

Long & short term stays Day care available Dignity & privacy respected Spacious lounges Large, well maintained gardens Professional 24 hour care Nutritious meals Regular activities provided

High Street Ellington Huntingdon PE28 0AB Tel: 01480 890324d

Before

Bethany Francis House Charm & character of a Stately home Cinema room Short walk from St Neots High Street

106 Cambridge Street St Neots Cambs PE19 1PL Tel: 01480 476868d

Please visit our website, www.adrcare.co.uk

After

You are welcome to come and see for yourselves by contacting our Home Manager or just pop in.

Visit our new community www.beds-local.co.uk

19

Local News

A New Village Shop in Grafham

A new community shop planned for Grafham is one step closer to opening thanks to a grant of £10,000 from the Big Lottery Fund’s Awards for All programme which aims to help improve the lives of local communities. Planning permission was granted earlier this year but the cash boost means villagers are now two thirds of the way to their fundraising target of £30,000 and making the shop a reality.

Like many small rural communities, Grafham has lost vital services in the last 10 years, including its shop and pub. This has left residents with no immediate access to these amenities and missing the social interaction that comes from using them. So as well as supplying groceries and other items, the shop also aims to be a community hub for the village.

The project came about after a parish survey highlighted villagers’ sense of isolation and, in 2013, a committee was formed with the intention of opening a not-for-profit shop run for the benefit of the community. The intention is to stock the

20

volunteer-run shop with local produce and crafts, as well as providing a home delivery service for housebound residents.

There has been huge support for the project already and nearly £20,000 has been raised to date through grants, donations and the sale of shares. Fundraising plans for 2014 include a beer festival and a summer fair so the shop is already having a beneficial social impact on the village.

Grafham Parish Councillor Jenny Barnes and a shop committee member said: “As well as being able to buy a pint of milk without having to get into the car, we are committed to creating a hub for the village where people can chat to friends and get to know their neighbours. The many tourists and visitors to Grafham Water and campsite will also be able to use the shop to purchase goods and find out more about the area.”

To buy shares in the shop, or to make a donation, visit www.grafhamvillageshop.co.uk.

Please mention The Villager and Town Life when responding to adverts

Local News

A Transformation At Alconbury Weald Unless you have ventured on to Alconbury Weald (the former RAF Alconbury) you may never have noticed the many Hardened Aircraft Shelters (HAS) that are scattered over the northern half of the site. These HAS are relics of the Cold War and were designed to protect aircraft from aerial attack, including low level nuclear explosions. HAS are big, ugly, spartan buildings with no facilities apart from electrical power and subtle traces of sophisticated communications equipment, but they do offer a large, weatherproof space suitable for other uses.

Building 3051 on the far north of the site has been transformed, entirely by self-funded self-help, into a target shooting complex. Two ranges have been constructed: one a rimfire (.22 calibre) 25 metre range with eight target lanes and the other, an air range for .22 and .177 air-rifles and pistols with the ability to accommodate archery and crossbows for winter training. There is also a club lounge where you can relax with a cup of coffee. The building and ranges are fully accessible to wheelchairs.

The ranges were constructed and are operated by the Soke Target Sports Club which is an amalgamation of two local clubs: the Soke TSC and The St Ives & District Rifle and Pistol Club. Both clubs recently lost their ranges to development. Soke lost its range in Peterborough when its parent club, the Perkins Sports and Social Club, was closed and the St Ives Club was given notice to quit when First Leisure and HDC decided to turn the club’s range in the St Ivo Centre into a bowling alley. .22 rimfire target shooting and air rifle and pistol target shooting are Commonwealth Games and Olympic sports with a wide international following. Without access to local ranges across the country then our GB, National and County teams would struggle to find new members. Like all shooting sports they demand a high level of self-discipline, intense concentration, recognition of the need for gun security and serious respect for the potentially destructive power of guns.

This is a first-class facility for Huntingdonshire which is now open. If you have shot small-bore in the past or you fancy giving target shooting a try then go to the Soke website at http://www.camsoke.co.uk and follow the link. Subject to certain legal restrictions shooting is a sport open to all: male or female, young or old, able-bodied or disabled. Club guns are available for use and coaching will be provided.

Construction of this facility would not have been possible without the whole-hearted support of the site owners, Urban&Civic, and their managing agents, Savilles.

Photos: Roger Read Alan Robertson (Range Project Coordinator) To advertise in The Villager and Townlife please call 01767 261122

21

Child Safety

Child Safety Week

By Louise Addison

Did you know that accidental injury is the second biggest killer of children in the UK. Only childhood cancer accounts for more deaths. Every week in the UK one child dies in a preventable accident, and around 300 children end up in Accident and Emergency departments every day!

Children from the poorest UK families are 13 times more at risk, and are also more likely to be admitted to hospital with accidental injuries.

Child Safety Week runs from 23rd – 29th June and is organised by The Child Accident Prevention Trust (CAPT). They stress that although the number of children killed in accidents is shrinking due to everimproving emergency medical care, near-fatal accidents can leave lifelong mental as well as physical scars, and put families through hell.

CAPT run awareness campaigns to explain how most accidents can be easily prevented. Parents often misunderstand the dangers their children face daily. For example, a child is hundreds of times more likely to be killed crossing a road than by a predatory kidnapper. But the media focus on paedophile scarestories, so parents over-estimate the risk of stranger danger and

22

underestimate the risks involved in more mundane scenarios. To put it in perspective, fewer than eight children per year are murdered in the UK, whereas nearly 400 are killed in household or traffic accidents.

As mornings can be a particularly stressful and accident-prone time, for this year’s campaign CAPT have enlisted the help of the Safety Superheroes, who will do battle with the villainous Morning Mayhem! Watch out for them in events this June.

Here are three top tips to keep your kids safe!

Make sure they STOP, LOOK, and LISTEN when crossing the road on the way to school (and again on their way home).

Teach your kids about burn and scald risks: Don’t overfill the kettle, never use a knife to fish toast out of the toaster, take care with hairstraighteners, and always turn them off after use.

Make sure your child knows how to call for emergency help - they might save someone’s life!

Check out CAPT’s website www. capt.org.uk.

Remember: Most safety is just common sense.

Children’s brains are their most important defence against accidents, so let’s teach them to THINK.

Please mention The Villager and Town Life when responding to adverts

DO YOU HAVE THE TIME TO LOOK AFTER A CHILD?

Could you become a foster carer?

Children need to be looked after for many reasons. Our foster carers make a real difference to a child or young person’s life when it matters most.

Make a difference. Contact National Fostering Agency today.

Or come along to our Open Days to find out more: Saturday 7th June, 12pm-2pm, at Menzies Hotel, Bar Hill, Cambridge CB23 8EU Tuesday 10th June, 6.30pm-7.30pm, at The Hub, High St, Cambourne CB23 6GW Wednesday 11th June, 7pm-8pm, at Marriott Hotel, Hinchingbrooke Business Park, Kingfisher Way, Huntingdon PE29 6FL Thursday 12th June, 2pm-3pm, at Wyboston, Wyboston Lakes, Great North Rd, Wyboston, Bedfordshire MK44 3AL

www.nfa.co.uk

0845 200 4040 Or Text FOSTER3 to 88020 with your full name Visit our new community www.beds-local.co.uk

23

Codeword 1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ

Easy Suduko

Hard Suduko

Fill in the grid so that each row, column and 3x3 box, contains the digits 1 through to 9 with no repetition. Use your logic to solve the puzzles.

24

FLOORED

By Ian

Your local supplier of fitted floors in carpet, vinyl, laminate or Karndean Free visits to estimate or advise.

Best prices and quality with a friendly service.

Enquiries to 01480 475486 or (Mobile) 07876 238308

To advertise in The Villager and Townlife please call 01767 261122

25

n O s ’ t Wha 4 June Field Marshall Sir William Robertson 7pm for 7.30pm The Comrades Club, Godmanchester A talk by John Spencer about William Robertson and his impact on the British Army in France and Flanders.

Web: www.westernfrontassociation.com

6 June Pamper & Indulgence Evening 6-9:30pm Wyboston, Chawston & Colesden Village Hall £3.50 to include a glass of wine/soft drink With over 20 stands offering treatments and products, the majority of treatments are just £5.00.

Tel: Susie Woodman 01234 376098 6 June The Aragon Singers Concert 7.30pm St Mary Magdalene Church Brampton The Aragon Singers of Buckden present a World War I themed concert and other selected music.

Web: http://www.brampton-parish.org.uk/ 6 & 7 June Hemingford Grey Gardeners’ Society Open Gardens 2-6.30pm. £5 covers both days, Children free Collect your programme with map from the first garden you visit and look out for the signs outside the gardens that are open. Teas and plant stall at the Reading Room and one other garden.

7 June Exhibition to Commemorate WWI 10am-4pm Huntingdon Library, Princes St, Huntingdon Huntingdon Library and Hunts Family History Society are hosting an ‘Exhibition to Commemorate WWI’.

Bring your family stories, photos and memorabilia to share with others and discuss with experts.

7 June Help Tidy Little Paxton 2-4pm The Parish Council is organising a village litter pick starting and finishing at Queen Elizabeth II Playing Field, Little Paxton. Volunteers will be supplied with a high viz jackets, litter pickers, gloves and black bags and allocated areas to litter pick. Tel: 01480 470193.

7 June Organ Recital 7.30pm St Mary’s Church, Godmanchester Admission by programme on the door £7 With John Dillistone, Recitals Organiser. The Godmanchester organ is a unique example of work by the renowned Victorian organ builder, Henry Bryceson. Installed in 1859, it contains pipework

26

similar to continental Baroque organs, inviting an eclectic programme that includes music by J.S. Bach, Sweelinck, Guilmant, Henry Smart and Samuel Sebastian Wesley. In aid of the Church Roof Appeal.

7 & 8 June A Celebration of 25 years of Paxton Pits 11am-4pm St James Church, Little Paxton Free admission Come and learn about 25 years of our great Nature Reserve. A joint venture between St James’ Church, Huntingdonshire District Council, The Friends of Paxton Pits and The Wildlife Trust. Displays, activities and continuous slide show. Bird food, books, cakes, crafts, jigsaws, preserves, etc.. Refreshments.

8 June St Neots Big Band Concert 3-5pm Great Paxton School Tickets £5, Children free. Tickets Tel: 01480 217559 13 June Angel Workshop Doors open 7pm, 7.30-9.30pm Priory Centre, Priory Lane, St Neots £10 per person. Telephone or email to book.

Tel: Marie Hensman 01480 471814 Email: angela.standen@icloud.com 14 June Craft and Gift Fair 9am-2pm United Reformed Church, St. Neots Held in aid of The Coffee Pot Memory Café; a local charity in St. Neots for those with memory loss and their carers. Tel: 07717 158549 for details and stall hire.

Email: maryjdcruz@gmail.com 14 June Strawberry Tea 2-5pm 13a Chestnut Grove, Eynesbury (or in St Mary the Virgin church, Eynesbury if weather is unsuitable) Enjoy homemade scones with whipped cream and strawberry jam together with a refreshing cup of tea.

Email tara.skey@talktalk.net if you plan to attend.

14 June Portholme Meadow 2.30pm Meet at Brampton Mill cark park (GR TL224706) Suggested donation adults £2, children free The Huntingdonshire Local Group of the Wildlife Trust invites you on a walk to Portholme Meadow.

Dr. Patrick Doody, will guide us through this ancient meadow, describing both its history and natural history. Tel: Pat 01480 392706 for more info

14 June The Aragon Singers Concert 7pm The Methodist Church, Berkley Street, Eynesbury Admission £6. Music of the 1914 Era and other varied music preceded by the Harmonia African Drummers.

Proceeds will be shared between CPA for the 2015 Passion Play and ACTIOS. 14 June Guitar Concert 7pm St Peter’s Church, High Street, Offord Darcy Tickets £8. Performed by Huntingdonshire Guitar Ensemble. The programme will be a wide range to suit all musical tastes, from 16th to 20th centuries, and from classical to folk. Tickets: Jenny Griffiths 01480 811126 or email ticketoffice.stpeters@gmail.com 14 June Your Heart’s Desire? St. Mary’s Church, Buckden Tickets £10, Concessions £8 The Lucy Cavendish Singers will present Music From The Heart, an exhilarating programme of jazz, folk, gospel and classical songs, guaranteed to capture your heart and move you to tears and to laughter.

Tickets available from Costcutter and Que Sera or by telephone. Tel: 01480 812777 or 01480 431037 20 June Cookery Show 7pm St James’ Church, Little Paxton Tickets £3 including refreshments Good food is on the menu when Pampered Chef Consultant Mafalda will be demonstrating cutting edge recipes, gadgets and cooking utensils.

Tickets available from The Anchor, Little Paxton, on the door or tel 01480 215607 or 01480 219022.

20 June The Invisible Woman (12) 7pm for 7.30pm Mandeville Hall, Kimbolton Kimbolton Community Cinema. The costume drama of the story of Charles Dickens and Nelly “The Invisible Woman”. Tickets from Watson’s, Dixi’s Deli, Bytes Café or on the door if available. Tel: 01480 860297 Web: http://e-voice.org.uk/hemandevillehallkimbolton 21 June Open Day at Emmaus 9am-5pm Green End, Landbeach, Cambridge CB25 9FD Landbeach based charity Emmaus Cambridge will be opening its doors to welcome in the general public at its Open Day. Tel: Sue Nelms 01223 863657 for more information. Email: info@emmauscambridge.org 21 June Toft Fête 10.30am-5pm Held in various locations round Toft, do come and join us for children’s activities in the playground, bottle stall at Old Farm, lunch with licensed bar in The People’s Hall (12-1.30pm), Open Gardens and teas in the Parish Church (3-5pm). A chance to wander round this pretty village and help support the Church.

Detailed programme with map available on the day from each location.

21 & 22 June Godmanchester Open Gardens 1.30-5.30pm Programmes (covering entry to all gardens on both days) £5 or £4 in advance (under 12s free) 20+ gardens – riverside, courtyard, formal and cottage; allotments and community nursery. Advance programmes from Gatehouse Estates or Pinnies.

Proceeds to Godmanchester in Bloom tree planting.

27 June Boules 6pm Ellington Green Entry: Juniors £1, Adults £3 Annual village boules competition. The competition kicks off at 6pm for junior entrants and 7pm for the adult competition. There will be a bar and BBQ. 27-29 June Buckden Village Festival Friday from 6.00pm featuring “The Vamps” Tommy with food!

Saturday 11.45am Super Hero parade led by “Blue Vision Twirling Team”. Come dressed as your favourite super hero, transform scooters, wheel chairs, mobility scooters, buggies and bikes into super vehicles.

Saturday 12.30pm Fête with over 90 stalls.

Sunday 10.30am Village service in the Village Hall.

Web: www.buckdenvillagefestival.co.uk 28 June Ellington Gala 1.45pm Ellington Green Parade starts at 1.45pm outside Hill House and will arrive at the Green for 2pm opening. A fun day of entertainment for all the family along with stalls and displays with food and drink available all day. In the evening there will be a band with a bar. Martial arts demonstration, Fez the Jester, dog agility contest plus there will be a Spitfire fly past courtesy of Battle of Britain Memorial Flight.

28 June World War I Memorabilia Exhibition 1-5pm St Peter’s Church, High Street, Offord Darcy A display of WW1 artefacts and memorabilia kindly donated by members of the local community, including a Village Display and a Home Front section.

The Hunts Cyclists Battalion, The Western Front Association, The Pathfinders Museum from RAF Wyton, will be in attendance, together with Barry Jobling, who has added new items to his wonderful collection.

There will be the opportunity for visitors to speak to the Western Front Association who are providing a ‘Help Session’ and will give advice on family research and WWI items.

29 June Caldecote Craft (and fun) Fair 12 noon-5pm Village Hall, Highfields, Caldecote, CB23 7ZH An afternoon of indoor and outdoor activities at Caldecote Village Hall, including a fair of fascinating craft and handmade goods, and family attractions in the grounds. Find us on Facebook, search Caldecote Craft Fair for more info. All proceeds go to Hardwick and Highfields Scout Groups (registered charity).

27

The Villager Prize Crossword

Prize

ÂŁ25

Across 1 Type of pudding (7) 5 Trimmed (5) 8 Large pebbles (5) 9 Brutal (7) 10 At right angles (13) 11 Without effort (6) 12 Grieves for (6) 15 A protest (13) 18 Financial system (7) 19 Beverage (5) 20 Stairs (5) 21 Hauled (7)

18th June 2014 Prize Crossword, Villager Publications Ltd 24 Market Square, Potton, Beds SG19 2NP

Name: Tel: Address:

28



Complete the crossword, fill in your details below, cut out this page and send to the address below before

Down 1 Sticky liquid (5) 2 Accompanies (7) 3 Assorted (13) 4 Split (6) 5 Book of facts (13) 6 Snarl (5) 7 Removes weapons (7) 11 Goes on forever (7) 13 Fence (7) 14 Remained (6) 16 Large deer (5) 17 Nude (5)

Welcome

ÂŁ4

LY

FROM ON PRICES START

,999

FULLY INSTALLED INCLUDING THE BASE AND VAT

ry of your The conservato designed ally choice individu ur home! yo

by GSN to suit

to the world of GSN Conservatories... home of probably the largest outdoor display area you will ever see!

www.gsn.co.uk

With over 20 styles of conservatories on display at our head office and 10 models on show at Wilstead we think you will be spoilt for choice!

All our conservatories are made-to-measure from modern, low maintenance materials so you can be sure that which ever conservatory you choose, it will continue to look as good as new in years to come.

Your home deserves the best...You deserve the best that money can buy!

GSN CONSERVATORIES

Pertenhall Road (1 mile from Gt Staughton) Gt Staughton, Nr St Neots Cambs PE19 5BE Telephone 01480 860000 Open Mon - Fri 9am - 5pm Sat & Sun 10am - 4pm Established since 1984

Visit our new community www.beds-local.co.uk

The family firm with NO commission paid reps and NO sub-contractors

Also at: Season’s Garden Centre Wilstead (main Road - A6) Bedford Beds MK45 3HU Telephone 01234 740011 Open Mon - Sat 10am to 4pm Sun 11am to 4pm

29

Crossword Solution for The Villager May Edition Last Month’s Crossword Winner - Mr P Keating from Stotfold

May’s Wildlife Competition The solution to the puzzle in the last issue of The Villager was MIGRATION. The winner, selected at random, was Mrs G Davison from Ickleford, who has been sent the prize, a copy of ‘Wildlife through the Year’ signed by the author.

Battle Of the Proms Competition The winners are Chloe Alder from Biggleswade, Miss C Ray from Stotfold, Jim Mynott from St Neots, Tim Croft from Granchester, Peter Rutt from Biggleswade and Miss C Chester from Willington

Advertising in The Villager is easy.

To find out more call Nigel on 01767 261122 or email nigel@villagermag.com 30

Visit our www.beds-local.co.uk Please mention The Villager andnew Towncommunity Life when responding to adverts

To advertise in The Villager and Townlife please call 01767 261122

31